Executive
Rob Bromley, Chair
Rob is the President and Partner of Force Four Entertainment where he has developed successful relationships with national and international networks and production partners on a variety of drama, lifestyle, and documentary projects. Rob is actively involved in the Canadian production community and is currently the Chair of the BC Branch Council of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association and is an advisor to the Canadian Film Centre. He participates at International markets, conferences, and as a presenter at various workshops and panels. He is also the President of the Canadian Angelman Syndrome Society. Rob and his wife Kathy are parents to a daughter Shannon and son Michael.
Al Etmanski, President
Al Etmanski is an author, advocate and social entrepreneur specializing in innovative, multi-sectoral solutions to social challenges. He is President and co-founder of Planned Lifetime Advocacy Networks (PLAN), assisting families, across Canada and globally, address the financial and social well-being of their relative with a disability, particularly after their parents die. He proposed and led the successful campaign to establish the world's first Registered Disability Savings Plan-RDSP. Al is the author of two best selling books, and a founding member of the J W McConnell Family Foundation's Social Innovation Generation (SIG) collaboration, dedicated to scaling up and financing solutions to deeply rooted social problems. Al's focus these days is strengthening the community's creativity to care for each other and our environment. He admits to having played air guitar with Randy Bachmann of Bachmann-Turner-Overdrive in a rock video.
Jack Styan, Executive Director
Jack played a key role in bringing the concept of a Registered Disability Savings Plan to Ottawa. Following the federal government's commitment to implement the plan, he lead the advocacy work to encourage provincial governments to make the accommodations within their disability income programs that would allow people with disabilities to utilize the RDSP without being penalized.
Jack is committed to the vision of a good life for all people with disabilities and the i mportance of a strong family voice in advocating for changes to benefit their loved ones.
Jack has worked at PLAN for the past six years and most of the previous 20 years at the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion.
Lifetime Member Services
Lauri Thompson, Director of Services
Lauri has a deep commitment to people and the importance of friendships in assuring safety, security and a good life for people with disabilities. She has a natural ability to see the abilities and gifts of all people she encounters. Her life experiences, personal and professional have prepared her well for her responsibilities at PLAN.
Lauri has been working with communities and families for the last 15 years, both from a domestic and international perspective. Lauri holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and a Masters in International Development from the University of Manchester in the UK. Lauri’s experience lies largely in project management in both not for profit and for profit contexts. In the 6 years prior to joining PLAN, Lauri worked in an international development program focused on building networks of support for people who had become socially isolated as a result of HIV/AIDS. Prior to this, she worked as a human resources professional in Vancouver. Lauri has experienced disability through the eyes of two close family members; this combined with her experience in both social justice and business bring a unique contribution to PLAN.
Lauri grew up in the Lower Mainland but has lived in Kosovo, Mozambique, the Eastern United States, and most recently the UK. She is the Director of Services at PLAN and is responsible for member services and oversight of the development of personal networks in the organization.
Erin Holland, Coordinator of Social Networks
Erin is responsible for mentoring a number of PLAN's social networks. She loves that her job at PLAN involves everything from going English Country dancing with a network, to supporting a family as they meet with a clinical team, to writing an article about friendship. Above all, she is passionate about working with families and is inspired by the strength and love they show in what can often be a long journey through systems and bureaucracies.
Erin has lived in Germany, Montreal, rural Quebec and various parts of Newfoundland while studying Anthropology, Linguistics and Social Work. In her professional life she has worked primarily with seniors, people with disabilities and their families. She has been a social worker in community health, nursing homes, acute care and geriatric mental health. Before joining PLAN, she managed a provincial program at a small non-profit organization, building community networks with families in cities and small towns across Newfoundland and Labrador.
She is pleased that her work at PLAN brings her close to her roots as a native British Columbian and as someone who grew up with a sister with disabilities.
Pat Tesan, Family Resource Coordinator
Connie Buhrig, Mentor
Connie began serving people with disabilities at Delta Community Living Society. During her tenure of 14 years she managed their residential services, training programs and created the systems necessary to provide high quality services. At PLAN Connie is a Community Connector and Mentor. She feels honored to work with individuals and their loved ones helping create safety, security and peace of mind through caring relationships.
Public Policy
Kristi Fairholm Mader, Director of Public Policy
Kristi Fairholm Mader has been working with communities for over 10 years, both locally and internationally as a youth worker, social enteprise practitioner and in community development. Kristi joined PLAN in September 2006 as Director of Social Enterprise before moving towards Public Policy. She completed her Masters of International Leadership from SFU in 2007, and sits on the Board of The Cleaning Solution social enterprise.
Administration
Debbie Chan, Director of Administration
Debbie Chan started in September 2009 as Director of Administration at PLAN. She has a Commerce and an Education degree from UBC. After she graduated from Commerce, Debbie worked at various information technology and human resource companies. Then, she made a career change and became a secondary school teacher for six years. Teaching was very fulfilling for Debbie, and now, she is excited to give back to the community in another capacity.
Maria Venida, Accounting and Payroll Administrator
Maria came to PLAN as a Part time Bookkeeper in Spring 2009, following a very satisfying 12 year venture as a School Office Administrator/Bookkeeper in one of the schools in the Tri City area. Maria has 2 wonderful sons, ages 23 and 20 and a supportive husband of 25 years. Maria hopes to be a contributing member to the PLAN team in the years to come, in support of its mission, to advocate for the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Rani Lally, Information Coordinator
Rani came to PLAN as a temp and we are refusing to let her leave. She is a skilled database manager on top of playing soccer, piano and fighting off her two brothers. She is currently in school studying business entrepreneurship.
Lisa Kleefman, Receptionist/Administrative Assistant
Lisa came to PLAN after a very satisfying 5 year venture as a Key Account Customer Service Team lead for Robeez Footwear. Lisa has 2 wonderful sons, ages 13 and 10 and a supportive husband. Lisa hopes to be a contributing member to the PLAN team in the years to come, in support of its mission, to advocate for the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community.
