Rob was elected in 2009 as the President of Reach Child and Youth Development Society. Rob has been involved with Reach Board of Directors for many years in various roles. He has also been on the Board of several other local charities including ACT:Autism Community Training, Giant Steps Vancouver and the Autism Society of B.C.

Rob is a Senior Project Engineer with MDA where he has worked for over 15 years in the development of large scale computer systems including satellite ground stations, satellite imaging systems, flight planning and pre-flight briefing systems, weather systems and property information systems. Rob is also one of the founders of EyeOnBoard LLC, a provider of yacht monitoring and security systems. He graduated in 1986 from SFU with a B.Sc. degree in Computing Science and Mathematics

Rob is married to his best friend Sherry and they reside in Surrey with their two boys age 12 and 15. Both boys are affected by autism. Rob and Sherry have utilized ABA in specialized home programs for each of their children, and have received services from Reach including Positive Behavioural Support and the Reach Preschool previously named LEAP. Rob’s children have also attended Giant Steps Vancouver specialized school for children within the autism spectrum.

“While I do not have a lot of time to spare, one way that I can give something back to the Reach organization is to be on the Board of Directors to help it continue to grow and to continue to make accessible and provide the very best possible direct services to local children, youth, and families.”

Jack is a retired Manager of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) with 40 years of service stationed in Saskatchewan, North West Ontario and B.C. Throughout his career with CIBC Jack worked in 13 different branches before retiring in 1987. Since his retirement Jack has done several years of contract work with the Industrial Development Bank, and has devoted a great deal of his time to volunteering in his community. He is a Life Member of Lions International serving with the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club, and helped to set up a “Donors Choice” program in Humboldt Saskatchewan.

Jack has been Director/Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Reach since 2000, and sits on the Reach Finance, Fundraising and Communications sub-committees. He has contributed countless volunteer hours to Reach, and with the benefit of his expertise in financial management has provided the Society with valuable advice and guidance.

“I volunteered with the Society several years ago as I felt that I could use my experience as a banker. I did not know much about them until I was involved with the Lions Club and they made a donation. I did not expect the Society to grow as fast as it has. I look forward to continuing to serve the Society especially now that we are looking at new premises. I have enjoyed working with the Executive Director and the staff."

Jill is the foster parent of 5 children who have special needs. All of Jill’s children have been served by Reach programs and services. Jill has been on the Board of Directors for Reach since 2003 and also sits on the Reach Finance, Fundraising and Communications sub-committees.

“The committed and dedicated staff at Reach is what led me to volunteer on the Board of Directors. I am honoured to be a part of an organization that puts kids first."

Marcia and her husband have been the owners and operators of John’s Thistle Auto Ltd in Ladner for the past 25 years. Prior to that Marcia spent 10 years at BC Gas (now Terasen) in budgets and cost accounting. She is also involved in the Delta School District Special Programs Community Advisory Committee.

Marcia has served on the Board of Directors for Reach Child and Youth Development Society since 1997 in the roles of Director, Treasurer and most recently President, stepping down in October, 2009. She also sits on the Reach Finance, Fundraising and Communications sub-committees. Marcia has worked tirelessly over the years on many projects and initiatives, and in her role as President has helped to guide the organization in its recent name change from DACD (Delta Association for Child Development) and in the development of its new Foundation.

“My youngest son has autism. I was fortunate to have a neighbor tell me about Reach (then called DACD), when I had concerns about his development. Since then he has received amazing supports and interventions that have met his needs over time. I feel so fortunate that I am in a position to give back to this great organization” 

JoAnn is a foster parent with 3 children who have varying degrees of special needs. She has always been interested in the special needs community and has volunteered in various capacities since she was 13 years old. She has become a strong advocate for children with special needs and their parents, is active on the Delta DPAC and is the Delta DPAC  representative on the Special Programs Advisory Committee. JoAnn has been on the Board of Directors for Reach since 2004 and also sits on the Reach Finance, Fundraising and Communications sub-committees.

“My family keeps me active and busy all the time. I love being a parent and an advocate for my kids. All of my kids have been active in the Reach community since they were babies, and I have seen so many great things happen in each of their lives because of the programs that are offered by Reach Society. Reach helped build foundations for my kids in our community and has changed their lives for the better. I wanted to give back to the organization that has had an impact on my family and other kids so much. I am honored to be a part of Reach Society.”

Phyllis has lived in South Delta’s Tsawwassen community for 23 years and is currently a grade 1 teacher at Cliff Drive Elementary School. She has taught with both the Richmond and Delta School Districts as a Kindergarten and Primary Teacher, and has a B.A and B.Ed. from Simon Fraser University and M.Ed. from The University of British Columbia.

Phyllis has been on the Reach Board since 2005 as a member at large. Having worked with a wide range of students with a variety of abilities in the classroom she has provided the Board with valuable advice and guidance from a teacher’s perspective.
 

Karen has 28 years of special education experience working as support staff, a teacher and behaviour consultant with the Vancouver School Board. She is currently a District Case Manager for the VSB providing support to students with special needs, staff professional development, schools and district programs. Karen has a child with special needs and has participated in the IDP, EIBI and Kids Friendship Club programs at Reach. 

Karen joined the Reach Board of Directors in 2008 and offers the Board a unique perspective as both an educator and a parent of a child with special needs.

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Reach Child and Youth Development Society this past year. I would be privileged to continue in this capacity”.

Kari has lived in South Delta's Ladner community for over 19 years and attended Delta Secondary School. She is a busy mom to her baby daughter and 2 young boys, both of whom have participated in Reach programs including IDP SCD PBS  Speech and Language Therapy, OT (Occupational Therapy) and Reach Developmental Preschool. She also keeps busy working part-time at a local salon and runs her own home-based business.

Kari joined the Reach Board of Directors in 2007 and has been a valuable voice of  parent and community member. 

“My oldest son is on the Autism Spectrum and without the programs and services we have accessed at Reach I don’t know where we would be. I am so thankful that such a great organization exists and that I can be a part of it and help give back to this community. I am looking forward to continuing to do so as we move forward into the future with the development of the Foundation and further growth of the Society.”