Our Board

Amy Ballon is an advisor for the Business Development Bank of Canada’s clients with a focus on strategic planning and sales and marketing. Previously, she co-founded, grew, and sold her own small business. Amy is passionate about Canadian small businesses and is a published author on the subject of entrepreneurship. Amy and her husband, Ian Schnoor, have both held various volunteer roles at Paul Penna DJDS. Her three daughters all attended the school, graduating in 2014, 2017, and 2020.

Jessica is a family law lawyer with over 10 years of experience both working as a lawyer and co-founding the firm JJ Integrative Family law where she practices as a Family Law mediator, Arbitrator, parenting coordinator and Collaborative Family Law Lawyer. She is a current board member of Collaborative Family Law Practice Toronto, and she is interested in assisting with fundraising, networking and connections aspects of the Board. She believes in PPDJDS as a school, community, and culture, and is enthusiastic to bring her skills to the Board.

Andrea is the Chief Marketing and Customer Officer at Forward Financing, where she leads brand, marketing strategy, and customer experience. She brings more than 25 years of experience building brands and growing businesses, including a decade as Chief Marketing Officer at goeasy Ltd. Andrea was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2016 and received the Lending Woman of the Year Award from the Canadian Lenders Association in 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. Outside of work, Andrea is a parent of two daughters who are in middle school and elementary school. She's excited to bring her experience in strategy, communications, and community building to the board and to put those skills to work in a place that matters so much to her family.

Michael currently manages capital and regulatory reporting, leading the enterprise-wide requirements for a federally regulated financial institution. Having worked for over 15 years in corporate accounting and finance, Michael has extensive experience in regulatory and capital management, financial accounting and business intelligence. Michael is a member of the Institute of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA). He was a former facilitator within CPA Canada where he taught incoming cohorts accounting and finance subjects leading to their CPA designation. Michael’s son is currently in Grade 2 at Paul Penna DJDS.

Charley is a family lawyer with more than a decade of experience in high-stakes dispute resolution, negotiation, and complex litigation. After leaving a full-service Bay Street law firm, and honing her trial advocacy skills in a boutique setting, she is now a Senior Lawyer at JJ Integrative Family Law, where she leads multifaceted matters involving significant financial interests and works alongside financial professionals, business valuators, and other legal practitioners to structure creative, durable solutions for her clients. Charley holds a J.D. from the University of Ottawa, which included an international exchange at Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law, and a B.A. (Honours) from Carleton University. She is a member of the Ontario Bar Association and also a guest lecturer and facilitator on family law issues at several institutions. Jewish identity, Jewish learning, and community are central to Charley's life, and she is eager to bring her strengths in negotiation, financial acumen, collaborative problem-solving, and governance to support the school's continued growth. Her (and her husband, David’s) greatest contributions to the world are her daughters, Orly and Romi.

Daniel is currently a Senior Vice President at Rubicon Strategy, where he advises clients on corporate strategy, procurement, communications, and public affairs. He brings over two decades of experience spanning politics and the energy sector, including ten years in senior political roles and ten years where he served as an executive in the energy industry. Daniel’s background includes fundraising, campaign management, leadership in communications, public policy, labour negotiations, capital program delivery, and community relations. His cross-sector expertise and strategic approach make him a trusted advisor to clients navigating complex business and regulatory environments. Daniel has a daughter, Max, who has been at Paul Penna since 2022 and a son Leo, in grade 1. He’s also a diehard Blue Jays fan.

Lisa has over 20 years of experience in healthcare system management. Her responsibilities include provincial program development and expansion, policy development, process improvement, budgeting, evaluation, increasing appropriate use of technology, and creating positive stakeholder relationships with Ontario hospitals, the Ministry of Health, and pan-Canadian health sector partners. She brings to the Board experience in strategic planning, governance, project management, and communications. Lisa’s son is currently in the middle school at Paul Penna DJDS.

Ryan is a Senior Vice President at an international commercial real estate brokerage. While focused on downtown retail leasing in Toronto, he has a broad range of experience in many different types of commercial leasing and sales transactions across the GTA and North America. Representing both tenants and landlords, buyers and sellers, he has a unique insight and impact into the happenings in the city of Toronto and beyond. He is also a die hard Montreal Canadiens and Pearl Jam fan, both of which he now shares with his son Bowie, who is in Grade 2 at Paul Penna DJDS.

Michael Peiser has been working in real estate development for 20 years, both locally and internationally. He is the VP of Development at Cadillac Fairview, managing large commercial and residential development projects. Outside of his job, he serves as a Global Governing Trustee of the Urban Land Institute and previously served as an Alumni Fund Director at Bowdoin College, where he helped guide the college’s alumni fundraising efforts. PPDJDS has become a vital part of his community, and he is enthusiastic about offering his experience and knowledge to contribute to the school’s continued success.

Ari Shomair is an entrepreneur with experience in a wide range of industries, including digital media, software and biotech. Ari is currently an investor, active in both public and private markets, and a director of multiple private companies. With two children at the school, he wants to see the school continue to prosper.

Felicia is an Operating Partner at a family office, where she focuses on the growth and development of consumer and retail businesses. She is also a Founding Partner in a local hospitality venture. Her background spans finance, corporate strategy, real estate and management consulting, with experience in growth strategy, organizational design and incentive structures. Felicia also has extensive board experience across private and public companies. She has two children, a daughter in Grade 2 and a son in SK. Originally from Chicago and married to a New Delhi native, Felicia particularly values Paul Penna DJDS’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for students and families from diverse backgrounds.

Nancy is a retired, award-winning principal who worked in both public and private schools for over 30 years, including a stint at the Ontario Ministry of Education. Nancy’s book, Pushing the Limits: How Schools Can Prepare Our Children Today for the Challenges of Tomorrow (2017) was shortlisted for the Donner Prize. She currently works with schools around the globe as Academic Implementation Manager for Maple Bear Global Schools. With an MA in Human Development and Applied Psychology from OISE/UT, Nancy is also an International Coaching Federation (ICF) certified coach. She is pleased to serve on the PPDJDS Board and bring an educational perspective to the table.

Genevieve is an experienced communicator with 15+ years working in senior roles within government, public sector, media and both public and private corporations. Gen previously served as Director of Strategic Messaging for former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, lead communications and investor relations through a tech company’s IPO and acted as media lead and spokesperson for the LCBO. Prior to that, she spent the better part of a decade as a journalist for the CBC, working in television, radio and online as a reporter and host.

Dan is a planning, real estate, and development professional with more than 15 years of experience across a variety of public sector areas, including municipal/community planning, public real estate development, and campus planning/capital projects. He currently works at Build Canada Homes, a new federal Crown Corporation intended to accelerate, advance, and close the gap on affordable housing projects across the Country. Dan currently has one child attending PPDJDS, with a second beginning in the next school year. Dan is hoping to contribute greatly to PPDJDS and help it continue to grow and prosper in alignment with our values, strategic plan, and evolving needs.