This voluntary Board provides leadership and vision to the Foundation. The Board concerns itself with fund raising, events, policy, directions, decisions and financial planning for the Foundation.
We are looking for community minded individuals! The BGC Kawarthas Foundation is looking for new board members!
BGC Kawarthas Foundation
| President | Laurie Charlebois |
| Vice President | Richard Christie |
| Treasurer | Julie Yandt |
| Secretary | Broghan Dean |
| Past President | Geoff Grier |
| Director | Luis Segura |
| Director | Vince Killen |
| Director | Jen Hope |
| Director | Lana McCaw |
| Director | Keith McDonald |
| Director | Tanvi Bhatt |
| Honorary Member | Emily Avery-Graves |
Laurie Charlebois, President
Laurie Charlebois joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in April 2018 and participates as a member of the Risk Management and Investment Committees. Laurie currently serves as President of the Foundation Board.
Laurie is currently the Manager of Commercial Banking with CIBC in Lindsay. Laurie also sits on the Board for the Riverside Cemetery and is on their Investment Committee.
Richard Christie, Vice President
Richard Christie joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in June 2019. Rick currently serves as Vice President and previously served as Secretary to the Foundation Board.
Rick was born in Guelph, Ontario and raised in Lafayette, Indiana and Toronto. Rick graduated from Queens University with BSc. Honours, Biology and B.Ed. Rick’s employment history covers being a Department Head of Science/Mathematics (American International School of Bolivia and Dr. F.J. Donevan Collegiate-Oshawa), Teacher at Brock High School and Fenelon Falls Secondary School, and Vice Principal at Fenelon Falls and I.E. Weldon Secondary Schools.
Rick is married to his lovely wife, Laurie Johnson and has two amazing children who Rick claims are perfect – Gavin (helicopter pilot), and Erica (4th year Laurier Health Sciences).
In his off time, Rick loves to travel, spending time with his very rested dogs, is an avid boater/canoe enthusiast and spends his winter renovating.
Geoff Grier, Past President
Geoff Grier joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in October 2017. Geoff currently acts as the Past President and previously served as Vice President and Treasurer in addition to participating on the Investment Committee.
Geoff and his wife Susan live in Lindsay and enjoy the lifestyle that the beautiful Kawartha Lakes provides.
Broghan Dean, Secretary
Broghan Dean joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in October 2020. Broghan also participates as a member on the Governance Committee.
Broghan grew up in Omemee and continues to reside in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Broghan completed her Juris Doctor at Bond University in Gold Coast, Australia and was called to the Ontario bar in June 2019 and iscurrently an Associate Lawyer at Friend & Dobson Professional Corporation.
Lana McCaw, Director
Lana McCaw joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in June 2023.
Lana is a new-comer to Lindsay, relocating here in early 2020 from Toronto. Lana has lived several places across Canada and the U.S. due to her family’s business and academic opportunities. Lana has extensive local and global volunteer experience with many charitable organizations, specifically youth focused, and is excited for this new opportunity to focus her time on an organization that repeatedly demonstrates such strong initiative for the Kawartha Lakes Community.
Outside of Lana’s professional life, she enjoys cooking, travelling, yoga and spending time with her family and pups at the lake.
Jennifer Hope, Director
Jennifer Hope joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in June 2023. She grew up in the farming community of Kawartha Lakes and is passionate about giving back to the community that helped raise her.
Jennifer has previous experience on a Board of Directors for a local not-for-profit organization where she sat on their Executive and Fund Development Committee. She has a diploma in Early Childhood Education, her CIP (Chartered Insurance Professional) designation as well as her Yellow & Green Belts in Lean Six Sigma (process optimization). She currently resides in Durham Region with her 2 daughters and a house full of pets. Jennifer is currently the Director of Underwriting at The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group.
Tanvi Bhatt, Director
Tanvi Bhatt joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in November 2024. After graduation from the University of Michigan, Tanvi began her career in consulting, travelling and living throughout North America. She eventually started her own consulting firm with her husband, Neal. Eventually their business acumen and passion for people led them to become the owner/operator of McDonald’s restaurants in Lindsay and Beaverton. Tanvi has been passionate about many causes from volunteering to chairing events for charitable organizations, which led her to this new opportunity to focus her time on an an organization that demonstrates such a strong initiative for the Kawartha Lakes community. She has been very active in the Kawartha Lakes community, supporting a number of programs and initiatives. Outside of Tanvi’s professional life, she enjoys planning events, growing friendships, running, and spending time with her family.
Julie Yandt, Treasurer
Julie Yandt joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in June 2022 and currently serves as Treasurer of the Board and is looking forward to getting involved! Volunteering in her community is near to her heart. She has previously served on Boards within family and social services, not-for-profit, and currently holds the Chair role for the Peterborough Chapter of HRPA.
She has dedicated her career in Human Resources to The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group, where she is the Director, Human Resources and holds the designation of Certified Human Resources Leader.
With children, grandchildren and many animals keeping her time after work fulfilled there’s never a moment’s peace… and she wouldn’t have it any other way!
Keith McDonald, Director
Keith McDonald joined BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in June 2024. He has a passion and love for the Kawartha Lakes, having lived here for most of his life. Keith says that our community of communities is a great place to raise a family. He is married to his beautiful wife Kelsey and they have two children – Oakley & Blake. He is a Broker at Birdhouse Realty, and his wife owns & operates a house staging company – Kawartha Lakes Staging Co. He is an active member of the Kinsmen Club of Lindsay for over 10 years, holding positions of Secretary, Treasurer & President. He joined the Kawartha Lakes Volunteer Fire Department back in 2013 and is currently stationed at the Ops Fire Hall (Station 4). Keith enjoys the lifestyle that living in the Kawarthas offers, especially boating, golf, and hockey.
Vince Killen, Director
Vince Killen joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in June 2022.
Luis Segura, Director
Luis Segura joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in June 2024.
Emily Avery-Graves, Honorary Member
Emily Avery-Graves joined the BGC Kawarthas Foundation Board of Directors in June 2010. Emily currently acts as Past-President of the Board and previously served as President and Vice-President. Emily is also actively involved with the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Foundation as a committee member for their annual Dream Ball gala event and continues in this capacity since this event was transferred to BGCKL. Emily is passionate about initiatives that help children grow and thrive in our community where she is raising her own family.
Emily is currently the Business Development Manager with Stewart Morrison Insurance Brokers Ltd.