Management


Dr. Rhonda Nelson

Executive Director


Dr. Rhonda Nelson became the Executive Director of the Starbright Children’s Development Centre in November of 2013. Originally from Saskatchewan, Rhonda has experience in spanning positions as a teacher, consultant, and Assistant Superintendent within the K-12 education system, as a Director of Education of a custody facility for youth, as a consultant and then manager within the Department of Education, as a sessional lecturer for the University of Regina, and as a private consultant for government departments. She holds a B.Ed and a B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan, and a M.Ed and PhD from the University of Regina. Having worked with not-for-profit agencies within her past roles, as well as within her doctoral research, Rhonda has a deep appreciation for the passion and commitment to making a difference that is so evident within the personnel of Starbright.

Terri Nakayama

Human Resources Manager


Terri Nakayama has been employed with Starbright Children’s Development Centre since April of 2005. As a member of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of BC & Yukon, Terri is the Human Resources Manager for Starbright. Terri has had several different positions while working with Starbright which provides her with an in-depth understanding of the various departments that make up the diverse professional workforce of the agency. As the mom of a son with diverse talents who was a client of Starbright, Terri understands both worlds – that of the family seeking services and that of the professionals providing it.

Program Support


 

Counselling Services


Behaviour Support 


 


Infant Development Program


 


Occupational Therapy


Katie Johnston

Occupational Therapist (Maternity Leave)


Katie Johnston joined the Starbright occupational therapy team in 2015. Katie graduated with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta in Calgary. She has gained pediatric experience in settings that include child development centres, schools, and adaptive programming in outdoor wilderness activities and summer camps.


Physical Therapy




Speech Language Pathology


Elly Keshavarz

Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant


Elly Keshavarz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Iran and has pursued her Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Manitoba. Elly is interested in play-based and client-centered therapy and is passionate about supporting children with autism, language delays, and motor speech disorders. She enjoys helping children with communication disorders improve their communication skills.

Jennifer Browning

Speech-Language Pathologist (Maternity Leave)


Jennifer graduated from McGill University with a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2013. She has extensive experience working with preschool children and their families in a clinical setting. She is fluent in French and enjoys working with families who may be from differing linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Her professional interests include working with children with autism, children with motor-speech disorders (e: Apraxia), coaching/parent training, and she has recently developed an interest in child feeding.

Inclusive Childcare Program


Inclusive Childcare Educators

Our dedicated Inclusive Childcare Program Educators provide extra staffing support to promote and support inclusive practice within community childcare programs:

Cathy Hansen, Jacqueline Beausoleil, Jennifer Schlosser, Kymm Allen, Linda Seinen, Lynne Ramsay, Raika Jahura, Shannon Parent, Shawna Swanson, 

Silvia Rosales, Terri Boles, Valisa Kay, Wynell Powers, Carolina Markoff, Leah Webster, Mindy Hilburn, Alyssa Jensen, Aimee Miller and Sandra Olk

Finance

Lori Hamilton, Finance Controller


Our Volunteer Board Of Directors


President Carol Meise – Manager, Cooper Medical Supplies
1st Vice-President Cathie Polasek - P/T Research Coordinator BA ECE
2nd Vice-President Paul Farina
Treasurer Craig Gronsdahl – CA, CFP, The Fraser Financial Group LLP
Secretary Terri Russell, Faculty Member, Okanagan College

Directors

Jean Lanoue – Manager, Premier Salons
E.R. (Ted) Grimwood – Developer
Blair Forrest – Lawyer, Pushor Mitchell LLP
Madison Wilgosh, CPA – Accountant, BDO Canada LLP
Jason Picklyk – Firefighter, City of Kelowna

Post-humous Gratitude and Recognition

Dr. Clifford B. Henderson (Founding agency Pediatrician, member of the Board of Directors 1966-2020)

Founding Members

Dr. Clifford B. Henderson – Pediatrician
Dorothy Deakin – Speech and Language Pathologist
Dr. Ron Ellis – Internist
Ruth Cresswell – Parent
Benjamin M. Lambert – Commission Agent, Imperial Oil
Lois Berry – Registered Nurse
Ian B. McCuaig – Teacher