Staff Directory

Foundation Administration

  • Tina Thomas

    Chief Executive Officer

    Tina Thomas is the Chief Executive Officer at the Edmonton Community Foundation, the largest non-governmental funder of the charitable sector in Edmonton granting over $35M annually. She is proud to lead a group of passionate and dedicated staff who work with donors and community partners to build a better city. Prior to her tenure at ECF she spent over 13 years at the Edmonton Public Library, most recently as the Executive Director of Customer Experience. Before this she spent 13 years in the private sector working for Canadian Telecommunications provider Nortel. A lifelong learner, Tina has earned an executive MBA, a Masters in Library Information Science and a CPA-CMA professional accounting designation. She was an Edify Magazine Top 40 Under 40, Library Journal Magazine Mover and Shaker and IABC Edmonton Communicator of the Year. She is currently on the boards of the Edmonton Community Development Corporation, the Association of Grant Makers in Alberta, Edmonton Area Land Trust and the Alberta Social Enterprise Venture Fund.

  • Diane Christie

    Executive Assistant to the CEO
    dchristie@ecfoundation.org

    Diane Christie joined ECF in June 2023 as the Executive Assistant to the CEO. She is a seasoned E.A. bringing with her a diverse inventory of honed skills through over 20 years of experience in areas such as finance, commercial real estate, oil and gas, sports entertainment, and not-for-profit business. Diane adds value by understanding the "big picture" and proactively developing strategies to overcome obstacles. She was born and raised in Edmonton, is a shoe lover, and enjoys a sweet glass of wine on her deck on a warm summer evening.

  • Mike Lewis

    Manager, People & Culture
    mlewis@ecfoundation.org

    Mike Lewis is the Manager, People & Culture at ECF. As a senior leader in his field, Mike brings over 20 years of diverse experience in human resource management in differing sectors, including power and energy, production, telecommunications and public services. Throughout his career, Mike has demonstrated success in strategic HR planning and program development, organizational design, talent management, total rewards, labour and employee relations. In his spare time, Mike loves to travel with his partner and spends way more time than he should looking for his golf balls.

  • Sarah Farnsworth

    Receptionist & Administrative Support
    SFarnsworth@ecfoundation.org

    Sarah is the Receptionist & Administrative Support at the Edmonton Community Foundation. A graduate of the Arts & Cultural Management program at Grant MacEwan University, she has over 10 years of experience in team management and support roles from a diverse array of public, private, and not-for-profit organizations. After 4 years in manufacturing facility management, she is thrilled to connect with her community and support the hard-working team of dedicated professionals at ECF. In her spare time Sarah is passionate about learning new languages, experimenting in her kitchen with cuisines from around the world, painting, gardening, and exploring the city’s parks and trails.

Philanthropy & Donor Engagement

  • Noel Xavier

    Vice President, Philanthropy & Donor Engagement
    nxavier@ecfoundation.org

    Noel Xavier is the Director of Philanthropy & Donor Engagement at ECF. He joined ECF in 2013 and works with individual donors, families, and local charities to build endowment funds and legacy plans that provide strategic, sustainable support in our community. With over 22 years of resource development and senior management experience in the not-for-profit sector, Noel has worked with arts, social services, immigration, and health-related causes. Noel currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation and is the past-Chair of the Edmonton Arts Council. He has also served on the Boards of the Nina Haggerty Centre, Opera NUOVA, the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) – Edmonton Chapter, and the MacEwan University Arts and Cultural Management Advisory Committee. Noel is originally from the greater Toronto area, but he lived in Osaka, Japan for nearly four years before settling in Edmonton in 2000. In his spare time, Noel enjoys running, hiking, camping, and gardening.

  • Matt Mandrusiak

    Manager, Philanthropy
    mmandrusiak@ecfoundation.org

    Matt Mandrusiak is the Manager, Philanthropy at Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF). He joined ECF in 2015 after seven years of working with organizations focused on providing support to individuals with disabilities throughout Alberta. Having witnessed first-hand the passion and generosity of Edmontonians to support local causes, Matt has had the great privilege of assisting donors and charities to enhance our already amazing community.

    Away from the office, he spends most of his time with his wife and two daughters, but you can often find him on the golf course. An avid traveller, Matt can also act as an unofficial Disney Parks vacation planner…Mickey ears included.

