K. Jane George, BA:
In 1999, I was hired as the first Executive Director of Wellwood, a fledgling not-for-profit in my hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. Not surprisingly, I didn’t grow up dreaming of running a cancer support centre but, as John Lennon reportedly said, “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.” Cancer altered the course of my life, as it does for so many people, and those experiences led me to what I describe as a “calling” rather than a career. I was the former Director of Public Relations and Alumni Advancement at the Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University.
Norma Frankoff, BA:
I joined Wellwood in 2000 as Director of Programs and organizational development. Prior to that, I led board governance training and development for the local not-for-profit sector at the United Way and brought to my role a strong background in community development, volunteer management, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and anti-oppression. Working with more than 150 volunteer boards during my tenure at the United Way had a tremendous impact on my understanding of the relationship between inclusion, empowerment, and community.