Board of Directors
Meet Zerin's Board of Directors
Richard Badder
President
I am a retired agriculture business farmer. In the late 1990s, I had the opportunity to be involved with a low income housing development in the Chatham Kent area. After moving to London I wanted to continue to help those in need of housing. I became a member of Zerin Development Corporation and I have served as a volunteer in many ways. Now I have the opportunity to serve as the President of the Board in support of Zerin's mission to develop more affordable housing units in London for people in need. I am excited to be part of building a caring community.
Ron Rowbottom
Vice President
Married with three children and two grandchildren. I spent my working career engaged in the Environmental, Health and Safety field for global 500 companies. My education is a jurist doctorate degree focusing on environmental and social law. Now that I am a retiree my goal is to use my time to engage in organizations, like Zerin Development Corporation. Its mission is to assist individuals in alleviating poverty and enhancing persons' standard of living. Zerin, as an affordable housing non profit corporation, exemplifies the goals I have set for involvement in my retirement.
Nellie VanLeeuwen
Treasurer
As a retired Chartered Professional Accountant I am eager to share my many years of experience in corporate and not-for-profit enterprises with the Zerin Board of Directors. My prior participation with charities dealing with marginalized individuals and families will inform my work with Zerin as we "build a caring community”.
Dar Shepherdson
Director Emeritus
Dar served on the board of directors for Zerin for over 10 years. He served selflessly, with a care and love for people. He was also a person of faith. He served as Bishop of Canada for Community of Christ for many years. It has been said that he led a generous life and shared it with many. He demonstrated that many times in both word and action. Thank you for your years of service.
Paul Fitzgeorge
President Emeritus and Director
Now retired after working as a Senior Account Executive/Consultant, I have been involved since 2006 with Zerin because affordable housing is a great need in our community. For me it's more than bricks and mortar. It involves assisting in the development of communities where people can live together in peace, help one another and experience hope and joy. I am excited about and committed to Zerin's plans to build more affordable housing units in London and beyond. I am willing to speak with anyone interested in Zerin's mission.
Tosha Densky
Director
I am a community developer, social work educator, and academic counsellor in London Ontario. Much of my work has centered on increasing community health and well-being through systems advocacy, collaborative leadership and community capacity building. My passion for community social work, research, and evaluation has led to a number of initiatives both nationally and internationally aimed at improving health equity for individuals and communities experiencing poverty. Most recently, I joined Kings University College as the Programs Liaison for the School of Social Work, where I hope to inspire future generations of social workers as social justice advocates. I joined Zerin because they are actually doing something to relieve poverty by providing housing for those in need.
Ryan Hanna
Director
I'm currently working as an associate lawyer at a law firm in Toronto, Ontario. Even before my career in law, I have always had a passion for volunteering and supporting members of my community. I have been a part of a number of non-profit organizations focused on battling homelessness and assisting under-served populations in London. I am proud to play a part in the work that Zerin is doing to develop and manage affordable housing communities, and all of the partnerships that Zerin is developing as we continue to find new ways to fulfill our mission and assist those in need.
Terry Meyer
Director
I have been the owner/operator of KKP London since 1999. I have been involved as a volunteer with Zerin since 2014. As a member of the organization, I had input into Zerin's vision and mission statements, its values, and its five-year strategic action plan. It is rewarding to be a part of a group dedicated to creating much needed, affordable housing. I strongly believe in Zerin's mission. I hope to bring some of my business experience and my knowledge of the community to my role on the Board of Directors.
Kerry Richards
Director
My initial involvement with Zerin was in 1978 as the superintendent of the original Zerin building in Toronto. The majority of the tenants were Chilean refugees new to Canada and my wife and I developed friendships and supported them with many needs from employment sourcing to children’s programs and other resources to integrate them within the city and our building community. I have continued to participate in Zerin and Sionito non-profit housing Boards over these many years serving as president at various times.
Professionally, I have had careers in sales management, marketing and spearheaded a start-up orthopaedic manufacturer to #1 in Canada as VP of sales and marketing. With the acquisition of the medical firm to an American competitor, I next became the Franchise Director for a national multi-disciplinary medical group. Upon leaving my professional career, I then followed my heart into ministry and was part of the Executive administrative team for Community of Christ for the past 10 years. My motivations are to support the vulnerable in a team of like-minded people such as the compassionately minded volunteers at Zerin.
Jared Thompson
Director
I spent the past 15 years providing accounting services to owner-managed businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Originally joining the Zerin Development Corporation’s Board of Directors in 2008, I stepped back in 2011 to serve on the Zerin Place Management Committee for several years before rejoining the Board of Directors in 2018 as Treasurer. I am proud of the work that Zerin is doing to help ease the shortage of high quality affordable housing in and around London.
Scott Scherer
Director
I have spent most of my life as an artist. Early on I was heavily involved in music until I set it down in 2000. I worked as a plastic artist until 2008 when once again I returned to music and picked up the guitar. I am currently a music student. By joining Zerin's Board I want to help with the fundraising and social media efforts. I am excited to be a part of an organization with a clear vision and I fully support its mission to develop affordable housing for those in need in our community.
Lew Shepherdson
Director
As a semi-retired software executive in Ottawa Ontario, I have sought out ways to share my business and marketing experience with organizations making a difference in our communities. I was a director (including terms as treasurer and president) of World Accord for 11 years, served 6 years on the Board of Trustees for Iowa-based Graceland University, and since 2020 have been the chair and president of Encounter World Religions. I am honoured to support Zerin in making a difference for people through affordable housing.
Randy Sidhu
Director
I have spent over 23 years in both the private and non-profit sectors, undertaking various operational and senior management roles. I plan to utilize my expertise in non-profit association management, as well as residential & commercial real estate to execute Zerin's mission in developing and managing affordable housing. There is a chronic shortage of affordable housing units, and I am passionate about reducing poverty and providing this necessity to those in need.