Meet the passionate and dedicated team behind Build a Dream. Our team members bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion within the workforce. Together, we work tirelessly to inspire and empower young women and under-represented communities to pursue their career dreams. Get to know the individuals who are making a difference every day through their unwavering dedication to our mission.
Nour Hachem
Nour utilizes her 13 years of experience as a workforce advisor, mentor, and influencer to inspire youth to make informed career choices that challenge the status quo. Her experiences are not just limited to the workplace. Nour watched her mother struggle and persevere as she started and grew a successful auto parts company in a male-dominated field. Through her work with other non-profits, she dreamt of the idea of Build A Dream and decided to go full force with the organization to bring it to life. She is a passionate force of nature and a workforce disruptor, challenging ideas and companies views of women in the workforce and how we can improve them.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Masters in Business Administration
Alex Cibiri
Anchored in both strategic and creative marketing, Alex’s professional journey is centered around story-making and storytelling. With a passion for curating and creating life-changing experiences, his success is driven by exceptional relationship-building skills, meticulous attention to detail, and strategic planning abilities.
As an entrepreneur at heart, Alex is continually drawn to opportunities that challenge and expand creative and strategic boundaries. His approach is rooted in team building and empowering leaders to execute big ideas. When he’s not working, you’ll find him reading or staying active outdoors or in the gym.
Jennifer Bartos
Jennifer has had an exciting 20+ year career, working in various roles such as Reception, Cost Analysis, Purchasing, and Software Administration. However, she found her true passion as an Executive Assistant, a role in which she has thrived for over 15 years.
Throughout her journey, Jennifer has worked in a wide range of industries—automotive, construction, wineries, bulk transportation, landscape design and construction, and health & wellness supplements. You name it, she’s done it!
As the Executive Assistant to the President, Jennifer is involved in nearly every aspect of the organization. Whether it’s keeping things running smoothly or jumping in to help wherever needed, she has it covered. She loves being part of such a dynamic team and making a difference every day!
Patricia Simone
Patricia, our extraordinary Director of Grants, is the luminary force that graces our organization with unparalleled dedication and a spirit that radiates positivity throughout our office. Her patience is a virtue akin to that of a saint, providing a steady and calming influence that transcends the challenges of the grant landscape.
In the often intricate world of grants, Patricia stands as a beacon of unwavering commitment and expertise. Her ability to navigate the complexities of grant applications and funding opportunities is nothing short of remarkable, earning her the well-deserved admiration of both colleagues and partners alike.
Huong Nguyen
Huong is an accomplished operational leader with extensive experience across diverse industries. Her professional journey is rooted in managing apprenticeships, projects, and program support, where she has secured significant funding and led cross-functional teams to implement innovative solutions that engage stakeholders and uplift communities. With a strategic mindset, Huong is dedicated to bridging the gap between current operations and long-term goals, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission while promoting sustainable growth.
Outside of work, Huong enjoys exploring new alignments by staying engaged with industry developments. A lover of adventure, she finds joy in connecting with nature as much as she does in connecting people with opportunities.
Justine Keller
Justine is the Senior Manager of Events at Build a Dream, bringing a diverse and rich background to her role. She holds a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Guelph, a birth doula certificate from CAPPA, and an End of Life Doula certificate from Douglas College. When she is not organizing amazing events, you can find her supporting new and growing families through her business, Love the Bump.
A true multitasker, Justine is a spreadsheet enthusiast, a proud boy mom, an ice cream aficionado, and a self-professed birth nerd. She loves spending her down-time watching bad television, hanging out with her sister, and failing pretty hardcore at pub trivia.
Lisa Bradley
As the Manager of Partnerships and Outreach at Build a Dream, Lisa is passionate about helping communities thrive by shifting workplace perspectives and promoting equal opportunities for all. Since joining the organization in 2021, Lisa has developed a deep love for building strong relationships with our partners and stakeholders, making a tangible difference in the lives of women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals. After a year abroad from 2022 to 2023, Lisa returned to continue this important work and is excited to contribute to our mission of breaking workforce barriers and advancing women in male-dominated spaces. With 13 years of experience in sales across various industries and a degree from Toronto Metropolitan University, Lisa is committed to moving the needle forward. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys traveling and discovering new places, always seeking new adventures and inspiration.
