The Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who share a commitment to the well-being of children and families. The role of the Board of Directors is to ensure the on-going sustainability, credibility and ability of the organization to realize its Mandate, Vision, Mission Statement and Values & Guiding Principles.
Executive Members
Mr. Kulveer Virk, M.Eng., PMP, Board Chair
Mr. Kulveer Virk has been a Board Director since September 2016, currently serving as the Chair of the Board. He is presently working for a major automotive manufacturer in Detroit as ITO Transformation Manager.
Mr. Virk has over 20 years of experience in managing and delivering complex programs in Information Technology and is a thought leader with deep experience in solving business problems utilizing continuous improvement methods and efficient use of technologies. He teaches Management of Information Systems as adjunct professor at University of Windsor. His expertise includes creating process efficiencies, governance structures, data analytics and strong stakeholder relations.
Mr. Virk brings over a decade of board governance, strategic planning and program management experiences serving multiple roles in various sectors in USA and Canada.
Ms. Stephanie Savoni, LL.B., Vice Chair
Ms. Stephanie Savoni has been a Board Director since September 2021, currently serving as the Vice Chair of the Board, and the Chair of the Governance Committee. Ms. Savoni is counsel to Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP in its Toronto office, and has been working in the field of workplace safety and insurance law for over 23 years. Her practice is dedicated exclusively to representing employers in workplace safety and insurance law matters. Prior to joining Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP, Ms. Savoni spent 18 years representing and advising Ontario employers with the Office of the Employer Adviser, an independent agency of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
Ms. Savoni graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1998 from the University of Windsor and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2000. Ms. Savoni has also been teaching employment law and property law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor as a sessional instructor since 2016, and she devotes much of her personal time to mentoring and supporting her students, both past and current.
Ms. Savoni has a deep personal interest in social justice and advocacy for youth and children and is so pleased to have the opportunity to contribute her skills to the WECAS as a Board Director.
Ms. Melissa Cuzzocrea, CPA, CA., Treasurer
Ms. Melissa Cuzzocrea has been a Board Director since January 2022, currently serving as Treasurer of the Board and Chair of the Corporate Services Committee. Ms. Cuzzocrea is a Director in Baker Tilly Windsor’s Assurance and Advisory department. She has over 20 years of accounting experience, most of which has been spent in public accounting. Ms. Cuzzocrea works primarily with owner-managed corporations providing business advisory, accounting, and tax compliance services, as well as personal and corporate tax planning services.
Melissa graduated from the University of Windsor with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree. She earned her Chartered Accountant designation in 2000 and her CPA designation in 2008 in the State of Illinois. Ms. Cuzzocrea has also taught at the University of Windsor Odette School Of Business as a sessional instructor.
Ms. Stephanie Williams, Secretary
Boozhoo, Anii Stephanie Williams dizhinikaaz! Ojibway from Bkejwanong Territory. Ms. Williams has been a Board Director since September 2018, currently filling the designated seat for a representative of the Indigenous community. She currently serves as Board Secretary and sits on both the Governance and Services Planning Committees.
Ms. Williams was born and raised on reserve (Walpole Island First Nation), where she lived all her life. She is a daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, cousin and mother of two children. Ms. Williams brings with her a great deal of experience through her professional career as well as life experiences. She possesses a Social Service Worker Diploma from St. Lawrence College, specializing in Indigenous Peoples, and she is currently a Bachelor’s of Social work student with Toronto Metropolitan University.
Ms. Williams worked at Three Fires Exhignowenmindwaa Women’s Shelter for ten years, Sarnia Lambton Children’s Aid Society and currently at the South West Detention Centre. She enjoys working with people and being a helper. She believes in Wholistic and traditional healing along with promoting healthy balanced daily living and the safety and well-being of all.
Mr. Shane Renaud, OMC, Police Constable, Services Planning Committee Chair
Mr. Shane Renaud has been a Board Director since September 2018, currently serving as Chair of the Services Planning Committee. As a former Crown Ward, he is a strong advocate for children and youth. During his teen years, Shane acted as a liaison between youth in care and the WECAS Board and he has continued donating his time ever since by providing presentations to foster parents, youth in care and staff.
Shane’s commitment to the Windsor-Essex community is also reflected in his chosen profession, that of a Constable with the Windsor Police Service. He is a graduate of the Law and Security Administration Program at St. Clair College, the Ontario Police College’s Constable Training Program and has an Executive Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the University of Windsor – Faculty of Law.
Mr. Renaud has been an active and previous member of the Board of Directors serving from 2004-2014; and he served in all roles including that of President. Mr. Renaud’s initial term further included him representing Southwest Ontario on the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) and being one of only 12 members named from the Province of Ontario to represent the Society by sitting as a member with the Commission to Promote Sustainability in Child Welfare. At the conclusion of Mr. Renaud’s tenure, he took a four-year hiatus.
In December of 2016, Mr. Renaud’s volunteer work with the Society, Windsor Police Service and advocacy for youth in care was recognized with him being awarded the Ontario Medal of Good Citizenship.
Dr. Vikesh Maraj, MD, CCFP, FCFP, Board Director
Dr. Vikesh Maraj has been a Board Director since September 2021, currently sitting on the Corporate Services Committee. Originally from South Africa, he is a Windsor based family physician with 20 years of experience.
