404

That page can not be found

Mario Tersigni

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Mario Tersigni is a dedicated professional with a strong background in finance and manufacturing. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, he is also a CFA candidate, continuously expanding his expertise in investment management and financial analysis.

 

Currently, Mario plays a key role in his family’s manufacturing business, where he applies his skills to drive growth and operational excellence. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is deeply committed to charitable initiatives. Proud of his Italian heritage, Mario is an engaged member of the Italian community, working to preserve and promote its rich cultural traditions.

William Morassutti

Director, Columbus Centre of Toronto

A creative executive, editor and writer, William’s career is characterized by storytelling across multiple creative disciplines. As VP at Loopmedia, he played a key role in new business wins and content strategies for Toyota, New Balance, BMW, World Wildlife Fund, Scotiabank and Purolator.

 

William served as Editorial Director at TORO Magazine, a men’s lifestyle publication nominated for over 60 National Magazine Awards (Canada) and winner of Gold & Platinum at Folio’s Ozzie Awards (U.S.). He also cofounded and edited the web-only TORO, a digital publication with a peak monthly audience of 543,000 unique visitors. Additionally, he conceived and edited IMAGINING CANADA: A CENTURY OF PHOTOGRAPHS PRESERVED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, published by Doubleday Canada. 

 

In the past decade, he has worked as Creative Director at Star Content Studios (Torstar), Editor-in-Chief of YouInc, and Content Editorial Director at Venture Communications. He is currently a VP at Cundari.

Mario Lofranco

Director, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Mario Lofranco is a newly minted lawyer at Baker McKenzie LLP. Mario maintains a general corporate law practice with a focus on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, multijurisdictional corporate reorganizations, capital markets transactions and corporate governance. He holds degrees in Philosophy, Business and Law. Mario joined the Columbus Centre board in 2024 and hopes to bring energy and a different perspective to continue to grow the Columbus Centre to serve its community. Mario’s grandparents helped with the construction of the Columbus Centre, brick by brick. He has fond memories of his childhood running around the Columbus Centre after Italian class or swimming lessons.  

 

This dedication to discipline and teamwork extends into Mario’s community involvement as well. As a key member of Italia360, a non-profit organization, Mario is dedicated to empowering first-generation Canadians by providing them with valuable opportunities in the entrepreneurial space. Beyond the boardroom, Mario is an avid practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a passionate soccer enthusiast, proudly supporting S.S.C. Napoli. Mario’s multifaceted interests and unwavering commitment to both professional and personal growth make him a dynamic and inspiring figure in the legal and broader community

Giulia Papa

Vice-Chair, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Giulia Papa is a lawyer based in Woodbridge, Ontario, with a focus on family law and estates. She provides compassionate and strategic legal counsel, helping clients navigate sensitive legal matters with confidence and clarity.

 

As a proud member of the Italian Canadian community, Giulia believes that understanding one’s heritage is essential to shaping a strong and informed future. She integrates these values into her professional and community work, with a commitment to supporting the well-being of individuals and families.

 

Beyond her legal practice, Giulia is actively involved in several non-profit organizations. She serves as Vice-Chair on the Next Gen Leaders Committee, where she works to strengthen connections within the Italian community and ensure its continued growth. Giulia is also passionate about advocating for women’s rights and creating empowerment opportunities through legal avenues and community initiatives.

 

In addition to her professional and board roles, Giulia remains dedicated to supporting local causes and inspiring others to engage in meaningful community action.

Christopher Pompili

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Christopher Pompili is a graduate student currently completing the Master of Biotechnology, Biopharmaceuticals at the University of Toronto, Institute for Management & Innovation. His goal is to elevate his understanding of biology and its applications, gain relevant industry experience and build a career in a sector that has global impact. As part of the program, he has secured an internship at Sanofi Pasteur in Market Access and Public Affaires – General Medicines.


Christopher holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from York University. In his graduating year, he successfully completed a thesis and research practicum. The research focused on implications for neurodevelopment disorders and therapeutic interventions and has since been published in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience.


Christopher is proud of his Italian heritage and eager to contribute to the Italian Canadian community as a member of the
Villa Charities Next Gen Leaders Committee.

Veronica Luca Mastroianni

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Veronica shares a close connection with Villa Charities, having grown up in the neighbouring area. She attended Dante Alighieri Academy and would often spend her free time at the Columbus Centre for various social events. She studied at the University of Toronto for her undergraduate and graduate degrees and is currently working at Air Canada as a Manager, Employee Communications.

