Staff & Board of Directors

Board Chair- Brad Spencer

Brad retired after a career dedicated to public service and advocating for individuals with disabilities.

As the Executive Director for PATH Employment Services, a Hamilton nonprofit agency focused on workforce integration for people with disabilities, Brad refined his skills leading and developing teams, managing finances, strategic planning, and program development. His expertise also extended to board and labour relations, public relations, marketing, and human resource management. His background spans both nonprofit and government sectors, including several years in unionized environments.

Brad holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario and has pursued extensive specialized training in board governance, AODA, diversity & inclusion, labour relations, human resources and financial management.

In retirement he continues to serve his community actively. He chairs the Dunnville Hospital and Healthcare Foundation, leading fundraising initiatives for the hospital and Edgewater Gardens, a community long-term care home. He is also the President of the Rotary Club of Dunnville, building on his prior leadership roles as President of the Rotary Club of Hamilton and the Canadian Club, where he advanced community development and national goodwill.

Beyond his professional achievements, Brad finds immense joy in family life. He and his wife Lynn, who share a blended family of five children and seven grandchildren, cherish their time together camping and traveling.

Brad’s retirement marks not an end, but a continuation of his legacy of service, advocacy, and dedication to making a difference in the lives of others.

Our Board of Directors

Melissa Baisley

Treasurer

Melissa Baisley has been working in the community and health care for 17 years and brings a wealth of education and experience in administration, building and maintaining strong relationships and the provision of exceptional care and customer service. Melissa is a Supervisor of Programs and Support at Grandview Lodge.

A long-time resident of Haldimand County, Melissa has dedicated years of voluntary service to local sports clubs, non-profit organizations and has been a volunteer firefighter for Haldimand County for 10 years. She has been actively involved in numerous committees related to leadership, safety, and quality improvement. She is an active First/Aid & CPR Instructor and member of the Health and Safety Committee for Haldimand Fire Services. 

Melissa is a skilled facilitator, life-long learner and mother of three. She values community service and is dedicated to promoting quality healthcare services in Haldimand County. She is a recent graduate of the Recreation Therapy Program at Canadore College and values  continuing education. She is passionate about learning, mentoring others and contributing to her community. 

Drew Jarrett

Director

Originally from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Drew is new to Dunnville after becoming an Owner/Operator and purchasing the local McDonald’s in April 2022. Drew graduated from Ottawa University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration before moving to Halifax, Nova Scotia where he worked for a McDonalds Franchisee.  He recently relocated from Halifax with his wife, Lisa and their two young children to purchase two McDonald’s restaurants in the Niagara region.  

Drew has been actively involved in the communities he has lived in and understands the importance of being community driven. He has coached minor hockey/power skating and served on the Board of Directors for the Cobequid Hospital in Nova Scotia. He is McMission certified with Ronald McDonald House Charities and was also a two-time recipient of a McDonalds People Award, and a Running Great Restaurants Award.  

In his spare time he enjoys golfing, playing hockey, spending time with his family, dog, and friends, and cheering on the Toronto Maples Leafs and Buffalo Bills. 

Matt Terry

Vice-Chair

A resident of Haldimand County since 2018, Matt Terry is a communications and marketing professional with extensive experience working in the public sector. He currently serves as Executive Director, Marketing, Brand and Communications at Brock University. Previously, Matt served as Director of Corporate Communications for Norfolk County and the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, where he was responsible for managing communications during the COVID-19 pandemic. He began his career at McMaster University, where he also earned his degree in political science. Matt and family live in the village of York. 

Nadia Bodnar
DHCVA Representative

As a longtime volunteer and director with the Dunnville Health Centre Volunteer Association, Nadia believes in their mission to support medical staff, provide care and comfort to patients at both HWMH and Edgewater Gardens.

Being a member since 2012, Nadia is currently a director and has volunteered both at the Information Desk and Gift Shop. She takes joy in fundraising for patient care and has helped to raise funds for blanket warmers, the Teleradiology start up, and the 2017 Dinner Gala for the new Hospital Emergency Department.

