Board of Directors

Officers of the Board

D.M. (Bud McDonald)

President

D.M. (Bud McDonald)

President

Following graduation from the University of Alberta with a B.Sc., Bud commenced his career in the oil industry. He worked for various oil companies from the time he graduated in 1950 through to 1964, when he established two wholly owned, private oil and gas companies. Both were sold in 1969.

Since 1969 he has acted as an independent operator, and established a public company which was merged with Consolidated Imperial Resources Inc. in 1983. From 1986 to 1992 Bud focused on oil and gas operations through his private company, McDonald Oil and Gas Ltd.

He has been involved in many non-profit pursuits including United Way of Calgary and Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Board. He took the position of ARBI President and Director in 2003.

“I first visited ARBI almost 10 years ago at the request of Bill Cunningham a Director --I was impressed with the staff and volunteers and the good work they do. I was asked to join the Board however I thought I should get to know the organization better so I asked if they would give me a task to accomplish --it was related to fund raising. It took a few months, but when completed I became so impressed with the results our rehab was achieving, and the empathy, dedication and professionalism of our staff, I was very pleased to join the Board. It has been a wonderful association and I have received so much more than I have contributed,” he shares.
Bruce Murray

Vice-President

Bruce Murray

Vice-President

Bruce Murray is a native Calgarian with over thirty years of varied oil and gas experience including land negotiations, marketing, finance, corporate development and management in emerging, junior and senior oil and gas companies.

Bruce is currently President and Chairman of Zorzal Incorporated, a start up winery in Mendoza, Argentina, and Chairman and CEO of Passport Energy Ltd., an emerging junior oil and gas company.

He volunteers as Vice President and Director of ARBI and instructs a fourth year oil and gas course at the University of Calgary, Haskayne School of Business.

"The City of Calgary has been a tremendous (place) to live, work and bring up a family. I believe each citizen has the obligation to give back to their community. ARBI provides essential services to everyday Albertans who have suffered a traumatic brain injury or stroke. ARBI works hard and is successful at integrating these Albertans back into the community through their leading edge rehabilitation work."

Bruce resides in Calgary with his wife of 26 years, Kim and their two sons.
Terry Craig

Treasurer

Terry Craig

Treasurer

Terry Craig has an MBA in Finance and Accounting and a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics. He is a retired financial executive, residing in Calgary.

His background is in bank and non-bank financial institutions specializing in commercial and agricultural lending, commercial marketing, and risk management, culminating in divisional executive responsibilities. He also worked for several years as a principal in an interim executive firm successfully completing contracts in strategic planning, integrated risk management, organizational restructuring, and executive coaching.

Terry joined ARBI’s board of directors in 2007. “I feel that ARBI does extremely important work and is the most worthwhile organization I know of in terms of deserving community support,” he shares.
Matthew White

Secretary

Matthew White

Secretary

Mathew is a Partner with the law firm McLeod & Company. He has always practiced in the area of plaintiff's personal injury/disability litigation, insurance defense (predominantly on behalf of the Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act), products liability, minor’s property rights, minor's trusteeship appointments, and to a limited extent, employment law.  He has appeared in the Provincial and Queen's Bench levels of Court in Alberta mainly on complex personal injury matters. Matthew continues to handle a busy practice while acting as the co-chair of the Litigation Department at McLeod & Company, head of the Personal Injury Group and head of the Articling Committee.

“I joined the Board of Directors of ARBI in the fall of 2007 as a result of my interest in the availability of rehabilitation services for the severely brain injured. At various times throughout my career I have represented individuals with different levels of brain injury and that brought about an awareness of the limited services available to help individuals and families deal with that enormous life change. ARBI's commitment to affordable, practical and effective rehabilitation service delivery is a benefit to all members of our community, and helping those types of services remain available has become a priority for me."

Members of the Board

Roger Balm

Roger Balm

Roger is the Chairman and CEO of RPM Software, a successful, Calgary-based software company. RPM was created in 2002, to satisfy a niche, specializing in workflow and data management for oil and gas, engineering and telecom markets.

Roger’s volunteer activities are broad. He is a mentor for the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, providing coaching for young adults starting a business venture. Once a week, since 2009, the staff at RPM rolls up their sleeves to make sandwiches for impoverished kids, through Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids Society.

