Meet Our Team

Michael Cvitkovic was named president and chief executive officer of Abilities Centre on January 16, 2024. Cvitkovic has been a fixture of the Canadian sports scene since the late 1990s, helping build some of the most successful sport and recreation brands in our country, including the Toronto Raptors Basketball Club, Tennis Canada, Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, and most recently, launching the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) since its inception in 2019.

He has also provided leadership to underserved communities while bringing greater awareness to sport within Truth & Reconciliation as the General Manager of the successful 2017 North American Indigenous Games in Toronto. A proud supporter of parasport, Cvitkovic was the Press Chief for Team Canada at the 2010 Paralympic Games. During his career, Cvitkovic has successfully produced award-winning marketing and communication campaigns, balanced multi-million-dollar budgets, and worked with community partners, stakeholders, and staff to create unique and inclusive environments for members of the community through sports and recreation.

Arnetia Chin, CHRL, serves as senior director, human resources at Abilities Centre. She joined the organization in 2016 as a placement student and has since risen through the organization to her current role.

In her role, Chin oversees the strategic direction of all human resources functions at Abilities Centre while guiding the operational implementation of people strategies. She also leads the Training and Education department, which delivers accessibility consulting services, including training sessions, facility audits, and organizational self-assessments, to organizations, municipalities, and school boards across the region.

Chin holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), with a major in Global Management and a minor in Organizational Leadership. She also holds a Human Resources Graduate Certificate from Durham College and is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) through the Human Resources Professionals Association.

An immigrant and first-generation Canadian, Chin brought a person-centered approach to Human Resources from the outset of her career at Abilities Centre. Since rising from coordinator to senior director, she has worked to redefine the employee and candidate experience and to reimagine Human Resources policies and procedures so they are inclusive and accessible by design, not as an afterthought. She extends that commitment beyond the organization as a member of the Durham College HR Program Advisory Committee and through her investment in future HR professionals via quality field placements, encouraging the next generation of practitioners to go beyond AODA compliance.

Zed Pickering serves as the director of partnerships and revenue at Abilities Centre.

Pickering’s career began in public relations and marketing, supporting sales teams before he moved into business development and sales roles, most recently within the food and beverage industry, where he learned that strong relationships are at the heart of every successful experience. He brings that same people-first approach to partnership development at Abilities Centre, building relationships with donors, sponsors, and community partners to secure the resources that advance accessibility, inclusion, and opportunity for people of all abilities.

He has also brought that relationship-driven approach to public service, having served as a Town Councillor and Deputy Mayor, where he saw firsthand the impact that thoughtful planning and inclusive opportunities can have on people’s lives.

Building a more equitable community has been a lifelong mission for Pickering, one grounded in the belief that when accessibility is the goal, everyone benefits, and that communities where all people can participate, contribute, and thrive don’t just improve life for some, they enhance life for all.

Meagan Marques serves as interim senior director, grants and programs at Abilities Centre, providing strategic leadership for the organization’s Thrive Adult Day program, Employment and Community Services, Health Maintenance, and Research and Grants departments.

Marques has been with Abilities Centre since 2019. A Registered Kinesiologist, she holds a Master of Health Sciences degree and is currently completing her doctoral degree in medical science. She brings more than 12 years of experience in health research, program evaluation, and knowledge mobilization, with a career-long focus on using evidence-informed approaches to strengthen programs, demonstrate impact, and translate research into meaningful action for individuals and communities.

Marques is deeply passionate about creating inclusive environments where people can discover their strengths and achieve their goals. She believes that combining innovation, evidence, and lived experience is key to building programs that create lasting and meaningful impact.

Larissa Mankis serves as the director of sport and recreation at Abilities Centre, overseeing the Academy for Student Athlete Development (A.S.A.D.), Therapeutic Recreation and Physical Literacy, and Inclusion and Recreation.

Mankis began her career in sport management in 2012, working across professional, provincial, and university sport organizations, including the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club, Rugby Ontario, and Queen’s University, before joining Abilities Centre. She holds a master’s degree in sport management.

In her role, Mankis is focused on creating opportunities for people to experience sport, recreation, and social connection in an environment that is inclusive, welcoming, and fun for everyone involved.

She is driven by a lifelong love of sport and the community it builds. Mankis believes sport offers a rare opportunity to celebrate everyone who takes part, honour the passion people bring to it, and build the confidence that comes with belonging.