  • Sydney Stuart

    Philanthropy Advisor
    sstuart@ecfoundation.org

    Sydney Stuart is a Philanthropy Advisor at ECF. She is the most recent addition to the Philanthropy and Donor Engagement department, having joined ECF in September 2023. Prior to ECF, Sydney was the Director of Fund Development at the Citadel Theatre, where her 15-year career allowed her to gain a deep understanding of the importance of building and maintaining lasting relationships with donors and sponsors. She is excited to use those skills at ECF to help families, charities, and businesses create uniquely tailored endowment funds focused on the betterment of the community. As a born and raised Edmontonian, Sydney is thrilled to be part of an organization like ECF, which shares her enthusiasm for enhancing the community she has always called home. Outside of the office, you can often find her and her husband chasing after their energetic young sons or enjoying some time at the curling rink.

  • Laura Kugler

    Estates & Endowments Associate
    lkugler@ecfoundation.org

    Laura Kugler is the Estates & Endowments Associate at ECF. With previous studies at MacEwan in both Journalism and Public Relations, and after 20 years in a communications/fund development role at a social service agency, Laura recently pursued a new area of interest with courses in estate and trust administration through the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the Canadian Institute of Certified Executor Advisors. Laura appreciates the opportunity to be part of the ECF team and its ability to help donors identify and support causes and issues important to them during their lifetime and/or through gifts from their estate. Laura sums up her guiding principle with the following quote from Mother Teresa, “If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." Laura appreciates solitude, silence, the wide open spaces of the prairies, and the beauty of Edmonton's river valley.

  • Kerri DeLuca

    Manager, Donor Engagement
    kdeluca@ecfoundation.org

    Kerri DeLuca is the Manager, Donor Engagement at ECF. She has worked at ECF since 2009, first as a Donor Services Assistant and then as a Grants Administrator in the Granting Department. Her role as Donor Engagement Lead is to enhance ECF’S relationships with donors and charities. She provides any information pertaining to donations as well as fund reports and assists our Donors/Fund Founders in any way she can. She is the CanadaHelps guru for setting up online campaign / donation pages as well as managing our Funds Directory which can be found on our website. Helping ECF’S Fund Founders grow their endowment funds is something she truly enjoys. In her spare time Kerri loves the great outdoors, spending time at her cabin and most of all being a “Special Grandma” to her beautiful grandchildren.

  • Sharlene Clarke

    Donor Engagement Coordinator
    sclarke@ecfoundation.org

    Sharlene Clarke is a Donor Engagement Coordinator at ECF, coordinating receipts and acknowledgements for the foundation’s more than 1,000 endowment funds. Holding a BA from Saint Mary's University and Certificate in Book and Magazine Publishing from Centennial College, Sharlene has 12 years of experience in magazine circulation and marketing; her most recent positions having been with Venture Publishing and University of Alberta's New Trail magazine. Her customer service and results-driven approach won her the Circulation Management Association of Canada's Caren King Scholarship Award in 2010. After living in Halifax, Calgary, Kingston, ON and Toronto, Sharlene is now happy to call Edmonton her home, and loves contributing to the community through volunteer work in education and publishing. She also enjoys playing basketball, running, and exploring the river valley (and beyond) with her dog.

  • Tracey Gleason

    Donor Grants Associate
    tgleason@ecfoundation.org

    Tracey Gleason is a Donor Grants Associate at ECF. She joined ECF in 2015, as a Donor Engagement Coordinator, after spending several years at Olds College in the roles of Stewardship Coordinator, Data Base Coordinator and Project Assistant. As the Donor Grants Associate, Tracey works with ECF’s charity partners and assists fund founders in directing their grants within the community and surrounding area to the causes they hold most dear. Outside of work you can often find her planning her next adventure, working on a new craft project, or spending time with her partner and their rescue dog.

  • Brandy Malenko

    Administrative Coordinator
    bmalenko@ecfoundation.org

    Brandy Malenko is the Administrative Coordinator to the Philanthropy & Donor Engagement team at ECF. She has spent her most recent years raising three humans and volunteering for various school and non-profit organizations and is currently furthering her education as a part-time student. She enjoys being creative, being in nature and leaping into recipe rabbit holes on whichever exciting food adventure has taken her fancy!

