2024 – 2025 Board of Directors
The Board’s mandate includes the overall responsibility and authority for the strategic direction of the credit union including leadership, stewardship, corporate governance and monitoring performance.
In other words, the Board is in charge of making sure we’re headed in the best direction for our Owners, that we have a solid plan for getting there, adherence to the rules and a positive outlook. The Board meets five times each year. Directors also serve on board committees and act as liaison to Regional Councils.
To find more information about nominations and elections please visit Governance – Nominations and Elections | Libro CU.
Garrett Vanderwyst Board Chair
Elected to the Board of Directors in 2020, Garrett became involved with Libro after graduating from the Libro Social Enterprise Incubator Program. Before joining the board, he held positions on Libro’s Governance Working Group, as well as the Candidate Recruitment and Prosperity Fund committees.
Garrett is a social entrepreneur and passionate agriculture advocate. His ventures focus on energizing growth and empowering agricultural business in a sustainable way. He also serves as a Director for the Elgin Federation of Agriculture. He received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Agriculture from the University of Guelph in 2016.
Garrett lives and works between Elgin County and London, Ontario. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, making music, cooking and volunteering with impactful initiatives.
Jacquie Davison HBA, LLM, CPA CA, ICD.D Director
A member of the Libro Board since 2011, Jacquie has served as a member of the Audit Committee and Governance Committee and was Board Chair.
Jacquie has enjoyed a career in the public sector where she provided leadership to the functional areas of Human Resources, Information Technology, Communications, and Security Services. She has served as Deputy City Manager for the City of London and Vice President of Finance and CFO for London Health Sciences Centre.
Jacquie earned an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University. She received a Chartered Accountant designation in 1992, earned the Supervisory Officer’s Qualification and completed the Credit Union Institute of Canada Credit Union Director Achievement (CUDA) program. She is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors Program from Rotman School of Business and completed her Master’s in business law at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2020.
Jodi Simpson Director
Jodi joined the Libro Board in 2020 after serving for more than seven years as an Owner Representative with London West and later with the London Elgin Oxford South Regional Council.
Jodi is the owner of CityMatch Inc. a relocation and settlement service for companies recruiting and moving talent to London. She’s also a licensed realtor with a successful local real estate team. She has previously held leadership positions with a large full-service law firm and regional technology association. She serves on the Capital Campaign Cabinet with Brescia University.
She graduated from Western University with a Master’s degree in Anthropology. In 2016 Jodi received her CERC Relocation Specialist™ designation with the Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC) and in 2019 she earned her Real Estate License from the Real Estate Council of Ontario. In 2021, Jodi completed the Canadian Credit Union Association Credit Union Director Achievement (CUDA) Program. She has completed the ICD-Rotman Director Education Program.
Alan DeVillaer Director
A Libro Director since 2017, Alan is a retired administrator from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, where he served more than 25 years in the emergency services area. Alan worked closely with the Emergency Medical Services area and the Community Emergency Management area, retiring as an Assistant Chief with the Fire and Emergency Services Department.
He has a Master of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and a Master of Public Administration degree from Western University in London, Ontario. He has also achieved professional designations in project management, risk management and insurance claims.
Christopher Mendes Director
A director since 2009, Chris has served as a member of the Human Resources Committee, Governance Committee, Recruitment Committee, Member and Community Relations Committee, and Governance Task Force. He is the co-founder of the Windsor Express professional basketball team. He has also been involved with initiating and developing sales projects in new market territories of Mexico.
Chris served as the Food and Beverage Chair of the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life South Shore and is a member of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce’s Agricultural Committee. He has been an Asia Pacific Global Export Forum Participant and volunteered as a judge in the Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition.
Chris earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and has a diploma in International Business and Marketing. He has completed the Canadian Credit Union Association Credit Union Director Achievement (CUDA) Program.
Ronda Stewart Director
Having served as director from 2017-2020, Ronda returned to the Libro Board in 2022. She has also served as Owner Representative with the London Elgin Oxford South Regional Council.
