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Vela's Staff

Linda Perry, our Executive Director, oversees development and management of Vela Microboard Association's work. As well, she provides direct support and facilitation to many Vela Microboards. Linda's other responsibilities include: project development; consulting support to families and organizations outside of B.C.; providing workshops and presentations; and, initiating networking opportunities with other like-minded organizations.
Linda was the 1999 recipient of the Community Living Institute's Leadership Award, and was a 2006 finalist for the YWCA's Women of Distiction Award for Community Development. Linda has advocated and worked for/with people with disabilities for over thirty years. It was Linda who developed Vela's first Microboards in 1989, and whose unparalleled commitment and leadership ever since has been pivotal and central to Vela's growth and development. Vela's many successes can be attributed to her nearly twenty years as our Executive Director.

Family and friends play an integral role in Linda's life. She is the proud mother and grandmother to her daughter, Brandy, and granddaughter, Samantha, both amazing people with special needs. Linda is also foster mom to four exceptional and delightful children. Here entire family is a source of joy and inspiration for Linda.


Jeanette Holder is the parent of three children, two of whom have disabilities. Jeanette has been involved in advocating for the right of all children to be fully integrated into their community and for families to receive financial support from government, in three provinces.

Jeanette developed a Vela Microboard for her own daughter, Jennifer, who lived in her own home with a roommate for two and half years before passing away in 1998, at the age of twenty-two.

Now that her other two children have moved away from home, Jeanette has more spare time. She enjoys gardening, hiking and cooking with her husband.

Jeanette has supported the development of Microboards on Vancouver Island since 1992. She brings a wealth of practical knowledge and skills to her position as a facilitator with Vela Microboard Association.

Lori Emanuels is a facilitator as well as a trained Licensed Practical Nurse, who has lived in the community of Cloverdale for 22 years with her husband and two sons.  Lori has recently joined Vela's facilitation team, and previously worked for Vela's very first Microboard.  

She is a powerful advocate and spokeswoman for individuals with autism and their families.  Lori, along with family and friends, support her eldest son Chuck, with a Vela Microboard.


Shelley Nessman is a facilitator.  Shelley began her career in Community Living in 1979 working at Woodlands in the school. Since then, she has supported the evolution of the sector and believes that Microboards are an integral part of that evolution.

Working as a change agent for Vela has been the most satisfying and exciting job she has had to date. In addition to working at Vela, Shelley is involved in a number of projects including the Family Focus conference, and the Imagine conference.

Shelley lives in Steveston with her husband Ricky and her daughter Hayley who keep her grounded and laughing all the time.


Doris Singh has been coordinating our volunteers and assisting with a variety of office supports for many years. Doris's behind the scenes assistance has ensured that we have the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

Kim Thomas provides administrative support to the Vela Team. Kim believes strongly in the work being done by Vela and is dedicated to helping others. Kim brings a diverse set of personal and management skills to complement the Vela team. Kim's background is in office administration and service management and she is a trained Medical Office Assistant (MOA).

Kim grew up in Burnaby and now lives in Surrey with her husband and daughter. Kim is a past commissioner and longtime Guide Leader as well as a fundraiser for the local school. Kim spends much of her time caring for her ailing father and volunteering at his assisted living residence. Kim maintains her strength and motivation through her valued relationships with family, friends and colleagues.



Who is Vela?    |     Vela's Board of Directors     |     Vela's Staff     |     Vela's Volunteers     |     Vela's Donors and Funders     |     Contact Us     |     What is a Vela Microboard?     |     Who Can Sit on a Vela Microboard?      |     What do Vela Microboard  Members do?     |     Vela Microboard's Guiding Principles and Functions     |     What Supports does Vela offer Microboards?     |     Are you Interested in Forming a Vela Microboard?     |     Microboards in Action     |     Conference Archives     |     Vela Newsletter     |     Other Vela Materials     |      Vela Affiliates     |     Out of Province Consulting     |     How to join Vela Microboard Association     |     How to Make a Donation to Vela     |     How you can Volunteer for Vela     |      Ongoing Events     |     Workshops and Conferences     |      General Information and Resources     |     Links of Interest     |    


Vela Microboard Association
100 - 17564 - 56A Avenue,
Surrey, BC, Canada V3S 1G3

telephone (604) 575-2588
fax (604) 575-2589
email info@microboard.org

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