  • Lisa Dayanandan

    Philanthropy Advisor
    ldayanandan@ecfoundation.org

    Lisa Dayanandan is a Philanthropy Advisor at ECF. She joins the Philanthropy and Donor Engagement team with over 17 years of non-profit experience in both the UK and Canada, working with an array of causes including healthcare, education, poverty, homelessness, and international development. An advocate for the non-profit sector, Lisa serves as a board member with the local chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP). Lisa is passionate about people and their stories, and lives by the African philosophy of Ubuntu which emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals: My humanity is tied to your humanity. She is excited to join the ECF team working with donors and charities to hear their stories and contribute to strengthening our incredible community. Outside of the office Lisa is an avid reader, creative writer, coffee lover, tap dancer, and a fierce soccer mum.

Grants & Community Engagement

  • Joanne Currie

    Director, Grants & Community Engagement
    jcurrie@ecfoundation.org

    Joanne comes to the Foundation with over 30 years in the human services sector working with vulnerable populations within well respected Edmonton organizations - most recently as Director, Strategic Initiatives at United Way of the Alberta Capital Region. She has worked with
    a variety of initiatives involved in financial empowerment, food security, employability, housing and homelessness. Her favourite work involves collaboration, partnerships and innovative approaches to solving complex challenges. Joanne is most proud of being with her husband for over 22 years and mom to two amazing boys. Her passions include photography, a new love of painting, and a strong emphasis on training and development.

  • Cassandra Lundell

    Manager, Grants
    clundell@ecfoundation.org

    Cassandra Lundell is the Manager of Grants at ECF.She joined ECF in 2011 as the Grants Administrator and now manages the Community Grants and Small Grants Programs. Cassandra started her career in the non-profit sector in her hometown of Fort McMurray, as the Executive Director of the Volunteer and Information Centre. She has served on various committees, including National and Provincial Advisory Councils, the Social Framework Community Grants Advisory Committee and Edmonton Community Adult Learning Association (ECALA). She lives in Sherwood Park with her husband; her side-bar gig consists of coordinating and keeping up with the lifestyles of two teenage bonus children with an active four year old thrown into the mix. In her spare time, Cassandra enjoys trying new food, camping, paddle boarding, curling, and craft beer.

  • Anna Opryshko

    Student Awards Associate
    aopryshko@ecfoundation.org

    Anna Opryshko is the Student Awards Associate at ECF. She joined ECF in 2013 and has worked to evolve and expedite the Students Awards Program. Anna holds a Masters of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta. She is a strong proponent of co-operative housing and has been active in multiple co-ops in the city, sitting on boards and assisting in the development of their membership. Anna has volunteered with a number of arts and social services organizations, both in Edmonton and abroad: including the GELA (Greater Edmonton Library Association) Prison Project, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, and Canada World Youth. Anna fills her free time travelling, swimming, reading, and exploring her city and province with her partner and an adorably precocious toddler.

  • Melisa Zapisocky

    Grants Associate
    mzapisocky@ecfoundation.org

    Melisa Zapisocky is a Grants Associate at ECF. She joined ECF in 2023 to assist with the discretionary grant programs. Melisa holds a Master of Science in Environmental Studies focused on community-based agriculture. Before coming to ECF, she held various positions connected to growing vibrant and resilient food systems in Edmonton and across Alberta. Melisa is passionate about enabling change guided by community wisdom and local action and finds daily joy in spending time in Edmonton’s River Valley, working on her bird and plant identification skills, and gardening.

  • Rebekah Andrews

    Grants Assistant
    randrews@ecfoundation.org

    Rebekah Andrews is the Grants Assistant on the Grants team at ECF. A graduate of the Arts & Cultural Management program (MacEwan University), she has 10 years of experience working administratively within the performing arts field and joined ECF in 2023. She’s thrilled to be part of an organization that adds so much vibrancy to a city she loves and in so many different sectors! Rebekah has a love for live theatre and music, wedding videography, and spending quality time with friends, family, and the tiny humans in her life!

  • Dave Chowne

    Grants Associate
    dchowne@ecfoundation.org

    Dave Chowne is a Grants Associate at the Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF). With over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, Dave has devoted his career to advancing community strategies in mental health and poverty reduction. A proud Edmontonian, Dave finds fulfillment in contributing to the well-being of the community he calls home. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his two very active kids, exploring the city's outdoor spaces, and continuing his lifelong passion for helping others.

