Unit 1 – 107 Osborne St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
R3L 1Y4
Larysa is an accomplished and driven HR professional with over 12 years of human resources experience leading effective teams in the financial and agriculture industries. She is an active member of CPHR Manitoba.
Larysa joined the Board of Directors to share her professional experience and support the OVRC vision to provide exceptional support to Manitobans seeking employment. Outside of work Larysa enjoys spending time with family, reading, and walking.
After several years of exploring many parts of the world through work, travel, volunteering, and studying, Leah is honored to be a part of such an integral organization as the OVRC at home in Winnipeg. Currently working in a finance role at the University of Manitoba, Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (MMID), she brings experience in business administration and accounting with a strong motivation for making a difference in her community. Leah holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees and a Business Administration diploma. She is a member of the MMID Department Council and the Max Rady College of Health Sciences Council.
Leah recently completed board governance training with the Volunteer Manitoba Board Connect program and is looking forward to putting this knowledge into action to support the OVRC. She loves to be physically active outdoors, enjoying weekly local run clubs and yoga classes. Seeing the world is her passion, but she has thoroughly enjoyed exploring and appreciating Manitoba over the last couple years.
As the Secretary for the OVRC Board of Directors, Melissa McCann offers diverse experience in strategic communication and marketing. Melissa brings to the table more than 15 years of career experience, with roles that have included Marketing and Communication Specialist, Content Specialist, and Content Manager. In addition, Melissa owns her own resume writing and career coaching business, where she has spent more than a decade supporting clients across North America. She is a passionate advocate for her clients and enjoys helping people take the next step on their career journey.
Melissa joined the Board of Directors for the OVRC to share her communications leadership expertise and passion for helping others. In her spare time, Melissa and her husband, Tyson, enjoy camping and hiking with their two children.
Adriano Magnifico has taught senior high school English and Career Development for 35 years. In 1995, he created the Career Internship Program, a multi-award-winning venture that meshes career development with traditional courses, and which continues to this day. He is chair of the Louis Riel School Division Career Development Committee and member of the leadership team.
He works or has worked with executive/leadership teams with CERIC, LMIC, the Canadian Cyber Defence Challenge, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, and Canadian Manufacturing and Exporters (CME) and the Brookfield Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He actively volunteers with Junior Achievement, Special Olympics Manitoba, Harvest Manitoba and has coached hockey and baseball in his community for the past 30 years.
He is Co-President of the Manitoba Association of Teachers of English and has worked on teams developing summer literacy programs for marginalized elementary students. Adriano publishes the occasional article on career development, writes a regular column for the local community newspaper, and has won awards for his short stories. He created the LEAN Career Design Canvas personal narrative tool and shares it with CDPs in Canada and various countries. He hosts the podcast Adventures in Careerland with a team of dedicated high school students. He is happily married to Vicki, has three boys (all moved out!), and two rescue dogs, Maggie and Mighty.
John has worked in the Social Services field for over 40 years. He retired from the Manitoba Government in 2016 as a Case Coordinator with Employment and Income Assistances (EIA). He worked with EIA participants in developing job plans that dealt with their barriers and concerns in finding employment or volunteering positions. While with EIA he was appointed as the EIA liaison for Osborne Village Resource Centre (OVRC). Keith Robinson, the OVRC Director, and John presented an OVRC information package to EIA offices in Winnipeg. It was successful in getting the word out how great OVRC was in supporting unemployed and under employed individuals in finding work. John also worked with OVRC staff and management in developing a course for EIA participants.
John has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Manitoba. John also has worked for several other Social Programs (Student Aid, Employment Insurance, Human Rights, Employment and Immigration). The jobs included program review, policy development, research, and client services. John is looking forward to using his experiences to help the Board and OVRC succeed in their Vision.
John has always volunteered. Presently, John is the President of Share the Magic (book giveaway program), Treasurer and Board member at his Church, and Constituency President with a political party. In the past, he has been President of Darwin School Parent Association, a basketball and soccer coach, and he has volunteered for many one-time events (Canada Games, Pam Am Games, etc.).
John is very excited to join the OVRC Board of Directors. He appreciated being asked because he feels that using the extra time he now has available to help out a great organization like OVRC is exactly what he hoped to do in retirement.
Raghu is an HR professional with over 15 years of progressive people development experience leading effective teams globally in the technology and consulting industries. Having delivered workshops in more than 26 countries, he has developed an appreciation for building a diverse and inclusive mindset. He is a member of HRPA in Canada, and ATD and PMI from the US.
Raghu is passionate about the cause of individual and community skill development and joined the Board of Directors to support the OVRC vision. A lifelong learner, Raghu holds three post-graduate diplomas with the last one from the University of Winnipeg PACE in 2021.
On the personal front, Raghu loves outdoor sports, spending time with family, travelling to different parts of the world and volunteering in the community.
"About Me: A passionate recruitment professional with a knack for driving results in the fast-paced world of HR. Fluent in English and Spanish, I've spent over 13 years honing my skills in team building, performance management, and crafting recruitment strategies that truly resonate with both candidates and clients.
My Journey: From my early days as a Technical Support Representative to my recent roles as a Senior Local Marketing & Recruitment Director, I've worn many hats in the realm of talent acquisition. Leading teams, managing budgets, and shaping company policies have been just a few of the adventures along the way.
What Sets Me Apart: I thrive on the thrill of collaboration and the challenge of adapting to ever-changing market trends. Whether it's fine-tuning recruitment processes or crafting compelling marketing campaigns, I'm all about finding innovative solutions that drive growth and foster positive experiences for everyone involved.
Beyond Work: When I'm not diving into the world of HR, you'll likely find me watching my favorite shows (Grey’s Anatomy, Friends and Game Of Thrones), reading or out and about with my family. I believe in the power of balance, and I'm always on the lookout for new ways to feed both my professional and personal passions.”
Meet Lisbeth, an accomplished accounting professional from the Dominican Republic with a bachelor's degree in accounting and seven years of hands-on experience. Her unwavering commitment to continuous learning and professional development has led her to pursue a postgraduate diploma in business accountancy at Red River College Polytechnic. Beyond her academic achievements, Lisbeth is a passionate community contributor, dedicating her time to volunteering in various events to make a positive impact on the lives of those around her.
Lisbeth's love for accounting lies in the critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills that the field demands. Her desire to channel these skills into meaningful contributions has led her to OVRC, where she envisions herself contributing meaningfully to the organization's goals. By joining OVRC, Lisbeth hopes to realize her dream of creating a positive impact on society while pursuing her passion for accounting.
Gregory Geva, a former client and now serving as co-chair of the OVRC, is proud to give back to the community and support the organization. With 20 years of successful experience in electronics, Gregory has navigated roles in government, private, and public sectors, demonstrating adaptability and a forward-thinking approach.
Currently a maintenance supervisor, Gregory is a devoted family man and an outdoor enthusiast. He firmly believes in maintaining a healthy balance between responsibilities, commitments, and personal enjoyment. His guiding motto is, “Cheerfulness in the face of Adversity” — embracing hope and perseverance even in the toughest times.
Carvell currently works in internal trade and intergovernmental relations with the Internal Trade Secretariat. In this role Carvell works with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial governments aiding them in accomplishing their goals as it relates to internal trade.
Prior to this role, Carvell worked in a case management type role with the University of Manitoba Student Advocacy Office. Here he was able to help students who were facing personal and academic challenges, guiding them to success and understanding.
Carvell joined the board in order to give back to his community and share his knowledge of governance, policies and relationship building. Outside of work Carvell enjoys baking and taking his dog Evey for walks.