Our Leadership
Lorris Herenda – Executive Director
Lorris Herenda is the Executive Director of Yellow Brick House operating in its 33rd year. She joined Yellow Brick House in 2004 and has led the agency through an expansion of services almost doubling the number of women and children served on yearly basis. She is responsible for overseeing thirty plus employees, ensuring smooth operation of the two shelters, second stage housing project (Reta’s Place) and the community based counseling services, serving over 5000 women and children every year. In addition to the operational aspect, Lorris is the co-chair of the York Region Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee and is a tremendous advocate for the rights of women and children.
In 2008, she won the Province of Ontario award “Leading Women, Building Communities” for her exceptional community leadership to improve the lives of women and girls in Ontario and in 2011 Yellow Brick House won the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Award for non profit organization.
Board of Directors
The Yellow Brick House Board of Directors significantly impacts the work of the organization. The Board is deeply committed to the effectiveness of the organization and to making a contribution towards its goals.
Nora Priestly – Chair
Chair of the Executive Committee. Nora has more than 15 years management experience working in student services at York University.
Glenna Stelzer – Secretary
Chair of the Board Operations Committee. Glenna has over 30 years experience in branch banking and human resources and is currently self employed as a Human Resources Consultant.
Charles Scott – Treasurer
Member of the Board Operations Committee. Charles is a Principal at Grant Thornton LLP, a national accounting and business advisory firm that he has been with for almost 20 years.
Judith Puttock
Member of the Fundraising Committee. Judith is a Certified Human Resources Professional and works as a Career Management and Human Resources consultant.
Mike Soragnese
Member of the Fundraising Committee. Michael is an Account Executive for Compass Creative, a Creative Marketing and Design company situated in Vaughan.
Norine Graham-Robinson
Norine is a licensed pharmacist with over twenty year’s professional experience including community, residential and long term care pharmacy as well as corporate management.
Christine Brezina
Jennifer Gleitman
Jennifer Gleitman is an Assistant Crown Attorney in York Region. She is a member of the Operations Committee.
Nimet Samji
Bio to come
Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson is a Detective Sergeant with York Regional Police. She is currently assigned to the Integrated Domestic Violence Unit where she leads a team of specialty trained Domestic Violence investigators.
Dylan Marando
Dylan is a consultant at StrategyCorp with considerable experience in health policy and financial management. Dylan has worked at the Ontario Office of the Provincial Controller, the Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation, and in the Partnering for Patients Office at The Credit Valley Hospital and Trillium Health Centre.
Dylan is active in the Richmond Hill community, having previously served as a Director and Chair of SCW Canada and as a committee member for the York Central Hospital Foundation. Dylan is also a former candidate for Member of Parliament.
Dylan holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Toronto, where he received the C.L Burton Scholarship, the Knowlton-Mercier Prize, the W.B Dunphy Medal, the Master of Public Policy Fellowship, and the Cadario Fellowship. Dylan has also undertaken Executive Education at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Become a Board Member
For information on our Board of Directors or to inquire about how to be nominated as a member, call 905-709-0900 or 1-800-263-2231, ext. 2233 or e-mail us at info@yellowbrickhouse.org