Marketing & Communications

  • Anna Alfonso

    Director of Marketing & Communications
    aalfonso@ecfoundation.org

    Anna Alfonso is the Director of Marketing & Communications at ECF. Before joining the Foundation, Anna was the Director of Marketing, Communications and Fund Development at the award-winning Edmonton Public Library (EPL). Prior to EPL, she held leadership roles at Canada’s largest tourism destination West Edmonton Mall including Vice President of Marketing. Anna is also grateful to have grown her experience as a marketing and communications leader through contributing to exemplary brands including Travel Alberta and E! Entertainment throughout her career. Anna enjoys spinning, painting and handcrafting fragrances. She’s a big fan of audiobooks, especially thrillers and memoirs.

  • Andrew Paul

    Marketing & Communications Advisor
    apaul@ecfoundation.org

    Andrew Paul is an award-winning writer and podcaster with 20 years of experience in journalism and non-profit communications. As a Marketing & Communications Advisor at Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF), Andrew oversees the production of the Foundation’s award-winning Legacy in Action magazine and produces ECF’s national award-winning The Well-Endowed Podcast. In 2021, he was selected as one of Edify magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 for his work in Edmonton’s storytelling community.

  • Ramy Abdel-Keriem

    Marketing and Communications Coordinator
    rabdelkeriem@ecfoundation.org

    Ramy Abdel-Keriem is a Marketing and Communications Coordinator at ECF. Ramy has a Bachelor of Communications and Media Studies from the University of Calgary and a Diploma in Radio, Television, and Broadcast News from SAIT. Previously, Ramy worked in the broadcast radio industry as a multimedia producer for 102.3 Now! Radio. As a multimedia producer, Ramy excelled in crafting compelling content, keeping up with the latest trends, and interacting with the community. In his free time, Ramy enjoys spending time with his dog Izzy, catching up on current events, and exploring new music.

Finance

  • Chris Quinn

    Chief Financial Officer

    Chris Quinn is the Chief Financial Officer at ECF. After graduating from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce co-op degree, he articled at Grant Thornton LLP. This time included a secondment to Grant Thornton’s Dublin, Ireland office. After six years of public company financial reporting with TELUS and The Brick, Chris joined ECF and has loved every minute of it. He spends his free time chasing rugby and golf balls around. He and his wife love to travel and are excited to show their daughter the world!

  • Florence (Oluwaseyi) Okeola

    Controller
    ookeola@ecfoundation.org

    Florence (Oluwaseyi) Okeola, CPA, CGA, is the Controller at ECF. She has several years of experience in accounting and received a bachelor’s degree in Applied Business Administration – Accounting (2012) from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Florence holds a certificate in Canadian Securities Course (2007) and Higher National Diploma in Accounting (2002). She received her Certified General Accounting designation in 2013. Prior to joining ECF in 2014, Florence was a Financial Analyst with Telus Retail Ltd. She is an active member of her church where she volunteers to serve in different sections. She and her husband have three children.

  • Gladys Dela Rosa-Bugayong

    Senior Financial Analyst

    Gladys Dela Rosa-Bugayong is the Senior Financial Analyst at ECF. She has been with ECF since 2014, and worked as a Regional Accountant for ETISALAT in Dubai before coming to Canada. She is active in Couples for Christ, an international religious group recognized by the Vatican church. She also supports a number of charities to improve the lives of the young citizens of the world, as she believes that the youth are the future of the world. Gladys is originally from the Philippines and is energetic and outspoken, yet kind-hearted, hardworking, and a team builder.

  • Annie Blanquisco

    Accounting Clerk
    ablanquisco@ecfoundation.org

    Annie Blanquisco is the Accounting Clerk of Edmonton Community Foundation. She has over a decade of experience in accounting. Before joining ECF, she worked with the finance and administrative department of: Smart Communications Inc., Telus Retails, KBR Canada, City of Edmonton, and more. She graduated from Tomas Claudio Memorial College — Philippines with a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Major in Accounting. She is committed to her church in the Philippines and the seminary section of the church (Church of Christ Cardona Rizal). In her leisure, she enjoys craftwork, cooking and gardening. She lives in Edmonton with her family.

  • Nneoma Olike

    Business Systems Analyst
    nolike@ecfoundation.org

    Nneoma Olike serves as the Senior Business Systems Analyst at ECF, a role she has held since April 2024. With over five years of experience in technology consulting, she has collaborated with various firms and cross-functional teams to deliver tailored technology solutions across multiple industries. Nneoma specializes in analyzing business needs, streamlining processes, and implementing system-based solutions that enhance efficiency and productivity.

    She holds a Master's degree in Biotechnology from Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland, and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Nigeria. Nneoma is deeply interested in Science & Technology and is passionate about using technology to drive business success. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the latest advancements in technology.