 

Veronica joined the Next Gen Leaders Committee as a way to give back to her local community and to support Villa Charities’ mission. Prior to joining the committee, she was a volunteer in the Dialysis Unit at the Humber River Regional Hospital. 

Timo Masellis

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Timo Masellis is a 26-year-old Sport Management graduate from Humber College. He has experience in marketing, sales, and social media, as well as 10 years’ experience working with various charitable organizations. Timo has worked in the sports industry at companies including TLN Mediaset and York 9 FC. His volunteer efforts span organizations such as Villa Charities, Smiles of Innocence, St. Gabriel Elementary School, Richview Manor Retirement Home, CIBC Run for the Cure, and Salsa on St Clair.

 

Timo enjoys helping others, showing kindness, working on collaborative teams, and brainstorming new ideas. His passions include sports, music, food, and art.

Daniela Fisico

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Daniela graduated from Western University with an Honors Specialization Degree in Media, Information, and Technoculture. With a strong foundation in marketing and communications, she has gained valuable experience in prominent roles at organizations like Johnson & Johnson and Golf Canada. Daniela currently serves as the Manager of Global Sponsorship Marketing at Scotiabank, where she focuses on driving impactful Arts and Culture partnerships across Canada.

 

Driven by a deep passion for her Italian heritage, Daniela takes pride in honoring the sacrifices made by her Nonna and Nonno, who immigrated from Calabria to Canada. As a proud recipient of the inaugural Villa Charities Scholarship, Daniela is enthusiastic about giving back to the Italian community and collaborating with others who share her values.

 

Outside of work, Daniela enjoys cooking, traveling, and exploring new ways to connect with her cultural roots.

Enza-Marie DiVizio

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Enza-Marie Di Vizio has built a successful career in regulatory compliance, with over six years of experience in the financial industry. As the Manager of Global Compliance Regulatory Change at TD Bank Group, she plays a pivotal role in navigating international regulatory landscapes to ensure the bank’s compliance with evolving regulations across multiple global regions, including Europe, Asia, and North America.

 

Beyond her professional contributions, Enza-Marie is an advocate for leadership development through her role on the TD Risk Management Women in Leadership Committee, where she has collaborated with organizations such as the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women and TD Friends of the Environment to create opportunities for colleagues to support their local communities and promote social responsibility.

 

Enza-Marie’s commitment to her heritage and professional growth is further demonstrated through her involvement with the Italian Canadian community. She serves on the Women’s Auxiliary of the Canadian Italian Business Professional Association (CIBPA), where she has played a key role in securing sponsorships from local businesses for the 2024 annual fashion show in support of the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women.

 

Enza-Marie holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Law & Business from the Ted Rogers School of Management.

Isabella DeVuono

Member, Next Gen Leaders Committee

Isabella DeVuono is a Community Health and Education Specialist at CAMH.

Her commitment to knowledge translation centres on research interests in Mental Health and Addictions, Women’s Health, and Implementation Science. With experience across diverse healthcare settings, she brings a unique perspective and a strong dedication to serving the Italian Canadian community.

She holds a Master of Science in Medical Science with a Collaborative Specialization in Women’s Health from the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Medical Sciences from Western University.

Antonina (Toni) Rasile

Director, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board

For the past 12 years, Antonina Rasile has played an integral role at Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities as a Community Events Manager. In this capacity, she has been instrumental in developing key strategies to raise awareness of Jumpstart Charity’s mission to remove financial barriers, ensuring that all kids across Canada have access to sports and play. Her efforts have resulted in countless children building confidence and developing essential skills for future growth. 

 

Before her tenure at Jumpstart Charities, Antonina held various positions at Canadian Tire Corporation. These roles included serving as the IT Store Systems Team Lead and contributing significantly within the Corporate Experience Team. Each position allowed her to hone her leadership skills and deepen her understanding of organizational dynamics. 

 

Throughout her career, Antonina has prided herself on being a passionate leader. She is renowned for creating collaborative environments that result in action-driven teams through coaching, mentoring, and fostering respectful connections. Her leadership style not only motivates teams but also ensures that every member feels valued and integral to the collective mission. 

 

Antonina’s commitment to community service extends beyond her professional life. She brings her extensive skills and experience to the Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board, where she has been a dedicated board member for the past two years. 

