Our Leadership Team

Executive Team

Chief Executive Officer

Karen Olivier

A Calgarian since 1975, Karen is the CEO and co-founder of Closer to Home Community Services. Karen is an alum of Queen’s University, holding a B.A. Honours in Psychology and has provided services for children and families for over 30 years. Karen has served in numerous leadership positions in Alberta, most recently as a Board member for a provincial advocacy association for children and families and serves as a Board Director of the Teaching Family Association. For the past 10 years, Karen has also provided consultation and development services to social service agencies in the United States and New Zealand to support their efforts in implementing an evidence-based best practice models for children, youth and adults in both group care and educational day treatment settings.

Director of Strategy & Community Services

Arlene Oostenbrink

Arlene has been with Closer to Home since 1998. Arlene has an extensive history of managing and directing all Teaching Family Model program service deliveries. She brings significant clinical, and programmatic and outcome focused expertise to her role at Closer to Home. Arlene supervises community services managers and their staff, oversees our Indigenous services, works closely with funders, collaborates with other agencies and partners, develops new proposals and initiatives and provides her expertise and knowledge into the major decisions for the organization. Arlene is a qualified evaluator and peer reviewer of Teaching Family Association organizations at an international level, and is an expert consultant in supporting other agencies to implement the Teaching-Family Model.

Director of In-Care Services

Erin O'Reilly

Erin is a born and raised Calgarian and has worked at Closer to Home Community Services since 1999. She has worked with children and families for nearly 25 years and has served on regional and provincial committees regarding child and family services. Internationally, Erin has served as Chair of the Teaching Family Association Accreditation and Ethics Committee, and is a trainer of peer reviewers and an established agency development expert. Through this work, Erin has supported agencies from the United States and New Zealand in their implementation of the Teaching Family Model – an evidence-based, and trauma-informed best practice treatment approach for children, youth, adults and families.

Director of Finance

David Quach, CPA

David manages Closer to Home’s financial resources and facilities. Before joining us in 2021, David gained financial and operational experience while at Benevity, working with international donor-advised funds to disburse over $1 billion of donations annually through their donation platform. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan along with his CPA designation in Alberta.

Board of Directors

Chair

Trish Bronsch

BSN

Consultant Non-Profit Sector

With over 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles within the not for profit sector, Trish is committed to giving back to the community and sharing her expertise. As CEO for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, she served on national and international committees related to the cause. She consults with various organizations in the areas of board governance, fundraising and strategic direction. Currently she is involved with board roles, committee initiatives and national not for profit best practices.

Vice Chair

Shannon Friesen

CPHR

Principal and Sr. HR Consultant, ACTivate HR

Shannon brings over three decades of knowledge and expertise across all areas of Human Resources. Now a partner in an HR consulting company, she assists organizations to develop effective human resource practices to create exceptional workplaces. Shannon is a licensed professional investigator for workplace investigations. Shannon has served on boards and volunteered extensively in helping organizations. Notably, she served as a Director as well as the Chair of the Board of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) association.

Treasurer

Mark E. George

BBA

Managing Partner & Founder, EdgeMark Capital & Advisory Services Inc.

Mark is a proven business leader with global experience in multiple industries.  Prior to starting EdgeMark, a strategic and financial advisory services firm that focuses on raising capital and assisting companies with transformational activities, he had a distinguished career in high-tech, residential/commercial construction and professional services.  Mark has served on several private company and not for profit boards. He brings financial expertise and a willingness to contribute personal and professional resources to help Closer to Home grow and serve the community.

Board Director

Erin Viala

LLB

Partner, HMC Lawyers LLP

Erin is a Partner with the Calgary boutique litigation and employment firm HMC Lawyers LLP. She has been practising principally in the areas of Employment, Insolvency, Commercial Debt Recovery and Commercial Litigation since 2006. Volunteering is an important part of Erin’s life. In addition to being a volunteer member of the Closer to Home Board of Directors, Erin volunteers with the Canadian Women’s Foundation and Canadian Bar Association.

Board Director

Jody Whitney

BA, MSC

Senior Strategist, Indigenous Collaboration, Enbridge Inc.

Jody is the Manager of Aboriginal Strategy for Enbridge Pipelines and brings a wealth of knowledge of centralized strategy, planning and research-based Aboriginal Affairs counsel from industry, brand and strategic message development perspectives. Jody is a member of the Tsuut’ina Nation, which borders the southwest portion of Calgary and is passionate about helping to bridge gaps and bring aboriginal peoples and communities closer to decision-making processes around industrial and resource development. She has a Master of Science degree in Justice Studies, with a thesis on sustainable development in First Nations communities, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Certificate in Native American Justice Studies with a French minor. 

Medical Advisor

Paul Ratti

M.D.

Psychiatrist

Dr. Paul Ratti is a Physician and has been a physician with Alberta Health Services since 2014. He became a board member for Closer to Home (CTH) in 2016, and through his work with CTH and AHS, is very passionate about increasing support for disadvantaged people especially young people and their families.

Board Director

We are looking for individuals to join our dedicated and knowledgeable Board to strategically guide CTH forward using a policy-based governance model.

As a volunteer Board Member, you will contribute to the development, implementation, and approval of Closer to Home’s overall strategic plan and budget and guide the organization using Board policies and objectives. You will also represent and promote the organization at external events and with stakeholders, help cultivate prospects, and raise funds.

Does this sound like you? To apply: