Our Board of Directors

Our Board sets the direction and monitors the effectiveness and efficiency of ABC Head Start Society.

The Board of Directors is an elected group of dedicated individuals responsible for shaping the strategic direction of ABC Head Start Society. They ensure the organization has the resources needed to thrive and provide oversight through our Executive Director and Leadership Team.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to former Directors for their unwavering commitment and volunteerism. Your dedication to supporting children and families has made a lasting impact. Thank you for your continued belief in the mission of ABC Head Start Society.

We are currently looking for volunteers to join our Board of Directors. Check out the details here. For more information please email volunteer@abcheadstart.org

Meet Our Current Board of Directors

  • Wes was born and raised in Edmonton and received a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta. He is married (Tammy Patterson) and has 2 sons, Logan (26) and Sawyer (24). Wes previously owned and operated Brokel Industries and Norlab Laboratory Systems. He has been involved in the purchase and sale of several businesses including a multi-location fitness company in Edmonton called Club Fit and a 60-unit assisted living facility named Discovery Place for Living. He has also been an avid community supporter, sitting on the board of Junior Achievement and as a past president of Edmonton’s Entrepreneurs Organization. Currently Wes is the CEO of Quesnell International which manages and develops real estate in Canada and the United States. Also, he is a partner and vice president of the Ranch Golf and Country Club.

  • Ajit has been engaged with ABC Head Start as a board director since 2019. Currently, he is leading the finance committee of ABC Head Start. He is passionate about giving back to the community and actively engaged in volunteering with the City of Edmonton and Habitat for Humanity International. Ajit leverages over two decades of experience in the investment management and banking industry, including Morgan Stanley, HSBC, and Scotiabank and draws upon years of experience in the financial industry to provide perspective to our Board and the Finance Committee. Ajit was born and raised in the central part of India - Pune. He has experience working in diverse cultures - Japan, India, the United States, and Canada! He is a software engineer by graduation and a CFA charter holder. He loves to play chess and take road trips.

  • Nicole is an Edmonton based lawyer who is passionate about giving back to her community. She has a background in supporting and organizing children and youth programs through her experience with YESS Edmonton and BGCBigs. Through volunteering on the ABC Head Start Board of Directors, she is looking forward to supporting the strong roots of ABC Head Start in the Edmonton community. Early childhood education and development needs to be championed for our children and for our communities – She values the opportunity to support this endeavor as a board member with ABC Head Start.

  • Morgan Davis holds a Bachelors of Commerce from McGill University, majoring in Marketing and Global Strategic Management. After starting her career as a marketer in the private sector, she was drawn to the public sector and now works as a Communications Coordinator for the City of Edmonton. Morgan has a passion for education and the arts, and works towards improving accessibility of both to youth everywhere. She is excited to contribute directly to the Edmonton community though volunteering with ABC Head Start.

  • Michelle Luong holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction from the University of Alberta, majoring in Business Economics and Law. She currently works as the Executive Communications Officer at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music | Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (Winspear | ESO), managing grant applications and reporting. She also supports the Community Investment team, overseeing a portfolio of corporate sponsors who invest in concert programming or the ESO's Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta program. Michelle is passionate about serving her community. Her volunteer experience includes three years as a Faculty Leader and one year as a Team Facilitator for the University of Alberta’s Week of Welcome program, orientating and welcoming new students to campus. She also volunteered with the Winspear | ESO’s Young Leadership Council for one year, working to engage young Edmontonians in music-focused events and opportunities. 

  • Ben Jasper holds several degrees including his Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management, Bachelor of Business Administration Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Bringing with him a strong academic foundation in business, leadership, and organizational dynamics.

    Ben currently serves as Senior Director, Leasing at First Capital REIT, where he manages a multi-million square foot retail asset portfolio and leads the leasing division in Edmonton. In this role, he oversees lease negotiations and renewals, supports asset acquisitions and divestitures, and provides strategic recommendations on capital improvement projects to enhance property performance.

    Prior to his current role, Ben progressed through several leadership positions at First Capital REIT, including Director, Leasing and Senior Leasing Manager, building more than a decade of experience in commercial real estate strategy and leasing operations. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Senior Industrial Real Estate Associate, and as a Commercial Real Estate Assistant & Associate, where he focused on business development, market research, tenant relations, and negotiating industrial, office, and retail leasing opportunities.

    Ben is passionate about giving back to his community. He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity International since 2007, helping build homes for families in need and supporting initiatives that raise funds and awareness for the organization. He previously co-owned The Green Team, a sustainability-focused initiative dedicated to environmentally responsible practices.

  • Surabhi was raised in Southern India, lived in the UK for 20 years, and has been living in Canada for the last 20 years. She started One World Montessori School in London, England in 1997. When her family moved to Edmonton, they opened a school in the southwest of the city. Surabhi officially retired in August 2022. For several years, she has been privileged to be involved in many ABC Head Start community projects including annual fund-raising projects involving the students of One World Montessori School. It was therefore a very natural progression for her to join the ABC Head Start Board. Surabhi loves working with children and has learned much from them – most of all she has learned to look at the world from the eyes of a child. In her retirement, she hopes to run community art classes for young children. Surabhi puts much emphasis on living a healthy life style, in her spare time she exercises, paints, reads, travels, and enjoys the great Canadian outdoors with her family.

  • Jennifer has over 15 years of teaching experience and more than 20 years of volunteer work with children. Her career spans roles as a teacher, learning coach, and lead teacher, with extensive expertise in early childhood education from preschool to grade 3. Recently, she transitioned into administration as an assistant principal and acting principal, where she continues to support students, teachers and support staff.

    Jennifer holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, focusing on teaching through an emergent curriculum approach while aligning with mandatory curriculum requirements. She has a strong foundation in the Reggio Emilia philosophy and a deep commitment to literacy, particularly in reading development.

    She is an active member of the Early Childhood Education Council (ECEC) and has dedicated several years as the secretary of the Edmonton Regional Early Childhood Education Council. Jennifer has hosted professional development sessions for educators in various capacities, both within her school and through external organizations.

    As a wife to her incredible husband and mother to two beautiful daughters, Jennifer strives to be a strong role model for her family. Inspired by her remarkable mother, she is passionate about education, mental health and wellness and women empowerment.

  • Gloria, a dynamic professional with an MBA from the University of Alberta and a proven track record of success, brings a wealth of experience to the ABC Head Start Non-profit organization. With a history of founding and growing three thriving businesses, starting her entrepreneurial journey at 21, Gloria possesses an innate understanding of business and organizational dynamics.  Proficient in employing established business tools and fostering teamwork to ensure accountability, Gloria is a strategic partner ready to provide direction to ABC Head Start’s board of directors as they execute their vision and deliver tangible results. Her passion lies in problem-solving, optimizing organizational efficiency, and guiding leaders to holistic success. In addition, Gloria has wielded her governance skills in Edmonton's non-profit sector, where she has passionately given back to her community serving as both treasurer and board chair. She resides in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and children and enjoys being outdoors in nature and walking and biking in Edmonton’s river valley

  • Maria comes from a diverse background, in addition to having lived in different countries, including Switzerland where she completed her MBA, before planting roots in Canada. She has extensive experience in the hospitality industry and finance in prior to switching to the non-profit sector, where she currently works as a Portfolio Manager. Maria is inspired by her children and passionate about giving back to the community. During her down-time, she enjoys baking with her children, reading, exploring different cuisines and travelling.

  • Olivia is a former Kindergarten teacher with Edmonton Public Schools and works as a Curriculum Coordinator at the University of Alberta. She holds a Bachelor of Elementary Education from the University of Alberta and a Master’s in Education from the University of Ottawa. Olivia is excited about the opportunity to dive back into early childhood education and looks forward to contributing to ABC Headstart's positive impact on the children of Edmonton. Outside of her professional life, Olivia is an avid reader and baker and a lover of the outdoors. Her dedication to learning and nurturing young minds remains at the core of her career and personal pursuits.