READ SASKATOON BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The READ Saskatoon board of directors works to ensure the vision and mission of READ Saskatoon is defined and fulfilled and is responsible for the overall operations of READ Saskatoon. This includes explaining, introducing, and developing policies for READ Saskatoon.

The Board also works to:

• Set organizational values;
• Initiate, review and evaluate policy;
• Complete annual performance reviews of staff;
• Establish and review personnel policies and/or employment contracts; and
• Ensure the long-term financial viability of READ Saskatoon.

Carm Michalenko, Chair
Carm immigrated to Canada at the age of two with her parents. As the eldest daughter, she witnessed the daily literacy challenge her parents faced.

Prior to becoming Chair of READ Saskatoon in 2010, Carm was member at Large for three years. She was also founding Chair of our READ Saskatoon PGI Golf Tournament for Literacy a role she held for four years, helping READ raise over $90,000.

Through Carm’s involvement, Affinity Credit Union received the Lieutenant Governors’ Saskatchewan Literacy Award of Merit, Corporation in 2009. In 2010 she was honoured with The Mentor of the Year (Ace of Spades award) from the Saskatchewan Young Entrepreneurs.

Carm is past chair of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Dinner® and the International Women’s Day event for Business and Professional Women’s Club. She was also past president of the International Association of Business Communicators Saskatoon and past board member Saskatchewan Rotary Youth Foundation (My Future is Here) and past Board chair for the International Association of Students of Economics and Commerce (AIESEC, U of S).

Carm is currently Marketing and Strategic Services Manager for Affinity Credit Union and has 25 years of a wide-range of research and marketing management experience.

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader." — Margaret Fuller

Luke Muller, Vice President
Luke has worked as a lecturer, editor, and communications manager since moving to Saskatoon in 1996 to complete graduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan. Currently, he works in the Advancement field at the University of Saskatchewan, splitting his time between the College of Law and the University Libraries.

A lifelong learner, Luke believes that literacy is critically important to education, which is the foundation of healthy and prosperous communities.

Rick Peddle
Rick is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) with Thomson Jaspar & Associates Chartered Accountants, a client-focused service firm that is dedicated to providing innovative solutions in the areas of accounting, taxation, and business advisory services.

Rick's involvement with READ Saskatoon began in 2007 when he became a member of the Peter Gzowski Golf Tournament for Literacy committee. Rick is the current Past-President for the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon. Rick was the Finance Director for the Saskatchewan Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (SYPE) for 1999/2000 and 2003/2004, the Communications Director (2000 - 20004), President for 2005 - 2008 and is currently serving as the Saskatoon chapter Past President and the Saskatchewan Board's Past President. Rick is also a volunteer in many community organizations, including Junior Achievement, the Saskatoon Mustang and Classic Ford Club, and is a member of the Council for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Saskatchewan.

"The best part of my day is reading bed time stories with my son. As a parent, I see literacy as the key to my son's happiness and to his future success. He is only 4, but the joy that I see on his face while learning to read amazes me daily."

Joy Adams Bauer, Secretary
Joy Adams Bauer has lived in Saskatoon for 25 years. She spent the first part of her career in adult education as a workshop facilitator and a public educator. For the past 15 years she has worked in the field of communications, media relations and public relations. She thinks she has one of the best jobs in the city as the communications officer for Saskatoon Public Schools. Joy is a member of the Rotary Club of Saskatoon and past board member of My Future is Here. She loves jazz music, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, good food and good wine. She and her husband are "child-free by choice".

"Literacy is a window that opens into a whole new world."

Members at Large:

Russ Friesen
Russ was born in Saskatoon and this is where he received his primary and initial post secondary education.

He currently resides in Saskatoon with his lovely bride, teenage son and daughter as well as a foreign exchange student from Japan who is living with his family while attending high school and experiencing the Canadian way of life.

He is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Police College where he also has had the opportunity to instruct on several subjects. He has received additional training from the Canadian Police College in Ottawa as well as from Dalhousie University. Since 1989 he has been employed by the Saskatoon Police Service where he is currently a member of the Executive Officer staff.

Russ is an active practitioner and instructor of the Martial Arts and has been seriously training for the last thirty-five years. He is active in the community and regularly volunteers at events such as Folk Fest. He also is on the Board of Directors of two non profit organizations in Saskatoon.