When asked why he joined ARBI’s Board of Directors he replies, “It is a small local organization and I feel that I can make a difference. Joining a large organization you are just another body. What I have learned from ARBI’s perspective is that it is a very misunderstood and under-funded sector that deserves the attention more so than anything. There are difficult and complex issues in this unspoken, unheard of world (of brain injury); I did it for that reason, to challenge myself in an area that I knew nothing about.”
Diane Beattie

Diane Beattie

Diane Beattie worked in the land development and house building industry for 27 years. She was one of the co-founders of the GlenEagles Charity Classic, now known as the PriddisGreens Charity Classic, to support and raise money for prostate cancer.

Diane joined ARBI’s Board of Directors in 2009 and was Chairman of the Golf Committee working with the Willow Park Charity Classic to raise over $460,000 for ARBI. She continues to chair an annual fundraising golf tournament for ARBI.

Diane is a longtime friend and supporter of ARBI. She joined ARBI’s Board because she believes in the services, “The ARBI staff and volunteers are so caring and offer amazing rehabilitation. I wanted to be a part of such a great organization and give back to the community.”
Marlie Burtt

Marlie Burtt

Marlie is currently on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Calgary and ARBI, and is Vice Chair of the Finance and Audit committees of both organizations and is on the Fund Development committee of ARBI. She has been an executive on the boards of many significant industry and professional associations, and has been the head of the Tax Executives Institute for Canada.

Mrs. Burtt has been associated with the Canadian energy industry for the past 30 years, currently President, Burtt Energy Ltd., a private investment company. She was on the Finance Management Committee of Suncor Energy Inc, in her role as VP Taxation & Royalty. Mrs. Burtt was with Suncor for 13 years. She obtained her BComm. in 1979; her CA in 1981 and her ICD.D designation in 2009.

Marlie believes longer term rehabilitation for brain injury survivors is critical to improve their quality of life. “I have seen the amazing difference the volunteers and (programs) at ARBI can make. I lost my mother and uncle to strokes and I loved and respected Audrey, my sister-in-law’s mother who started ARBI.”
Randy Fowler

Randy Fowler

Before Randy’s car crash in 1982, he had an aspiring career in professional football. He played with the Calgary Colts, Calgary Mohawks and the Medicine Hat Rattlers. In his final year with the Rattlers, Randy was invited to the Saskatchewan Roughrider’s training camp. However, all of Randy’s dreams came to an abrupt halt when he suffered a traumatic brain injury due to driving under the influence of alcohol. He was involved in a serious car crash that killed his best friend and left him in a coma. When he awoke from his coma, he learned he had sustained a severe traumatic brain injury.

In 1985, Randy began a rehabilitation program at ARBI. He made tremendous strides during this time and his incredible motivation to overcome the next hurdle had a ripple effect on the other clients in the program.

Randy is a compelling motivational speaker and his message has a lasting impact on audiences. He is a preferred keynote speaker at national brain injury conferences and a sought-after presenter by United Way of Calgary & Area during their annual campaign. Randy also volunteers his time assisting ARBI and other non-profits with annual fundraising events.

One of Randy’s many outstanding contributions is his more than 20 years of dedicated volunteer work with the PARTY (Prevention of Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth) Program, educating students on the importance of making safe choices. His personal story and positive approach leaves an incredible impact on these young people and their future decisions.
Steve Hager

Steve Hager

Steve Hager is a Geologist and Senior Exploration Analyst for Canadian Discovery Ltd., an oil and gas consulting company (since 1994).

Born in Detroit, Michigan, he has lived in Calgary since 1967.

Steve’s son Mike became an ARBI client after sustaining a severe brain injury in an automobile crash in November 2006. Inspired by ARBI’s vision, he joined the Fund Development Committee and became an ARBI board member in 2007.

Steve has two sons; Jim and Mike, one daughter; Christina and two granddaughters. He can often been found at Calgary parks walking his dog Sparky.

Steve enjoys golf and cherishes his role as a grandparent.
Lorn Howes

Lorn Howes

Lorn Howes worked for the Calgary Fire Department for 33 years.

He retired in 2004, but not before he began to volunteer for ARBI’s On-site program.