During her professional career, Sharon was the Director of Faculty Bargaining Services for the Canadian Association of University Business Officers (responsible for the management support in labour negotiations for Canadian universities), Vice-President Special Projects and Vice-President Administration and Finance for the University of Northern British Columbia; and Associate Vice-President Human Resources at University of Saskatchewan. Sharon served as the past Chair of the Board of Directors at Lakeridge Health and Vice- Chair of Kinark Child and Family Services.

Sharon received her Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of British Columbia and fulfilled the requirements for the ICD.D. designation.

Sharon’s extensive experience in the education sector, which includes financial services, human resources management, facilities/capital management, purchasing, risk operations, ancillary/business operations including public/private partnerships contribute greatly to the work of the Abilities Centre Board of Directors.

Jason is the Director of Legal Services at the Region of Durham. Before joining Durham, Jason practiced law in Oshawa at Kitchen Kitchen Simeson McFarlane. Jason is a graduate from the University of Windsor Law School.

Jason is a long-time resident of the Durham community and dedicated supporter of the local community groups, where he held numerous roles such as Vice President of the Whitby Girls Hockey Association, Director for Sloane’s House, President and Director of Durham Region Lawyers Association, Director of Durham Region Manufacturer’s Association, Member of Durham College Paralegal Advisory Committee, Member of the Oshawa Chamber of Commerce Physician Recruiting Task Force and a Director on the Durham Access to Justice Hub.

Jason’s legal expertise in non-for-profit sector and his ties to the community are tremendous assets to Abilities Centre.

Emmanuel Iheme ” Emmy”

Proud father to two amazing children. Resident of Greebank, Scugog.

Senior International Anti-Doping Officer with Canadian Center for Ethics in Sports (CCES), Member of the True Sport Canada ambassadors and International Testing Agency (ITA).

Serving Chair for Their Opportunity board of directors, Board Chair: Charitable Fund Oshawa Rotary Club and Board member for the E-Camp Mentoring – Durham Region. Serving as the Co-Chair City of Oshawa Walk of Fame committee,

Served 29 years as a Staff Sergeant Community Safety Leader, Chief’s Executive Officer at Durham Regional Police Service, Past President Rotary Club of Oshawa, Past Assistant Governor Rotary District 7070, Cochair Fundraising and Partnership – 2023 Ontario Parasports Games Durham Region, Past Co-Chair – 2019 Ontario Parasport Games Durham Region and Past board member for the Oshawa/Clarington Big Brother and Big Sister organization.

Galen is an Associate in the Corporate & Capital Markets Group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s Toronto office. His practice focuses on corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on corporate finance and the investment management industry. Prior to joining BLG, Galen worked for a specialized fixed income manager and Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Galen received his Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University and his Juris Doctor degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Galen was appointed to the Board of Directors in November 2023 and is a member of the Governance, Nominations and Human Resources Committee.

Sean Pavlidis is a Principal at Level5, a boutique management consulting firm focused on growth strategy and organizational transformation. His practice focuses on helping organizations define a growth path and align their operations to achieve their ambitions. Internally at the firm, Sean is a champion of the DEI-space and leads a team embedding DEI best practices into the organization.

Sean received his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Queen’s University.

Sean was appointed to the Board of Directors in January 2023 and is a member of the Governance, Nominations and Human Resources Committee.

Elizabeth Roy has been a member of Whitby Council for 17 years and is serving her first term as mayor. She was elected West Ward Councillor in 2006 and 2010, and Regional Councillor in 2014 and 2018. Before being elected to Whitby Council, Elizabeth served as a Durham District School Board Trustee from 1997 to 2006 and board chair from 1999 to 2004.

Elizabeth worked as a professionally trained medical radiation therapist for 34 years and practiced at Princess Margaret Hospital and the Durham Regional Cancer Center.

She currently serves on many boards and committees including the Whitby 55+ Recreation Advisory Committee, Downtown Whitby BIA Board of Management, Association of Local Public Health Agencies, and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority board, which she chairs.

At the regional level, Elizabeth is chair of the Region of Durham’s Health and Social Services Committee and sits on the Transit Committee, Transit Executive, Strategic Plan Development Task Force, and Durham Local Immigration Partnership.

Elizabeth is a mother of three grown children and a grandmother of two.