Board of Directors

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  Dr. Gary Lepine – Chairperson

  Gary Lepine has been providing Professional Ethics seminars to the oil & gas industry since 2003. In 2008 he formally began Concord Professional Development where his work expanded to include training on creating a respectful work environment, team building, and organizational culture. Since beginning Concord he has worked with a variety of associations and companies in the oil and gas sector as well as being involved with public and not for profit sectors. Gary is also a Clinical Ethicist with Alberta Health Services, directly supporting the Rockyview General Hospital and the Northwest Territories. He has been associated with New Heights School and Learning Services since 2010.

  Gary has three children, Madi, Sarah, and Sam, and enjoys the outdoors as well as most sports.

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  Dave Hall – Treasurer

  Dave is a husband, father, and entrepreneur and is proud to devote time to New Heights. His son Zach, diagnosed with autism at a young age, recently graduated from New Heights after attending New Heights for 9 years. Dave has been on the Board as Treasurer for the last 7 years. He is passionate about the opportunities that New Heights provides for children on the autism spectrum, proud of the achievements of the school in its young history, and excited about the bright future of the school. Dave is active in oil and gas production and real estate development and enjoys most sports.

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  Brian Smart – Secretary

  Brian Smart graduated in 1982 from University of Waterloo with BASc (Chemical Engineering) then relocated to Calgary to start his professional career with Imperial Oil as a Petroleum Engineer. Currently, Mr. Smart is President of privately-owned Advantage Energy Services Ltd. He is the father of four adult children, two of whom have been diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum, as has he. Brian has been actively involved in enabling the successful transition of his two daughters to independent living and knows that neurodiverse individuals are highly capable of thriving in our community. He believes that New Heights’ dedication to this important goal is in perfect alignment with his own.

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  Paul Lopes – Director

  For the past twenty-five years, Paul has been responsible for multiple site management, training and development, and the implementation of environmental, waste, and recycling programs for the Canadian region. He has served on the Board of New Heights for the past nine years and enjoys helping facilitate New Heights growth. In Paul’s spare time, he likes to work on classic cars, watch sports, camp, and listen to music. A plate of wings (the hotter the better) will always put a smile on his face.

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  Karen Unger – Director

  Karen Unger started out as a classroom teacher but has spent the majority of her career working in the non-profit sector and in post-secondary education. She is well acquainted with the New Heights community, having worked as the Home and Community Support Program Coordinator from 2013-2017. In 2017, Karen moved back home to Edmonton to be closer to her family, including her older sister who has an intellectual disability. Since returning to Edmonton, Karen has worked at the University of Alberta, supporting post-secondary students with disabilities in their academic and work experience journeys. She recently finished her degree in Occupational Therapy (OT) and hopes to continue working in student services at the UofA as a full-time OT. Previously, Karen completed a Master of Public Administration and she genuinely enjoys working with policy, governance, research, and program evaluation. Outside of work, Karen volunteers as a coach with Special Olympics Edmonton and as a national board member with Motionball for Special Olympics. She is also an avid golfer, curler, and coffee drinker.