He started volunteering with his brother Nonnie, after Nonnie sustained a severe brain injury on his farm. Three days a week Lorn volunteered to help Nonnie with his rehab. Nonnie has since graduated ARBI’s On-site program. Thirteen years later, Lorn still volunteers twice a week. He has worked with many clients, helping them achieve their goals.

Lorn joined ARBI’s Board in 2006, because he truly believed in ARBI’s services. His unique perspective, from both a family member of a survivor, and a volunteer, has made his relationship with ARBI a dedicated and enthusiastic one.
Donald Staus

Donald Staus

Don is a Professional Geologist with over 25 years of oil and gas experience. He founded Culane Energy Corp. in 2002 and has been the President and CEO since its inception in December 2002. Prior to that Mr. Staus was President, Chairman and CEO of Canoro Resources Ltd.

In May of 2007 Don suffered a dissection of his aortic arch. His prognosis was that survival was not possible. He did survive the surgery however, spent the next two weeks in a drug induced coma. When he awoke it was apparent that he had suffered a stroke, resulting in brain injury that left the entire left side of his body paralyzed. This was devastating news for his family who was informed that Don would need to be transferred to Ponoka for stroke rehab. During his medical crisis, Don gained a special insight into the world of a stroke survivor. One day President and a CEO of successful oil company, the next day, stroke survivor. He remembers not being able to communicate was a terrifying experience.

“I remember screaming inside my mind and no one being able to hear me. Then I was able to scream and became so violent that half of me had to be restrained but I still made no sense to anyone. With time I slowly started to recover and was able to communicate more and control my thoughts.” Over a period of two months the effects of the stroke diminished to the point where Don was able to regain most of the use of the left side of his body and the effects of the brain injury became minimal. Around this time Don met with long time friend, Bruce Murray. Bruce introduced him to ARBI. Shortly after this meeting Don joined the ARBI Board.
Bob Steele

Bob Steele

Bob Steele is an electrical engineering graduate from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a professional engineer and is currently an independent businessman with over 35 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.

He has previously held senior management roles with Imperial Oil Limited and Canadian Hunter Exploration Limited. In 1994 Bob resigned from Hunter to form Stellarton Energy Corporation. The company grew successful and was sold in 2001. In 2002 Bob became the CEO of a technology company that was transformed in 2003 into Berens Energy Ltd. Berens was successfully built and sold in early 2010. Currently Bob is a director of three TSX listed companies, Technicoil Corp., Bengal Energy Ltd. and Skywest Energy Ltd. as well as a member of several private company and charitable boards.

Bob joined the ARBI Board in 2010 after he and his wife, Pat, had been supporters for about a decade. In fact Pat had been one of the volunteers in the late 1990s. He believes the organization is fulfilling a real and critical need and doing it very effectively and efficiently. It was time to help further!

Non-Voting Members

Judy Stawnychko

Executive Director, ARBI

Judy Stawnychko

Executive Director, ARBI

Judy is the mother of a son who survived a severe traumatic brain injury as a result of a motor vehicle crash in 1988. She has been the Executive Director of ARBI for the past 17 years. Prior to her position as Executive Director, she volunteered on the board of directors for 4 years. Her 8 years as the assistant to the Dean of the Faculty of Community and Health Studies at Mount Royal College provided her with experience and knowledge in the health and disability discipline.

She also works closely with members of the Brain Injury Coalition of Calgary to help increase services and enhance the quality of life for individuals who live with an acquired brain injury. Judy provides hope to families who have gone through similar experiences with their loved one.

Judy says that she’ll be forever grateful to ARBI for not giving up on her son, Mike. They brought him from a near non-responsive state to becoming an active member of his community. Mike now enjoys life and especially enjoys coming home every weekend to spend time with his family.
Mary Anne Ostapovitch

Program Director, ARBI

Mary Anne Ostapovitch

Program Director, ARBI

Mary Anne has extensive background as a Physical Therapist in the field of brain injury rehabilitation. She is presently the Program Director for ARBI. Mary Anne has been involved with ARBI since 1984 and is passionate about making life better for individuals and their families.
Jane Dafoe, CFRE

Fund Development Manager, ARBI

Jane Dafoe, CFRE

Fund Development Manager, ARBI

Jane has worked as a Fund Development professional for 13 years for various non-profits in the Calgary community. She feels at home at ARBI, inspired by the close-knit community of clients, families, volunteers and staff.