Ronda is the Economic Development Director of the Rural Oxford Economic Development Corporation. Over the past 10 years, she has managed and collaborated on many community development initiatives, primarily supporting people, businesses and communities across Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford counties.
She holds her Ec. D. designation as a Certified Economic Developer and has a PR & Communications Certificate from Western University.
Jeff Brown Director
Jeff Brown joined Libro’s board of directors in 2023. He brings experience from a wide variety of boards and committees, having been chairman for 18 Asset Management, London International Airport Authority, VanRx Pharma Systems, and Highstreet Business Conduct Review. Jeff has also been a director for Chicago Quantitative Alliance, the Ivey Community Small Business Investment Fund, Highstreet Asset Management, and YEARS Financial Trust.
Jeff has founded two London based wealth management firms, Highstreet Asset Management where he was Chief Investment Officer, as well as 18 Asset Management where he was CEO and President until he retired in 2022. Both firms collaborated with Libro, sharing the values of growing prosperity in southwestern Ontario. Prior to Jeff’s entrepreneurial ventures he worked as a Portfolio Manager, Investment Analyst, and Computer Programmer for London Life
Jeff earned his Honours Business Administration degree from the Ivey School of Business in 1985. He is also a Charted Financial Analyst and has completed the Charted Directors at McMaster and the Indigenous Canada Course Certificate at the University of Alberta.
Dan Gemus Director
Dan Gemus joined the Libro Board of Directors in 2024 after serving as an Owner Representative and contributing significantly to community engagement and real estate development in Southwestern Ontario. As the CEO and Broker of Record for The Dan Gemus Real Estate Team Ltd., Dan leverages extensive expertise in real estate, overseeing both commercial and residential projects that enrich the local community. His entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his founding of The Richmond Popcorn Co., highlighting his commitment to innovation and local economic growth.
Dan’s professional journey is supported by a solid educational foundation, including a specialization in Broadcast Arts from Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, further enhancing his communication and media engagement capabilities. His leadership extends beyond business, serving as the President of the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce and on various community boards including Community Living Essex County, where he championed inclusivity and community support programs.
Dan is deeply committed to philanthropy, organizing significant charitable events such as ‘Country at Heart’, which have raised nearly $250,000 for local charities. His dedication to the community and strategic insight makes him a valued member of the Libro board, committed to fostering financial happiness and sustainable growth across the region.
David Billson Director
David has been an owner of Libro since 2012 and joined the board in 2024. He is serial entrepreneur in London, co-founding rTraction and RHA Ventures, as well as serving as fractional CIO/CITO for several startups.
David has considerable passion for developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem as well as using business as a force for good. In 2016 his digital media company rTraction became London’s first Certified B Corporation. David has served as a Board member and Chair of several organizations including Pillar Nonprofit Network, Junior Achievement, and the Gender Equality Coalition of Ontario.
David has received numerous local awards including being named in the inaugural Top 20 under 40, London Chamber’s Business of the Year, and Communicator of the Year from International Association of Business Communicators.
Elizabeth Baldwin Director
Elizabeth was elected to the Libro Board in 2024, having served as an Owner Representative for four years with the Huron/Perth South council. As an OR, she held positions on the Director Recruitment, Grant Champions, and Government Advocacy committees.
Elizabeth is Co-owner of Treen Graphics, a second-generation family business that has created custom carved cedar signs for over 40 years. She lives and works with her husband on their farm property outside of Plattsville. She graduated from University of Waterloo with an honours degree in English Literature in 1991.
Having served as a Board Director for Ayr Farmers Mutual Insurance, Elizabeth brings governance experience from an organization with strong co-operative and community-based values. While there, she completed her Director Certification through the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association. Elizabeth is committed to advocacy for co-operative organizations, supporting her community and local business, and grass roots politics for positive change. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, current affairs, cooking, the outdoors, curling, knitting, and caring for her various pets.