Dr. Maraj is the President of the Essex County Medical Society and is also the Ontario Medical Association District 1 Representative, Section of General and Family Practice.
Passionate about addressing all facets of healthcare, Dr. Maraj is deeply embedded in both the local and provincial healthcare system. He strongly advocates for physician involvement in both the design and implementation of patient centric healthcare policy.
Supt. Brendan Dodd, MBA, CMM III, Board Director
Supt. Brendan Dodd was elected to the Board in October 2022. He sits on the Corporate Services Committee. Brendan has served as a police officer with the Windsor Police Service (WPS) for over twenty seven years. For the last six years, he has held the rank of Superintendent and his portfolio includes, Information Technology, Information Management, and Planning and Resources for the WPS. Superintendent Dodd has worked in a diverse array of operational and administrative assignments. He has frontline operational and supervisory experience in the areas of patrol response and tactical support. Additionally, he served as a Detective for four years of specialized investigative work in the area of internet child exploitation offences and technology crime, where he led several investigations that were international in scope, and utilized his expertise as a trained Computer Forensic Examiner.
A strong believer in the power of technology to transform public safety service delivery, Superintendent Dodd has also led a number of cross-functional special project teams tasked with implementing strategic information and communications technology initiatives. These projects have included the deployment of large-scale digital voice radio and broadband mobile data systems, as well as CAD and RMS applications. Superintendent Dodd also served as the National Co-Chair of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Committee of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and as a member of the Innovation and IT Committees of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP).
Brendan has an undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario (Huron College) and a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Windsor. In addition to professional certifications in policing and emergency management, Superintendent Dodd achieved Executive Level accreditation as a Certified Municipal Manager by the Province of Ontario, and has served in a variety of Governance roles, including as a member of National Police Information Systems Advisory Board (NPIS-AB) and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Windsor-Essex County Children’s Aid Society and other not for profit entities.
Dr. Nila Das, PhD., MBA, Board Director
Dr. Nila Das was elected to the WECAS board position in September 2023 and presently sits on the Services Planning Committee. Her role as the Executive Director at the Windsor Essex Child/Youth Advocacy Centre (WECYAC) exemplifies her unwavering commitment to dismantle obstacles, drive systemic change, and foster collaborative partnerships, all with the goal of enhancing the lives of young individuals.
Throughout her career in the health and community care sector, Dr. Das has occupied pivotal roles, including Lead for Strategic Growth & Partnerships, where she played a crucial part in deploying virtual nursing services, Ontario Health Teams Partnerships, and leading efforts to restore nursing services during labor disruptions and cyberattacks.
Dr. Das serves on the Board of Directors for both the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County and the Windsor Regional Hospital. With a Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences and a Master of Business Administration, both earned at the University of Windsor, Dr. Das seamlessly combines her research and business acumen to provide a solid foundation for her work in advocacy, research, and community collaboration.
Ms. Princess Small, B.Ed., M.Ed., Board Director
Ms. Princess Small was elected to the Board in September 2023. She currently sits on the Services Planning Committee. Princess is a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, hailing from Jamaica. Her educational background includes a Master’s in Educational Administration and Leadership, with a focus on equitable leadership, statistical analysis, and anti-racism education, and a Bachelor of Education with a specialization in History and Culture.
Professionally, Princess has contributed significantly to the development of the youth in Windsor-Essex community as a coordinator in the Young Women in LEAD Program and as a co-founder of Beauty is Me. Her dedication extends to volunteer work, creation and conducting workshops on various issues, and certifications, including Suicide Prevention Training.
In summary, Princess Small is a tireless champion for Youth development, equity, diversity, and inclusion, committed to creating a world where all children and youth can thrive, irrespective of their background. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, she paves the way for a more inclusive future.
Mr. Adam Coates, R.A., AIA, ACIP, Board Director
Mr. Adam Coates has been a Board Director since October 2023 and serves on the Corporate Services Committee. Mr. Coates is a Licensed Architect and Professional City Planner. After working for many years in the private sector at an Engineering, Planning, and Architecture firm, Mr. Coates became interested in municipal government and city planning.
Mr. Coates graduated from Lawrence Technological University with a Master’s in Architecture. He has since become a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. Mr. Coates has years of experience working in municipal government and serving on various municipal committees and boards.
Ms. Kendall Dunlop, Youth Representative
Ms. Kendall Dunlop has been the Youth Representative on the Board since January 2022, and currently sits on the Services Planning Committee. Ms. Dunlop is a first-generation University student currently working towards obtaining her Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Psychology degrees with the University of Windsor, and her Early Childhood Education diploma from St. Clair College. Kendall has a passion for advocating for youth in care stemming from her own experiences as a Crown Ward and her position as a kinship parent.
Kendall’s advocacy work began in 2020 when she wrote her children’s book, Sally and her Suitcase, which touched upon unique experiences that children in care have and issues that are often overlooked. Kendall also has a passion for cultivating the curiosity of young minds and has spent four years working in various comp-ed schools in Windsor Essex County as a before and after school teacher.
Ms. Dunlop brings many unique and valuable perspectives to the WECAS Board and wishes to continue to grow her knowledge and continue to advocate for the needs of youth in our community.
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Board meetings are held ten times throughout the year. If you wish to attend a meeting and/or address the Board, please contact the Executive Assistant in writing, identifying the topic, rationale and speaker(s) at nluepann@wecas.on.ca