Our People

Sure, our communities are cutting-edge and modern. But we’re not really about bricks and mortar. We’re about our people. People who uphold the values of honesty and integrity, and share a genuine passion to make today great.

Eli Marder

PRESIDENT With nearly 20 years of experience in development and construction of new homes and seniors housing, Eli guides V!VA’s new communities from concept to completion. His intricate knowledge of construction and development, combined with his ability to understand the needs of our Community and Team Members helps V!VA deliver on its purpose of Making Today Great! Throughout the design, construction and operation of all V!VA communities, Eli ensures that the organization remains focused on delivering an industry-leading retirement living experience to our Community Members, their families, and the surrounding neighbourhood. Eli lives in Toronto with his wife and four daughters.

Michelle Chisholm

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS With over 20 years of comprehensive knowledge and experience in the hospitality sector, Michelle leads V!VA's operations, ensuring that all of our communities deliver on V!VA's purpose of Making Today Great! Prior to joining V!VA, Michelle directed the customer service strategy for a world-renowned hotel and resort operator. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Girl Guides Canada among other great organizations. Michelle lives in Toronto and has two daughters.

Monica Dashwood

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Monica Dashwood has been employed in Ontario's real estate industry for over 25 years, and over that period has acquired a depth of experience in asset and portfolio management, mortgages, finance and residential land development. Monica previously worked as Vice President & Fund Manager with an Ottawa-based, privately owned, real estate finance and development company. Monica brings her depth of experience in the real estate sector in her role coordinating all of V!VA's developments in Eastern Ontario. Monica earned a B.A. (Honours) from Dalhousie University.

Danny Joseph

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & SALES V!VA has a great story to tell, and Danny is here to tell it. Building upon his experience with advertising agencies and multinational companies, Danny heads up V!VA’s marketing and sales team. From developing the V!VA name into a true retirement lifestyle leader, to nurturing relationships with each and every local community that is home to a V!VA property, Danny considers himself privileged to have such a great brand to work on. Danny earned a B.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business at York University.

Michael Loconte

DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION Michael brings to V!VA 29 years of comprehensive knowledge and experience in construction and project management in and around the GTA. He has managed the construction of over 60 residential, retirement and non-profit communities. As V!VA’s nuts-and-bolts man, Michael demonstrates an unrivalled attention to detail and a passion for doing things right. His care and expertise are literally the foundation of the V!VA retirement communities.

Nancy Porkola-Ainsworth

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Nancy is a Chartered Accountant with over 16 years of progressive management experience. Previously, she has successfully lead finance teams and provided the foundation for organizations to grow three fold. With her business acumen, change management, and leadership skills she is helping build a solid foundation to facilitate V!VA’s continued success and growth. Nancy embraces V!VA’s “Orange Dot” values both at work and at home.

Sasha Zivkovic

REGIONAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER With over 17 years experience working with seniors in both hospital and retirement community settings, Sasha brings an immense amount of knowledge to V!VA. Most recently, Sasha headed up the hospital-partnership program for one of Canada’s largest retirement community operators. As a Certified Senior Advisor, Sasha understands the full scope of available hospital and community services, along with the senior housing options in Canada. With her compassionate approach, Sasha specializes in building strong relationships with key partners in and around each and every V!VA community.

Kerry-Ann Benjamin

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Having recently completed her education in Human Resources, Kerry’s combination of great organizational skills and a passion for customer service are a great reflection of our Orange Dot values.

Yasmin Diwan

STAFF ACCOUNTANT Finance with a smile. That’s how we refer to Yasmin, our payroll and benefits expert. She makes sure the bills get paid on time and helps all of our communities control their financial performance. With 14 years in the sector, Yasmin’s experience and knowledge are central to the smooth day-to-day operations of V!VA’s retirement communities. Yasmin lives in Toronto with her three kids.

Elaine Kwok

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Elaine is the in-house graphic designer at V!VA. She is in charge of creating and maintaining V!VA’s visual marketing collateral for all the communities - everything from newspaper ads to brochures to letterhead. She has experience in brand identity, magazine layout design, illustration and advertising. She is passionate about design and loves the variety of projects at V!VA. Elaine graduated with a B.F.A from the Ontario College of Art and Design.

Tara Crawford

CONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR Tara brings to V!VA over 12 years of experience in Construction Management, Project Management and Design Development. Prior to joining V!VA, Tara was involved with Design Development and Construction Management to nearly twenty senior housing community and condominium projects. Her knowledge of the construction industry, experience with retirement living and passion for our Community Members are evident in the contribution she makes to our team every day.

Laura M. Lawson

PROJECT COORDINATOR As Project Coordinator, Laura keeps us organized on all the finishing touches at each V!VA community. Maintaining our key processes and ensuring they are implemented properly on a daily basis, Laura ensures the job gets done in the most efficient way possible. With five years of experience in the retirement industry, she has developed a keen sense of project management. Laura graduated with a four year B.A. from The University of Western Ontario.

Sandra Sheffield

SENIOR FITNESS EXPERT Sandra has made a career out of helping people have fun while keeping fit, and with over 20 years experience in training for seniors, she understands the obstacles to staying fit as the body ages. Professional certifications include being a Canadian Certified Kinesiologist, Canadian Fitness Professional, Older Adult Fitness Specialist Pro-Trainer (OAS), Certified Personal Trainer (PTS) and a Certified Fitness Instructor (FIS). Sandra is an official member of the V!VA Advisory Panel, as well as founder and owner of S.T.E.P.S. (Specialized Training & Exercise Participation Services).