Brandon Clarke
Brandon has an educational background in both Business Administration and Human Resources. He holds skills in recruiting, performance management, and training and development. His HR experience has given him a strong understanding of building Diversity and Inclusion, Employee Relations, and promoting continuous learning and development.
Outside the professional sphere, Brandon‘s enthusiasm for the Miami Dolphins, an NFL team, is truly infectious. You might catch him in the act of passionately discussing plays with the TV, as if the players could hear the cheers and advice. When not engrossed in football, Brandon finds solace in the company of friends and family, sharing laughter and creating memories. A self-professed Netflix aficionado, he is no stranger to immersive binge-watching sessions of any series that captures his interest.
Mary Laslett
Mary is the Finance Manager at We Build A Dream, where she carefully balances all the moving parts of Finance from balancing grants, analyzing budgets to internal and external reporting. Mary has over 20 plus years of experience in finance, 16 of those in the Not-for-Profit sector.
Stacey Noronha
Stacey brings a wealth of experience in public affairs and advocacy, honed over a decade in the Federal Public Service.
Notable accomplishments include national campaigns to advance Canada’s first Feminist International Assistance Policy and a digital recruitment campaign that targeted women within the energy sector’s workforce. Stacey has been the recipient of a Government of Canada Award for her role in facilitating the recruitment and retention of a representative public service.
Her passion for empowering marginalized groups is driven by her experiences as a woman, a member of a racialized community, and an immigrant. As Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee at Dress for Success Ottawa, she works to create spaces that embrace diversity and equity. From her role at the Senate of Canada to her involvement with federal party politics and Equal Voice, she is also committed to facilitating women’s access to the political sphere.
Stacey believes that together, we can build a better, more equitable Canada.
Claudio Greco
Nothing brings people together like an event! Creating unforgettable experiences, one event at a time is Claudio’s undeniable passion. Big or small, he loves to make ideas come alive.
Claudio is committed to excellence as the Event Manager for Build a Dream through team collaboration and to sharing his knowledge with others in creating incredible, awesome events. Build a Dream, Claudio feels privileged and excited to work with such a talented and passionate team to focus on that special niche that will inspire, motivate and connect all the right synergies for a winning and meaningful event.
McKenna Goodwin
McKenna is a Red Seal Endorsed General Carpenter with 6 years of experience working in the construction industry. She strives to improve the recruitment, retention and experiences of women and equity-deserving groups in the skilled trades. McKenna started her apprenticeship at 16 years old through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and received her Red Seal Endorsement at age 21.
McKenna’s work with CSA Group on the groundbreaking Z301 Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Apprenticeship Programs standard has greatly shaped her career goals. She started as a technical committee member contributing content and feedback for the standard development and was then elected as vice-chair of the committee. This allowed her to take on a larger role in the standard and content development process.
In her free time, you’ll probably find her sipping a chai latte, watching a Hallmark movie or listening to Taylor Swift. McKenna loves to connect with fellow tradeswomen and participates and volunteers with a variety of organizations that help foster this community.
Delaney Krieger
Delaney is a Red Seal Endorsed Interior Systems Mechanic with 5 years of experience working on jobsites.
Since the early days of her career, Delaney has been vocal in her efforts to promote equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within the skilled trades industry. This has led to opportunities like travelling across Canada and the US for various industry conferences, taking a job contract up in Nunavut, becoming a mentor for pre-apprentices in the UBC SIB Women’s Readiness Program, and sitting as a Technical Committee Member for the development of the CSA Z301 EDIA in Apprenticeship Programs standard.
Delaney is eager to take the next step in her career journey by joining the Build a Dream Team as a Career Coach to further develop programs for equity deserving tradespeople.
In Delaney’s spare time she can be found at various music festivals in a crowd of thousands, singing her heart out or completely by herself in the middle of the mountains enjoying the silence. Delaney is also a proud mother to her two sons, the brothers she rescued as kittens and then so lovingly named Spaghetti and Meatball.
Katherine Morlog
Katherine Morlog brings a wealth of expertise in education and curriculum innovation to Build a Dream as our Education and Training Lead. With a Bachelor of Arts (BAH), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), and Master of Education (M.Ed.) from Queen’s University, she is a specialist in curriculum development, program strategy, and experiential learning.
