BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carol Lees – President
Melanie Green – Vice President
Brenda McCourt – Treasurer
Jessica Steiner – Director
Catherine Drennan – Director
Jessica Lackey – Director
Christina Forcier – Director
Patti MacAhonic, MBA – Executive Director, Ex Officio
Carol Lees, President
Carol’s career has been in the field of Education, first as a teacher for 15 years, then as a school administrator for another 23 years, finally focusing on Seniors as the Coordinator for Elder College Chilliwack, prior to retiring. Carol earned a BA and an M. Ed during her working years, and brings an educational lens to her role as an Ann Davis board member. Carol has been a resident of Chilliwack for most of her adult life, and is proud and honoured to be able to give back to her favourite city through her association with the Ann Davis Transition Society.
Contact her at board@anndavis.org
Melanie Green, Vice-President
Born and raised in Chilliwack, Melanie studied Theatre & Communications at the University of the Fraser Valley before taking her mother’s advice: “Find something you’re good at, that you love to do and then figure out a way to get paid for it…and it’s gotta be legal.” Radio it was!
After graduating from Pacific Radio Arts, Melanie Green started in 1988 in Victoria at CKDA and CFMS with Capital Broadcasting as a writer and news announcer. Just over a year later, she returned to her hometown’s local station in Chilliwack. From creative writer to news anchor, then mid-day on-air announcer, Melanie worked her way up in the business.
She married her husband in the summer of 1992, and they moved to Vancouver. After a brief radio hiatus, Melanie returned with Fraser Valley Broadcasters in 1994, working in both Abbotsford and Chilliwack on-air. In 1999 she moved over to sales, quickly moving up to the Sales Manager and later to General/Operations Manager of the Fraser Valley radio stations. In January 2016, she was promoted to General Sales Manager of both the Fraser Valley and Victoria stations.
Melanie recently celebrated her 25th anniversary with Rogers Media; she is currently the GSM of STAR 98.3 and Country 107.1. With over 30 years in small/medium market radio, her well-rounded career has given her the unique ability to see the business from every angle, motivating and leading her sales teams to grow clients and relationships, all while driving revenue.
In her personal life, Melanie loves to curl and travel. She and her husband, Greg, have scratched off 28 countries on their travel map. Married in July 1992, they have three adult children and recently moved to back to Chilliwack in October 2020 with their two dogs. Melanie looks forward to working with the Ann Davis Transition Society and their incredible work within our community, providing education, prevention and support services for those affected by abuse or violence.
Contact her at board@anndavis.org
Brenda McCourt, Treasurer
Brenda McCourt is a lawyer who relocated from Vancouver to Chilliwack on retirement in 2016. After growing up in small-town Saskatchewan, Brenda spent more than 30 years practising law in Toronto and Vancouver, in large and small firms, primarily specialising in family law and mediation.
During her career, she taught and wrote on legal topics, and was an executive officer for various law-related organizations. She brings to the Board her experience in helping clients make the necessary transitions in their lives. She describes herself as having a lifelong drive to help people in trouble.
Contact her at board@anndavis.org
Jessica Steiner, JD
Jessica Steiner has been working in the family law field in the Abbotsford and Chilliwack area since 2006. Throughout her career, she has focused on legal aid work, taking on clients who suffer from poverty, addiction, mental health concerns, and those who are or have been engaged in abusive relationships.
Today she runs a successful sole family law and medication practice in Chilliwack. Long before joining the Board, Jessica has been a passionate evangelist for the work that the Ann Davis Transition Society does, as it offers services vital to many of her clients. She brings to the Board her experience with clients who are going through the worst times in their lives and a passion for the work that Ann Davis does in her community.
Jessica is happy to be volunteering for the Ann Davis Transition Society because it supports vulnerable members of our community. Her clients have utilized their services throughout her career and she feels privileged to be able to give back to ADTS directly.
Contact her at board@anndavis.org
Catherine Drennan, MA
In 2006 Catherine’s career began in the addictions, mental health, and trauma field when she started as a correctional officer for the Ministry of Justice. Catherine concluded her time in corrections as a Programs Officer and facilitated programs such as Respectful Relationships, Violence Prevention and Substance Abuse Management to incarcerated male offenders.
In 2017 she transferred over to the Ministry of Children and Family, and it was there she saw firsthand the childhood many of the inmates had lived through. The more she saw and learned about childhood adverse experiences and the impact complex trauma has on the first five years of brain development led to further her master’s by obtaining her Graduate Certificate in Complex Trauma and becoming Fraser East Integrated Practice Clinician and Complex Care and Intervention Program Coordinator.
Catherine’s interest in building and supporting women began during her undergrad years with her studies in sexual exploitation and sexual offences committed towards women and children. Catherine was excited to be provided with the opportunity to join Chilliwack’s Sexual Exploitation Awareness Committee Action Team (SEACAT) in 2018, a subcommittee of the Chilliwack and Youth Committee and is very passionate about the prevention of sexual exploitation through education.
As a mother of three adult boys, Catherine is very grateful for the opportunity to sit on the board of directors, to be part of an organization that holds the same values and commitment to serving the women, children, and men in our community
Contact her at board@anndavis.org
Jessica Lackey
Jessica was born and raised in Chilliwack BC, she is a mom to two young children a girl and a boy. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling and camping with her family. Jessica has worked in the financial industry for 9 years supporting many local families to accomplish their financial goals and dreams.
Jessica is very passionate about supporting her local community and has volunteered at many different charity events over the years. Jessica attended UFV working towards a degree in Criminology, with a goal to work with the less fortunate who she could help make a better life for themselves. After she had her daughter, her career focus shifted to the Financial Industry. Jessica though has never lost the desire to be in a position that would allow her to help others.
Jessica has watched what amazing work Ann Davis has done through the years for the women and children of our communication who need the support of Ann Davis. She is thrilled to be given the opportunity to sit on the board and be a part of the amazing work the Ann Davis Society does.
Contact her at board@anndavis.org
Christina Forcier, Director
Christina grew up in Chilliwack and spent time in Victoria and Abbotsford before moving back to Chilliwack in 2017, where she resides with her husband and two young sons.
After completing her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in 2012, she has worked at UFV in several roles starting in human resources. She has been the Operations Manager in the Office of the President since 2019. In this role, she is responsible for leading and supporting institutional initiatives and working to ensure they align with UFV’s core values of integrity, inclusivity, community, and excellence.
Christina is passionate about her community and considers herself fortunate to call Chilliwack home. She has been volunteering with Bowls of Hope since early 2021 and is honoured and excited to join the Ann Davis Transition Society board.
Contact her at board@anndavis.org
Patti MacAhonic, MBA, Executive Director, Ex Officio
Patti MacAhonic has been with Ann Davis Transition Society as Executive Director since November 2013. She has grown the organization by tripling service, adding a 22 bed specialized transition house, founded the Fraser Valley Marches for Women march and is most proud of her caring and compassionate team. She has leadership experience gained through non-profit, intergovernmental, and business organizations, including Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation, Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce, BC Brain Injury Association; she has volunteered on numerous provincial and national boards as director, treasurer and advisor over the past 20 years.
Patti was awarded the Provincial Crime Prevention and Public Safety Award of Distinction 2018, the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award and in the top 40 Alumni University of the Fraser Valley. After being widowed her successful lobbying efforts were instrumental in passing of BC’s Bill C-37 2003, concerning the rights of children and survivors of workplace fatalities.