Daily reading is a crucial aspect of his professional and personal life and he is excited to join the board membership for READ Saskatoon.

"Literacy unlocks the door to learning throughout life, is essential to development and health, and opens the way for democratic participation and active citizenship." — Kofi Annan

Kristen Hamm
Kristen was born and raised in Borden, SK and moved to Saskatoon to complete his B. Comm at the College of Commerce. He joined Freedom 55 Financial immediately following his time at the U of S as a Financial Advisor. Over the years he has moved into different leadership roles within the organization where he is now a Director, Business Development and Branch Manager where he leads a team of financial advisors. Since joining Freedom 55 Financial he has completed many designations including his CFP (Certified Financial Planner), Branch Manager, and Officers’, Partners’ and Directors’ Programs.

Kristen has been involved in many community organizations such as SYPE (Sask. Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs), Junior Achievement, Advocis (Financial Planners Professional Association), PGI Read Saskatoon Golf Tournament, and the Edwards School of Business Students Society Mentoring Program to name a few. Kristen decided to join the board for Read Saskatoon because he feels that literacy helps individuals better themselves and their career opportunities.

Dave Hutton
David was born in Glasgow, Scotland, raised in Peterborough, Ontario, and moved to Saskatoon in 1996. These days, he is the city hall reporter for The StarPhoenix. His stories have appeared in The Globe and Mail, The National Post, The Toronto Star, and The Ottawa Citizen. His work has received a number of recognitions, including the Canadian Science Writers’ Association Herb Lampert emerging journalist prize for a piece chronicling the University of Saskatchewan’s involvement in the origins of the Internet. He sits on the editorial board of The Green and White, the University of Saskatchewan’s alumni magazine, and Blackflash, an award-winning national new media and photography magazine. He holds Master’s degrees in journalism from Carleton University and English from the U of S. He lives in Saskatoon with his wife, Amanda.

"Citizens need to be equipped to explore issues of fairness and context for themselves. Literacy is the way to do it"

Mary Leggett
Mary has lived in Saskatoon since 1989 and started to volunteer for READ shortly after she arrived. She has been on the board several times in that period, and ithas been a stimulating and exciting experience watching the organization grow and change. Mary works as a senior data analyst for Novozymes. She also serves as a board member for Agriculture in the Classroom -SK and the Canadian Phytopathological Society.

Literacy is a major factor in determining the ability of citizens to fully participate in, and benefit from, the activities in their community. It is everyone’s right to have access to programs that will help them achieve the literacy and numeracy skills they feel they need to interact with their family, friends, co workers and society in general.

Dave Salagubas
Dave was born and raised in Saskatoon and is happy to join the board membership for READ Saskatoon. In 2009, Dave received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the U of S and began a career at SaskEnergy. He also married his lovely wife Ashley in 2009 and the two of them are planning to remain in Saskatoon for a long time. Dave loves playing baseball and hockey and is now becoming passionate about golfing and fishing.

For Dave, literacy is an important tool in today’s world. It is an essential building block for intellectual development, which creates opportunities for the individual and enables them to develop ways and means of improving our world. So, not only can literacy give a person more opportunities in life, it can also help them create opportunities. Dave also believes that one of the most valuable gifts and powerful legacies a person can leave for other generations is their own wisdom.

Maya Scott
Maya was raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where she graduated from Bedford Road Collegiate and then obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Saskatchewan. She spent several years traveling overseas to locations such as Fiji, New Zealand and the Philippines. She then moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 2000 to attend Law School at the University of British Columbia and later moved to Calgary, Alberta. She moved back to Saskatoon in 2006 and is currently a partner with Scott Law Office.

"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" — Benjamin Franklin

Janet Uchacz-Hart
Janet Uchacz-Hart is the Executive Director of the Saskatoon Industry-Education Council. The Council fosters partnerships between Saskatoon Public, Greater Saskatoon Catholic and Prairie Spirit School Divisions , Saskatoon Tribal Council, post-secondary institutions, community based organizations, business associations, employers and government.

"Literacy is essential to the success of our young people as they move from school to the world of work and believe that literacy is the most essential skill we can possess."