As the Founder and Principal of Creekford Academy, Katherine established an inquiry-based, student-centred educational approach that nurtures holistic development and encourages active learning. Her leadership in both traditional and alternative educational settings allows her to create dynamic, impactful programs that resonate with diverse audiences.
Pinky Sabhnani
Pinky is a dedicated Project Manager with a passion for bringing ideas to life. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology Honors with thesis, as well as minors in Business Administration, she thrives on understanding human behaviour and optimizing processes.
When she is not immersed in project timelines, you’ll find her engrossed in the world of books or exploring new coffee shops. She runs a TikTok account where she delves into the captivating universe of books, sharing her thoughts, and humour.
Florine Ndimubandi
Flo’s dedication, creativity, and passion for fostering meaningful partnerships were evident in her previous role with Build a Dream, and she has no doubt that she will continue to excel in her position. As the Corporate Partnership Coordinator, Flo will play a pivotal role in cultivating and nurturing relationships with our valued partners, driving our mission forward with her strategic insights and collaborative spirit
Flo ventured into impactful roles, including serving as a Black, African, and Caribbean Support Tutor, followed by her tenure as a Program Coordinator for Association des communautés francophones de l’Ontario Windsor-Essex-Chatham-Kent. These experiences have undoubtedly enriched her skill set and perspective, making her an even stronger asset to our team.
Hussein Samhat
With a BA Drama Education and Community, a Bachelor of Education, and currently on the pursuit of an LLM, Hussein joins us from the University of Windsor where he held several key positions such as the Executive Director of the BIDE Institute, and serving as the Institutional Research Advisor in the Office of the President, where he provided valuable insights for pan-institutional policy and programming, strategic planning, and environmental scans.
With a comprehensive toolkit comprised of finance, administration, policy analysis, program and curriculum development, and strategic planning; alongside a deep understanding of educational structures and governance and his familiarity with the Windsor-Essex community has allowed him to contribute to various initiatives rooted in student success, engagement, and growth.
Jay Patel
When it comes to all things tech, Jay’s our guy! He graduated from the Data Analytics program at St. Clair College acquiring several skills, and talents which help to turn data into actionable insights, unlocking the potential for groundbreaking solutions and is eager to continue helping us all dream big together! He’s also the unsung hero of our coffee corner, ensuring that our coffee machine is kept clean and stays in top-notch condition.
While off the clock, Jay likes to spend time watching his favorite sports like soccer and Formula 1. When he’s not crunching data or cleaning coffee machines, you’ll find him sharing the excitement of the game with his friends.
Chloe Smyth
Chloe is an experienced social media marketing professional and the founder of 89 Social Club, where she develops innovative strategies to help brands make an impact online. With a Gen-Z-driven approach, she focuses on creating engaging content and delivering results through a thoughtful, strategic outlook. Her leadership style is rooted in empathy, fostering collaboration and creativity within teams.
Outside of work, Chloe’s passions include pilates, wellness, and spending time with her dog, Freya. Her dedication to personal growth and connection fuels her drive to excel in her role, consistently pushing boundaries to elevate Build a Dream’s digital presence.
Grace Howe
Grace is our talented Graphic Designer, who graduated with distinction from St. Clair College’s Graphic Design program in 2024, earning her faculty’s academic award. With her close attention to detail and creative problem solving skills, Grace excels at crafting visuals that leave a lasting impact on its viewers. Her dedication to each project ensures that every design not only meets but exceeds expectations.
Andrea Parr
Andrea has both a Bachelor’s of Education and a Bachelor’s of Human Kinetics from the University of Windsor. She brings a positive attitude and a strong work ethic to the events team. She is passionate about helping others and is excited to use her knowledge and skills in order to organize and run impactful events. While off the clock, Andrea is also an assistant coach for the University of Windsor Lancer Women’s Soccer Team.
Vidhya Selvaraj
Vidhya has a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, having worked with various funders where she demonstrated exceptional multitasking skills, extensive knowledge, and strong organizational abilities. As the PowerUP Skills Program Coordinator, she is passionate about supporting women. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Science, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring different cuisines, is an avid coffee enthusiast, and lives with her husband, two children, and a dog.