Nadia has spent time with St John Ambulance, Central Nursing Division, Toronto and in March of 1976 she received the Priory Most Venerable Order of St John Ambulance of Jerusalem.

As a volunteer with the National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) in Toronto, Nadia has been a director, a co-chair of Grass Roots, and a committee member of the Annual Gala.

Nadia’s working career encompassed advertising, graphic and printing industries.

Bernie Corbett

Director

Bernie is a lifelong resident of Dunnville.  He retired from Stelco as a Shift Supervisor.  For 50 years, Bernie has worked tirelessly in the municipal government field.  He served 8 terms on Council as Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Regional Councillor and Ward Councillor.  During his time in municipal government, Bernie was appointed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs to sit on the Transition Board to set up new counties for Haldimand and Norfolk.

Bernie has chaired both the Haldimand County Utility Board and the Haldimand Police Services Board and has served on many other boards and bodies.

As an existing Director for the Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation, Bernie brings his experience from previous roles with the True Experience Supportive Housing Board and the Haldimand War Memorial Hospital Board.

Bernie’s commitment to the community of Dunnville and Haldimand county has been unwavering as he also chaired a committee to raise funds for those affected by a Grand River flood and held the role as the Incorporating Chair for the Dunnville Community Lifespan Centre.

Bernie and his wife Brenda recently celebrated 55 years of marriage.  They have 2 children and Bernie enjoys hunting, fishing, and golfing.

We welcome Bernie to the DHHF Board and look forward to learning from all of his experiences!

 

 

Sharon Moore

HWMH & EG PRESIDENT & CEO 

Sharon Moore is the President and CEO for Haldimand War Memorial Hospital and Edgewater Gardens.  

Sharon has a degree in Nursing from McMaster University and a Master in Health Studies from Athabasca University.  

Sharon is passionate about excellent patient care. She is a broad systems thinker and strives to bring diverse groups together with the main purpose to care for the needs of patients & residents, their families, and the community.  

Sharon is also a member of the Discipline and Fitness to Practice Committees at the College of Nurses’ of Ontario.

Joanna Brzozowska
HWMH & EG Board Chair
HWMH & EG Board Representative

“My heart has always belonged to small towns.”
As a child, Haldimand War Memorial Hospital and Edgewater Garden’s new Board Chair spent the summer months visiting her grandparent’s rural farming community in Poland. Now, Joanna’s love for small communities has only grown. Her life, career, and passions are tied to Haldimand County where she lives with her husband — a born and raised Haldimand County resident — and works as a Senior Account Manager in agricultural banking.
Joanna’s journey with Haldimand War Memorial Hospital and Edgewater Gardens first began in 2016 when she moved to Dunnville and became a volunteer member of the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee. “Serving as a committee volunteer opened my eyes to how impactful the hospital and Edgewater are to the community. After that first year, I knew I wanted to become a Board Member.” After six years on the Board, Joanna stepped into her new role as Board Chair in June 2022. As Board Chair, Joanna is responsible for supporting the community, the hospital, Edgewater and the employees. Joanna’s vision for the two-year term is to continue working towards building capacity within Haldimand War Memorial Hospital and Edgewater Gardens. New long-term care beds, physician recruitment, and establishing new partnerships are among some of the priorities to build a stronger health system within Haldimand County. If you see Joanna around the community, please feel free to say hello. As your neighbour, she is always available to connect and lend a helping hand.

Liz MacDonald, MBA

Past Chair

Liz MacDonald retired from Toys R Us Canada where she held the position of Vice President of Marketing and Store Planning.  She oversaw a team of 27 people and was responsible for the marketing functions which included: brand management, advertising – traditional and omni-channel, public relations, special events and store design.