Paola Tiatto

Treasurer, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board 

Paola is an experienced Bookkeeper with a Bachelor of Business Management and a strong background in managing financial operations for a law firm. With over 30 years of experience in legal accounting, Paola brings a detail-oriented approach to managing accounts, reconciling statements and ensuring tax compliance. 

 

Driven by strong family values and a passion for giving back, Paola volunteered at an Elementary School in Thornhill from 2001 to 2010, helping young readers enhance their literacy skills and foster a love of learning. Along with the reading program Paola was an active member in the Parent Council Committee from 2002 to 2015.  This experience inspired a deep commitment to community service which led Paola to join VCTA in 2021 as a board member helping to organize various fundraising events.  Paola has recently taken on the role of Treasurer for VCTA. 

 

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, baking and gathering with family and friends.

Elena Ricci

2nd Vice-President, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board

Elena has been in Tech for over 20 years in Toronto. She is a successful entrepreneur and overall leader. Her business acumen is paramount to her success, having established the Canadian Computer Education College in the late 1990’s. From there, she started Futuretek Recruiting, and the brand was born. Through Elena, Futuretek has repeatedly been a top 1% company in Canada, making her one of Toronto’s strongest entrepreneurial forces to date. She now gives back to our local community by running Futuretek Academy, a tech company that provides upskilling to new Canadians, and then helps them get jobs in our Toronto tech market. The odd time Elena isn’t working, you can find her playing squash, kayaking, or chilling at her cottage on Lake Erie.

Dr. Pinella Buongiorno

President, Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary Board

Dr. Pinella Buongiorno is a dedicated family physician with extensive experience in both family medicine and long-term care settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Human Biology and Italian Studies, and a Master of Science from the University of Toronto. Dr. Buongiorno graduated from the University of Ottawa Medical School in 2011 and completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Toronto in 2013.

 

Following her residency, she joined a family medicine practice in Scarborough, where she has provided compassionate care to her patients. In addition to her practice, Dr. Buongiorno works at two Long-Term Care homes in the Greater Toronto Area. She currently serves as the Medical Director of a City of Toronto Long-Term Care home, and as an attending physician at a private Long-Term Care home in Etobicoke.

 

Dr. Buongiorno is passionate about palliative care and end of life care, and serves on the Divisional Palliative Care Committee within the City of Toronto Senior Services and Long-Term Care sector. In this role, she is actively contributing to the development and implementation of new Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care policies across City of Toronto Long-Term Care homes, ensuring that seniors receive high-quality care during their most critical times.

 

As a strong advocate for her patients, especially seniors, Dr. Buongiorno is committed to supporting not only the health and wellbeing of her patients but also their families and caregivers. Her dedication extends beyond the medical field, as she is passionate about her Italian-Canadian roots and actively gives back to her community.

 

Since childhood, Dr. Buongiorno has been an active member of the Italian-Canadian community, and proud supporter of Villa Charities. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary since 2021, and in November 2024, she stepped into the role of President, excited to continue using her experience and leadership to benefit the community. Through her professional and community involvement, Dr. Buongiorno remains a strong and compassionate advocate for both her patients and the broader Italian-Canadian community.

Laura Li Preti

Director, Villa Charities Inc.

As a second generation Italian Canadian, Laura has always had great appreciation for Italian heritage, culture and language.  After graduating from Glendon College in Political Studies, she moved to Italy to complete a specialization in International Law at the University in Calabria and defend her thesis on freedom of religion and consciousness in Constitutional and International Law. In 2012, she completed her J.D and LL.L from the University of Ottawa.  Laura became an attorney and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2013. She began practicing law at a boutique cross-border firm specializing in class action litigation in the areas of antitrust/competition, consumer protection and securities law. She became In-House Counsel for a group of renewable energy and sustainability companies prior to joining the Legal and Global Security team at Apple where she is currently employed.

 

Laura is honoured to sit on the VCI Board of Directors where she can continue to make contributions to the community and to advocate for people’s dignity, ideas and beliefs.

Nina Gesa

Director, Villa Charities Inc.

Nina is a dedicated public servant, having spent nearly 30 years advancing economic development activities with the City of Toronto.  In the first half of her career, she worked in the areas of tourism and event attraction, most notably on the bids to host 2008 Toronto Olympics and the 2015 World’s Fair.  A skilled project manager, she was also responsible for delivering high-profile events including the XVI AIDS Conference in 2006, official visits by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the 2010 RBC Canadian Open.  More recently, she has had carriage of the innovation portfolio focused on supporting Toronto’s small business and start-up communities both from a policy and programming lens.

