The ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) welcomes four new members to its Board of Directors this year: Mike Etuhoko from Alberta, Rob Reading from British Columbia, and Sharon Ranalli and Matthew Rotenberg from Ontario. ALS Canada’s Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers from diverse backgrounds who have come together to ensure that ALS Canada is well-governed and that donor dollars are maximized to serve our charitable purpose.
Mike Etuhoko
Mike is a professional engineer (P.Eng.) registered in Alberta, a certified project management professional (PMP), and holds a Competent Boards designation on climate and biodiversity (CCB.D). He earned a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, an M.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering from IFP School, France, an MBA from Warwick Business School, United Kingdom, and a Sloan M.Sc. in Leadership and Strategy from London Business School, United Kingdom. With more than 30 years of experience in the global energy sector, he is currently the CEO and founder of Protekz Inc. and is involved in healthcare and community development initiatives. Recently, he enhanced his board readiness through the executive board readiness program offered by the Board Diversity Network and Ted Rogers School of Management.
Mike is eager to bring his broad experiences to the Board and continue the momentum of the organization:
“I am deeply impressed by the opportunity to cultivate collaboration, drive innovation through research, and expand capacity towards transforming ALS from a terminal to a treatable disease. It is part of my goals of making the world a better place,” says Mike.
Sharon Ranalli
A graduate of Carleton University with a combined degree in Sociology and Law, Sharon also holds a Certificate in Strategic Communications Management from Ithaca College and Executive Certificates in Marketing and Strategic Leadership from Queen’s University. Sharon has also completed Finance for Senior Executives from Harvard University Business School and the University of Toronto-Rotman School of Management Not-for-Profit ICD Governance Essentials Certificate. Currently, Sharon holds the national role of Vice-President of Marketing and Communications with Chartwell Retirement Residences and had previously spent 15 years involved in all three levels of government as a political advisor and served on several Boards.
Sharon shared that she’s had many fulfilling not-profit volunteer Board roles and experiences, but that ALS Canada provides her with the opportunity to honour her aunt and godmother:
“I was looking for a way to contribute further to a health organization that had personal meaning to me,” says Sharon. “ALS Canada is meaningful not only in light of my family losing a loved one to this horrible disease but also in the incredible advocacy, research, and support they provide to people living with the disease and in the collective hope for a world free of ALS.”
Rob Reading
Rob has degrees in Management Information Systems, Finance, and Chartered Accounting from McGill University and Concordia University. An experienced finance professional and Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA), Rob currently serves as the Director of Accounting at Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., mentors young professionals, and is involved in community boards and initiatives.
Rob’s desire to join ALS Canada’s Board of Directors is deeply personal and rooted in his close encounter with the disease:
“ALS has impacted my community, touching the lives of a family member, a beloved family friend, a fellow McGill football team alumnus, and the mother of a friend, all of whom have battled this devastating disease,” says Rob. “Having planned to dedicate more time to volunteering as my children reached school age, I am eager to leverage my professional skills to advance ALS Canada’s mission. It would be an honour to contribute to shaping strategies that enhance support for people affected by ALS and to drive initiatives that offer real, impactful change.”
Matthew Rotenberg
Beginning his career as a CPA and CA, Matthew has practiced as a public accountant and has held several private sector executive management roles in finance and leadership. Throughout the last 21 years, Matthew has been CEO of Fresenius Kabi Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of a global pharmaceutical and medical device company, and CEO of Calea, a provider of home infusion and medical supply services across Canada.
As an executive leader who has spent much of his career focused on patient care, Matthew is eager to apply his skills to support the ALS community:
“For two decades, I have led a service company [Calea] that provides clinical nutrition, IV medications, and medical supplies to patients in their homes across Canada. I value what effective community care can bring to the lives of patients and was drawn to ALS by the complex needs of its clients. Caring for life has been at the core of my career, and I want to help,” says Matthew. “As a business executive, I hope that the breadth of my experience can help ALS Canada continue to grow and achieve its strategic objectives.”
ALS Canada’s Board of Directors is grounded and informed by the challenges and complexities of living with ALS. Its approach to governance is rooted in working together to improve the lives of people affected by ALS through support, advocacy, and investment in research contributing towards a world free of ALS.
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