Board of Directors and Governance
Mennonite Seniors Housing Network Inc. is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Board of Directors
Meet the dedicated volunteers that make up our Board of Directors:
David Hodge, Chairperson
David is currently the Chief Strategy Officer of Agi3, a technology start-up focused on Artificial Intelligence use in agriculture.
Prior to Agi3, David held the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Information Officer of Great-West Life, where he was responsible for overall technology strategy, operations, delivery and security for Great-West Life, Canada Life, and London Life.
Prior to his 10 years as a Chief Information Officer, David held a variety of roles as a senior technology executive and technology industry consultant, including creating and operating a global technology shared services organization spanning six countries. He has extensive experience in risk management, financial services and retail industries, and significant experience leading information technology integration and consolidation through many mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. He has worked with several industry vendors in senior technology positions, including almost 5 years as a systems engineer with Apple, and created his own software startup, focused on software for academia.
He is a guest lecturer at the University of Manitoba and has been a guest speaker at more than 100 Provincial, National, and International conferences, and most recently was a keynote speaker at Gartner’s International Symposium event, where he presented on large scale implementations of Robotic Process Automation & Artificial Intelligence.
David has served on several Boards and Advisory Groups including the Information & Technology Association of Canada, Canadian Information Processing Society, Concordia Hospital, Autumn House and is a past Chair of the Board of the United Way of Winnipeg.
David is married to Barbara-Anne Hodge, and together they have four Children and two Grandchildren. David and Barbara-Anne are long time members of First Mennonite Church, where David has served many terms on Council, and has Chaired a number of specific-purpose ad-committees/task forces.
Gerald Loeppky, Vice Chair
Gerald worked with Agriculture and Agrifood Canada for forty years, as a Research Technician and a Research site manager, conducting and facilitating research on a wide range of field and speciality crops, in Morden and Portage la Prairie. Retiring in 2007 provided the opportunity to serve with Mennonite Disaster Service on numerous occasions, provide leadership to a large Canadian Food Grains Bank grow project, as well travel and as spend time with family. Golf and curling have been favoured recreational activities. Gerald and his wife Grace moved into Winnipeg in 2013 from Portage la Prairie where they have two sons with their families. They are members at Bethel Mennonite church where Gerald is completing a six-year term as chair of the property committee.
Herb Peters, Secretary
Herb grew up in Steinbach. After completing his studies in undergraduate History and Law, he practiced law in Winnipeg for 37 years. He had a general commercial law practice and was privileged to act on behalf of a number of not-for-profit and charitable organizations. Herb retired as a partner at MLT Aikins at the end of 2018. Herb and his wife Donna Peters-Small are members at and attend Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship. They enjoy travel, time spent with good friends and their active and growing family (which includes five young grandsons).
Hans Peter Werner, Treasurer
Hans and Diana met in high school at MCI in Gretna and after completing an Engineering degree and getting married, he joined her family’s farm near Winkler. Hans returned to studies after farming for 20 years and then taught Canadian and Mennonite History at the University of Winnipeg. During that time, he was also the Executive Director of the Plett Foundation.
Hans has been a Director and Chair of several Boards, including terms as Chair of the Boards of the Winkler Credit Union and Red River Mutual Insurance. He has served as moderator of Mennonite Church Manitoba, Congregational Chair at Bethel, and most recently the Board of Governors of Canadian Mennonite University where he was Chair of the Finance Committee.
Hans and Diana are retired and are members of Bethel Mennonite Church. He enjoys travelling, sailing on Lake Winnipeg, and occasional writing and teaching assignments.
Alf Dyck, Capital Management Chair
Alf is a retired Professional Engineer who spent his entire career with Price Industries (formerly E H Price Ltd.) after graduation from the U of M Mechanical Engineering program.
Price is a Winnipeg based, worldwide manufacturer and distributer of Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) components in the commercial and industrial construction market.
Over the last 15 years of his employment with Price, Alf held the position of Vice President of Product Engineering, primarily responsible for new product design, development and testing as well as technical support and training. He has extensive experience in building and leading teams of engineers/technologists/drafters for the development of innovative and profitable HVAC products in accordance with company goals and objectives. Through this process Alf has held several patents for products successfully launched and in production currently.
As a member of the Board of Directors, Alf participated in developing and monitoring the annual goals and objectives of the company mainly to drive growth and achieve profitability.
Alf travelled extensively in North America as well as Europe and Asia, participating in product presentations, seminars, training programs and attending industry conferences. He has interacted with Consulting Engineers, Architects and contractors in design, construction and commissioning of HVAC systems and been involved in a variety of complex and prestigious projects including the new Apple Headquarters building in Cupertino California.
Alf has served on the Boards of Sunset House and Autumn House. He was a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba for close to 40 years and is a life member of the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the Friends of Engineering (Manitoba) Inc.
Alf and his wife Jean Boyes have two daughters and the recent addition of a grandson. They are both long time members of First Mennonite Church. Alf and Jean enjoy travelling, spending time at the lake, gardening, and skiing.
Wendy Janzen
Wendy and her husband Brad met at the University of Manitoba studying their respective fields, and married upon graduation. Neither having family in Manitoba, they struggled to feel Manitoba was home until they became members at Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship. At FGMF, they became part of a community, made many friends that made Winnipeg feel like home with their son Jacob, and daughter Fiona.
Wendy is a Vice President with Colliers Project Leaders where she leads a team of professionals who deliver capital construction projects as the owner’s project manager for private and public sector organizations. Wendy is known professionally for her organizational and leadership skills, and a genuine interest in the people she leads. She is passionate about building meaningful communities with her clients, for their organizations and their communities throughout Manitoba.
