Board of Directors |
President: Jennifer Harding - jen@srpei.org
Jen is a long-serving executive at one of Canada’s big 5 banks, where she specializes in leading large change initiatives - everything from big technology projects to organizational change and transformation. She spent time as a management consultant in change management and process improvement. She started her career in sponsorship sales and promotions and theatrical stage management. She has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, years of leadership and diversity and inclusion training, and executive education courses in strategy and finance. Jen is Mom to a teen boy and her Islander partner is in construction management. They split their time between Toronto and their remote property on PEI. Growing up with a parent in social services, she has a lifetime of service to communities and supporting at-risk populations. During the pandemic, she got back to sewing and now makes bespoke tote bags and purses from thrifted fabrics.
Vice-President: Jerry LeBlanc - jerry.leblanc@srpei.org
Jerry has been a seasonal resident since 2019 and has been visiting the island since 2008. He and his wife were married on PEI and her family have been seasonal residents for almost 30 years. He worked in the automotive industry for over 16 years followed by over 12 years in the real estate business. He currently lives in Michigan just 40 minutes from the US Canadian border and is self-employed as the owner and manager of several rental properties. Jerry is currently the president of his homeowner’s association which consists of over 180 homes. He volunteers working with the homeless and various local nonprofit organizations. He is looking forward to advocating on behalf of all seasonal residents of PEI to ensure we have access to our homes and properties.
Secretary: Aran Kavanagh - aran@srpei.org
Aran has been a seasonal resident of PEI since 2009. She and her family spend every summer in Stanhope, PE. Aran is originally from Halifax, NS and is currently a teacher with the Toronto District School Board in Toronto, ON. Over the past decade Aran has served on three elected Boards of Directors of community based, not-for-profit organizations. She has held the position of Vice-President and Secretary on two separate boards. Aran writes the monthly newsletter, "Fresh Island Fare" for the SRPEI Association.
Treasurer: Kandy Simpson-Zeidenberg - kandy.simpson@srpei.org
Kandy was born and raised on Prince Edward Island and has been a Seasonal Resident for the past 25 years. Kandy and her husband, Mike, built their cottage in Toronto, PEI, on land that has been in Kandy’s family since the early 1800’s. Kandy is a CPA (CGA) with a BBA from UPEI. She worked for Canada Revenue Agency in Toronto, Ontario for 32 years. Over those years, she held a variety of increasingly senior positions including Auditor, Special Investigator, Audit Team Leader, Client Services Manager, and Audit Manager. She also performed various additional functions including delivering training, participating on hiring boards, serving on both local and national Employment Equity Committees for women, and serving as Employment Equity Coordinator for the Toronto North office. Kandy and Mike moved to Bedford, Nova Scotia in 2013 when Kandy retired. Prior to the pandemic, they divided their time among Bedford NS, Toronto PEI, and Indian Shores Florida, with frequent trips to Toronto Ontario to see their two children and four grandchildren. Both passionate about travel, they hope to resume working on their Bucket List in the near future.
Director: Tom Brodnik - tom.brodnik@srpei.org
Tom and his wife have been seasonal residents since 2013. They typically spend much of the summer, as well as the holiday season, on the Island. Tom has been licensed to practice law in Indiana and California for over thirty years. His primary focus has been to assist both businesses and individuals in civil and criminal litigation. Tom is also a registered civil mediator in the State of Indiana. Tom represents clients in diverse industries, including publishing, construction, and motor sports. Tom has a undergraduate degree in accounting, so he also advises clients on general business law as well as civil and criminal tax matters.
Director: Amanda MacKinnon - amanda@srpei.org
Born and raised in Prince Edward Island, Amanda has lived in Calgary, Alberta for the last 10 years. However, home will always be PEI for her! In 2020, she purchased a cottage in the Belfast area, and her current job as a manager for a group of environmental scientists, allows her to work remotely from the sandy red shores of eastern PEI. Having worked for Parks Canada for several years prior to moving west (that's out west, not up west!), she is a passionate advocate for PEI, and loves telling anyone who will listen just why PEI is so great. Ask her about where to find the best fish and chips, the top flavour of Cows ice cream, or how to best entertain yourself on PEI!
Director: Chuck Stevenson - chuck.stevenson@srpei.org
Chuck Stevenson has been a seasonal resident of Prince Edward Island since 2004. After having first visited the province in 1993 he and his three children have forged strong personal ties with the people, places and institutions of PEI. Born and raised in the Boston, Massachusetts, area, he has worked in marketing for a number of technology companies including Cognos, IBM and currently at Rootstock Software. He also serves on the board of directors for Zen Habitats and the homeowners association where he lives in PEI. His passions include the Boston Celtics and long days spent on a sunny beach.
Director: Dave Underhill - dave.underhill@srpei.org
Dave and his wife Linda have been seasonal homeowners on PEI since 1992, when they inherited a family home built by Linda's great-grandfather in 1902. Dave's a retired media executive and communications professional with a broad background managing television, radio and internet companies, and he serves various roles with Rotary International and as a small business counselor for SCORE, a U.S. nonprofit organization. Dave and Linda live in Priest Pond (Souris) on PEI, and in Portsmouth, NH, during the winter months.
Director: Robert "Bert" Vincent - robert.vincent@srpei.org
Robert and his family first visited PEI in 2012, bought a lot in 2017, and had a cottage built in 2019, just in time for the pandemic. Originally from the mid-Hudson Valley of New York, Robert worked as a software developer at several startup companies near Boston, Massachusetts, for about twenty years. Having moved to Montreal in 2002, he now teaches computer science at Marianopolis College. In his spare time he is the treasurer of the faculty union.