Liz began her career as an Event Sales Manager for Tennis Canada and then moved into retail at Sporting Life as Director of Marketing, where she was responsible for brand advertising, loyalty programs and special events. Liz then joined Ranscombe and Company, an Advertising Agency, as Vice President Client Services

Liz continued her retail career joining TJX Canada for five years as Associate Vice President, Marketing, responsible for brand, store design and layout for the HomeSense brand and for all marketing analytics and customer research.  Following her work at TJX, Liz joined Shoppers Drug Mart as Vice President Retail Marketing, 

Liz is bilingual, and holds two degrees and a certificate from York University: a Masters of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business, a BA in Physical Education and a Certificate in Sport Administration. Her volunteer commitments include Dunnville Hospital and Healthcare Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Canada, Canadian Women’s Foundation and the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Liz enjoys life on the lake with her partner Sue, entertaining good friends, and  enjoying a round of golf at Dunnville Golf Course where she is a member.

Al Elliott

Secretary

Darlene and I selected Dunnville to live out our retirement years for many reasons but first and foremost because of our Haldimand War Memorial Hospital and its reputation for quality of service. After forty years of retail operations and marketing, I decided to become a volunteer with the DHHF in order to help raise the funds needed, but which the provincial government does not provide, to continue offering the best possible care to this community.

I am pleased to bring my fifteen years of experience managing over two hundred stores for Consumers Distributing followed by twenty-five years as President of Danridge Marketing Inc., to help our volunteers, board members and the DHHF staff’s ongoing efforts to ensure the HWMH is best able to serve our county.

 

 

Robert Sorge, M.Ed

B.A. (McMaster), B.P.E. (Brock), M. Ed. (Brock)

Director

A lifelong resident of Haldimand County, Bob was born at Haldimand War Memorial Hospital.  He attended Dunnville Central Public School and Dunnville Secondary. Following that Bob pursued post-secondary education and became an elementary school teacher for 10 years, and then spent twenty years in administration with the Haldimand County and then Grand Erie District School Boards.  

Following retirement Bob became a Faculty Advisor for the Faculty of Education at Brock University – a position he held for 17 years.  

Currently, Bob is a real estate professional with Aberwin Realty Inc. Hamilton.

Bob is a member, Steward and Trustee of Canfield United Church and a Director and Vice-president of the Canfield Community Centre.  As a volunteer firefighter for 37 years, Bob initiated the Canfield Fire Department Senators Organization.

Bob has been happily married to his wife Betty for 49 years and together they have 4 children.  He enjoys fishing for perch, playing golf and wood working.

Rachel Schmalz
Executive Director
Phone: 905.774.2529
Email: rachel@dhhf.ca

With over eleven years of experience in healthcare fundraising and community engagement, Rachel brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of success in advancing philanthropic initiatives.  She plays a crucial role in driving our mission forward and enhancing the foundation’s impact on patient care and community health.

Over the past decade at DHHF in the Donor Relations, Finance, Events and Fundraising roles, Rachel has accumulated extensive fundraising knowledge and continues to foster strong relationships with donors and volunteers alike.

As a lifelong resident of Dunnville, Rachel knows our community and its members well. She is dedicated to addressing our healthcare needs, recognizing the importance of having a hospital and long-term care facilities in Dunnville.

Rachel notes that, “At DHHF, we engage in a variety of fundraising efforts to support the acquisition of essential equipment that enables our doctors and nurses to perform their crucial duties. Ultimately, we enhance the quality of care provided to patients and help bridge funding gaps.  We strive to foster community engagement and philanthropy, contributing to better health outcomes for the residents of Haldimand County and surrounding areas.  Without the unwavering support from our donors, partners and community members we are unable to do this. I am so thankful for the support I have witnessed over the years and am so happy to lead the Foundation in the best direction to achieve our mission.”

Outside of her professional commitments, Rachel cherishes her time spent with her husband and three children, often enjoying sunny days at the beach and boating during the summer months. When the pace of life slows down, she values relaxing at home and creating lasting memories with family and friends.

Melissa Kenney
Marketing Communications Specialist
Phone: 905.774.2529
Email: melissa@dhhf.ca

 

Bio to come.

Careers at DHHF- Join our Team!