In her free time, Wendy loves spending time with her husband, children, and dog at home or travelling abroad, reading, and practicing yoga for physical and mental fitness.
Cal Friesen
Cal and Bev met in high school at MCI in Gretna and have been married for 48 years. They have 2 adult sons and two grandsons, all residing in Winnipeg. Cal spent 10 years at the University of Manitoba where he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and then a law degree at Robson Hall, the Law School.
After articling with the criminal office of Legal Aid and being called to the bar, Cal has practised law with the same firm, McRoberts Law Office, for the last 40 years. Most of his career was focused on family law where he assisted clients who had experienced a relationship breakdown. For the last 5 years Cal has focused his practice on, preparation of Wills and POA, guiding families after the death of a family member to settle an estate, as well as acting for clients on the purchase and sale of homes.
Cal has not retired because he likes what he does.
Cal has attended Charleswood Mennonite Church since the age of 12, where he served as Chair of counsel for two terms and in other capacities. He served as Chair of the Westgate board for several years.
Cal enjoys traveling with destinations as diverse as Iran and Antarctica and Ecuador and Iceland. He supports the transition to electric transportation and has made use of battery electric vehicles since 2019. Cal enjoys spending time with family on a regular basis.
Elsie Rempel, Spiritual Care
Elsie Rempel brings a wealth of experience in community leadership, education, and faith-based service to her work. She holds a master’s in theology from Canadian Mennonite University and the University of Winnipeg and is the author of Please Pass the Faith: The Spiritual Art of Grandparenting, along with many other published resources.
A dedicated member of the Mennonite community, Elsie has held various leadership roles, including council chair at Charleswood Mennonite Church from 2021 to 2024. She regularly preaches and leads worship, and for the past 15 years, she has served as a Bible study teacher and worship leader at Bethel Place. Her commitment to service extends internationally, with volunteer work in Germany and a semester spent as a teacher mentor in Zambia with MCC.
Elsie’s professional career includes 13 years as a teacher at Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary School and 13 years with Mennonite Church Canada Formation, where she worked on educational and worship resources. She has a strong track record of board involvement, having served on the MCM Education Commission and MC Canada’s Formation Council. Notably, she helped guide the orderly closure and fund dispersal for both Mennonite Women Canada and Mennonite Women Manitoba. Currently, she is the secretary for the Donwood West Residents Association.
Elsie and her husband, Peter, have been married for 54 years and have three children and four grandchildren.
Shannon Leppky
Shannon Leppky is an executive leadership coach, team facilitator, and organizational consultant who brings over 20 years of progressive human resources and leadership experience in both education and business. She rose to the C-suite of a large Crown corporation as Chief Human Resource Officer and Vice President of Product, where she led comprehensive people strategies for multiple multimillion-dollar business transformation initiatives. She oversaw talent management, leadership development, labour relations, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness, ensuring that HR practices were aligned with strategic priorities, fiscal responsibility, and long-term sustainability.
Guided by a deep sense of purpose, Shannon chose to step off the CEO succession path which led her to establish Red Chair Coaching and create Red Chair Ranch, a space where leaders come to reconnect with who they are and how they lead. She partners with horses as co-coaches to design and facilitate unique learning experiences that build trust, strengthen communication, and enhance resilience. Shannon is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and holds a Master of Education (Adult Education) from the University of Manitoba.
Shannon and her husband, Bruce previously attended Bethel Mennonite Church and currently attend Oasis Church. They enjoy spending time with their grown daughters and their partners and their sweet granddaughter. They keep busy taking care of the Ranch and their healing herd of horses.
Meg Gray
Meg Gray is a retired apparel industry executive with deep experience in all facets of the industry – design, product development, marketing and all facets of production management.
Meg was raised in the Anglican tradition. After many years of spiritual searching Meg found her home at Home Street Mennonite Church. For the last 10 years Meg has been involved in the life and mission of the church. She co-coordinates Home Plate Food Bank, a depot location for Harvest Manitoba.
Meg has one daughter, Ellie, who lives in Vancouver with her husband Jonathan.
Life circumstances led Meg to an early retirement in 2014. Since retirement she has focused on developing her faith commitment and volunteering in large and small ways.
Meg loves to spend time in nature, spend summers at the cottage and travelling as much as possible.
Barry Suderman
Barry became interested in housing issues during a Toronto MCC VS term at Warden Woods Church and Community, with his wife Joyce during the late 70’s. They were part of a term that included Public Health, Family Services, Children’s Aid Society and MCC volunteers which involved walking alongside families and seniors, providing some assistance to residents of a low rent assisted housing development. Building connections and community were at the core of their time spent there.
His career in technology includes installing systems and networks, system analysis, programming, software support and training. His last position was at CMU as Director of Information Technology.
Joyce and Barry are active members of Home Street Mennonite Church. They enjoy spending time with their family of 4 daughters, their partners, and 7 grandchildren. Other interests include travel, especially road trips, and keeping up with events, both locally and the broader world.
Katherine Stansfield
Kathy is a retired nurse with 40-year career spanning four provinces, specializing in nursing administration and education. With 25 years in leadership—including 16 at the senior executive level—Kathy most recently served as the CEO/Registrar of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM), where she provided critical regulatory oversight during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to her return to Manitoba, she was responsible for clinical services at Quinte Health Care in Ontario. There, she oversaw the design and construction of innovative care facilities in Picton and Belleville and spearheaded the inauguration of a model Behavioral Support Unit for dementia care. Currently, as Principal of Stansfield Coaching, she provides executive consultation for non-profit organizations nationwide.
A seasoned board member and governance expert, Kathy is a long-time member of First Mennonite Church, where she chairs the Congregational Care Committee. She is dedicated to leveraging her background in strategic planning and healthcare advocacy to support the evolving needs of our senior community.