ROSS CHAPIN INCOMING CHAIR
Ross Chapin leads Highview Residences - providers of exceptional care for people living with a diagnosis of dementia, in London and Kitchener-Waterloo.
Having received his C.A. designation in 1977, Ross, arrived in London from Toronto with his wife Cathy and their three children in 1987 to work with the Executive Team at University Hospital (UH). His 10-years at the Hospital included exciting work in the 90’s when he helped effect the merger of UH and Victoria Hospital, to become London Health Sciences Centre.
Ross’s care for the person, whether it is an individual with dementia who has a need for an appropriate place to live a dignified life, or a staff member who is on their life long journey of learning, influences the decisions he makes.
This combined with his financial acuity and acute-care operational experience inspired Ross to spearhead the creation of three new independent Retirement Residences designed to fill a void in the spectrum of services and care available to the community by industry and government.
Ross and his wife Cathy live just outside St. Mary’s Ontario. Their children, now adults in their own right, live in Mississauga and St. Mary’s. Ross and Cathy now have 6 grandchildren who amaze them at the speed in which they grow up.
SHANE DOWNEY DIRECTOR
Shane is a Senior Director with CIBC’s Leveraged Finance Group, based in Toronto. A London native, Shane joined CIBC in February 2026 and works closely with many of the leading Canadian private equity firms and portfolio companies across a range of industries. Shane previously worked with senior finance capacity with several private and public companies, including as Chief Financial Officer.
Shane started his career with KPMG in Toronto and London, UK, then spent time with PwC and BMO, before branching into senior executive and advisory roles.
Shane is a Certified Professional Account, Chartered Accountant, and graduated from Cornell University with a BSc. in Applied Economics and Management, where he was a member of track and field team.
When not at work, Shane and his wife, Lynne, and their children, Colin and Anna, are active in the Toronto community, including with hockey, lacrosse and running.
BETH NELLIGAN DIRECTOR
Beth is the Director & Group Lead, Commercial Distribution at Scotiabank where she leads of team of professionals to provide financing solutions to support businesses in their short-term and long-term goals. Beth has 15+ years in the Finance and Accounting sector, starting her career at Ernst & Young LLP where she earned her CA, CPA, and found her love for helping businesses and organizations in the London Community. Beth has helped customer’s across a variety of industries but enjoys working with owner-operated private sector businesses, not-for-profit entities, and healthcare organizations. Beth draws from these experiences in both her professional and volunteer capacity.
As a third-generation Londoner, Beth is committed to bettering the London community and believes it is important to give back through volunteer work on a number of Boards and Committees. She has volunteered for a number of not-for-profit organizations including MS Society, London Middlesex, The Epilepsy Support Centre, The London Hunt & County Club and the Children’s Health Foundation. In her spare time, Beth enjoys golfing, cooking, and traveling, and her new bulldog puppy, Bruiser.
AMY GIBBONS DIRECTOR
Amy is Assistant-Vice President, Client Impact & Sustainability at Equitable. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, an MBA from the Ivey Business School, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Corporate Innovation from Stanford Business.
Amy was the recipient of the MBA 2008 Outstanding Contribution and Valedictorian awards and was named a Top 10 Under 40 award winner by Business London magazine in 2015. Amy is an active community volunteer; she has served as a Director for Women's Community House (now known as ANOVA), Huron University College, London Chamber of Commerce, and has been an Investment Committee member of the Westminster College Foundation.
BEVERLEY ZAIFMAN DIRECTOR
Beverley Zaifman is a retired teacher and active volunteer in the community. She continues to tutor children to prepare them for their bar mitzvah commitments in the Jewish community and she spearheads many committees in her synagogue.
Bev volunteered on the Board of Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario for several years and chaired the golf fundraiser through her years as a board member. She taught at and was board chair for the London Community Hebrew Day School, and also spearheaded many fundraising campaigns.
As a volunteer and professional with United Jewish Appeal, she assisted the community in collaborative efforts to cross the divide sometimes found in the various denominations, bringing people together over food and celebration. In her personal life, Bev and her late husband Bernie met at UWO, and their four children are also proud graduates of Western.
In Bernie’s late stages of Parkinson's Disease with dementia, McCormick Care’s educational programs and staff were supremely supportive in assisting the family with keeping Bernie at home, and really were the ones who guided the family in the end stages of Bernie’s life. Bev considers McCormick Home and McCormick Care programs and staff to be unique and local gems in the city of London. And of course, for fun, entertaining at home, theatre and travel will be back on the books post-COVID 19.
LEANNE KUCHYNSKI DIRECTOR
Leanne Kuchynski is an associate in Siskinds’ general litigation group, specializing in estate and capacity litigation. She advises and represents clients in matters including Will disputes, power of attorney challenges, estate administration, claims against trustees, guardianship applications, and estate accounting. Leanne has also acted as an agent for the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee and was recognized on the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada™ list from 2024 to 2026 for outstanding professional excellence.
Leanne earned her J.D. from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, in 2016 and was called to the bar in 2017. She holds a B.A. in Criminology and an M.A. in Sociology from Western University, where her Master’s thesis examined human trafficking policy in Canada.
A former competitive highland dancer, Leanne enjoys walking her dog, watching documentaries, and travelling.
CATHIE AUGER DIRECTOR
Cathie Auger retired as Vice-President of Student Services at Fanshawe College. Since joining the college, she held a variety of leadership positions in student services, human resources, and institutional planning. Cathie received her undergraduate and graduate training at Western University, and at the University of Toronto obtained a Master of Business Administration degree. Cathie is also a Chartered Professional Accountant.
In addition to serving on the McCormick Care Group board, Cathie has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, as Chair of Merrymount Children’s Centre Board of Directors and as a member of the United Way of London and Middlesex Campaign Cabinet. She has also been a member of the Minister of Training Colleges and Universities’ Postsecondary Education Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health Executive Committee, and the Ministry of Community and Social Services Customer Services Standards Development Committee for the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.