 

Nina is passionate about her Italian culture and heritage and has forged strong ties to the Italian community in Toronto.

Martina Di Gioacchino

2nd Vice-Chair, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Martina Di Gioacchino is the Director of the Capital Program Budgeting and Planning team at Infrastructure Ontario. Her 10 years of experience spans the health care and public sector infrastructure fields, including several years as a Project Manager at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (now Ministry of Long-Term Care).

 

She holds an honours undergraduate degree from Queen’s University, a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Western University, and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business. 

 

Martina was Villa Colombo Vaughan’s first ever summer student and has continued a long relationship with the home and its residents through summer placements, volunteer activities, as well as through her private practice. While practicing as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Martina developed and implemented a first-of-its-kind, in-house speech-language pathology program at VCV to better serve its residents.

 

Martina cares deeply about the well-being of Villa Colombo Vaughan’s residents, families, and staff and she is proud to be serving the home as a member of the Board of Directors. 

Danielle Donadio

Director, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

As the Managing Director and Vice President of Communications for Sussex Strategy Group, Danielle helps drive results for the firm and her clients through her creativity and energy. Her expertise in strategy, brand marketing, and public affairs enables her to craft bespoke public relations strategies that advance business objectives.

 

Danielle has over two decades of experience helping companies navigate complex business challenges. She has partnered with Canadian business leaders to craft thought leadership strategies and delivered high-impact marketing communications plans that drive awareness and support. 

 

Prior to Sussex, she served as the director of operations for a national advertising consortium for two federal campaigns. Danielle worked inside Ontario’s hospital system for over a decade, helping to rename, rebrand and launch public awareness campaigns #MentalHealthisHealth and #SeeWhatCareCanDo. Her career has spanned multiple sectors originally holding public affairs roles in a global pharmaceutical and healthcare pension plan.  

 

She holds an Honours BA from Trinity College at the University of Toronto and her Master’s in Marketing from the University of the Creative Arts in London, UK, focusing on brand purpose. Her work has been recognized by the Canadian Marketing Association, ADCC, Strategy Online, AVA Digital Awards and MarCom Awards.

 

Outside of work, Danielle is an avid renovator, enthusiastic traveller, and voracious reader – so much so that she was appointed to the Board of the King Township Public Library. In her spare time, she enjoys walking through nature trails with her dog Milo and reluctant daughter.

Josephine Atri

Director, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Josephine Atri has a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees, and a Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards and Tribunals. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1989 and practiced law for 30 years. 

 

For many years, she was Senior Counsel to the Ontario Ministry of Finance.  She was also counsel at Cabinet Office, other ministries and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario prior to that.  She specialized in the regulation of insurance and financial services and establishing regulatory agencies, tribunals and other bodies.  She has extensive experience in developing and coordinating government bills, regulations and related instruments and briefing and advising senior management, Ministers and Opposition Members.  She has appeared before various Committees of Cabinet and of the Legislature, and in every Ontario Court level. 

Mauro Pambianco

Director, Villa Charities Inc.

Mauro brings extensive senior financial, operational and growth leadership experience, along with a curiosity and appreciation for people’s perspective, and a passion for tackling complex challenges and fostering success.  After attaining a CPA, CA designation while with the real estate and construction team of what is now PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Mauro has spent over 25 years in various COO, CFO and similar roles with accounting, law, real estate, healthcare and marketing communications firms ranging from mid to large size, both for- and not-for-profit. He enjoys translating challenges and desires into direction, and aligning strategy, motivators and action to drive results.

 

As a proud ambassador and beneficiary of the incredible achievements and examples set by his parents and their fellow immigrant Italian community, Mauro joined the Villa Charities Inc. Board to help ensure that future generations of the Italian and broader community can look back in a similar way on what we achieve and the examples we set today.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Mauro serves as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Santo Veltri test

Past Chair / Secretary, Villa Charities Inc. / Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery

After his call to the Bar in 1983, Santo began his practice in the core areas of family law and civil litigation. In 1993, he became one of the three founding members of Bianchi Presta LLP, and in October 1994, he was appointed and remains a standing agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for Newmarket. When not volunteering his time on behalf of Villa Colombo and Villa Charities, Santo is a passionate sports fan, enjoys cooking and espionage novels, and is still trying to break 100 in his occasional rounds of golf. 

In addition to serving as a board member, Santo is a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee and the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee.

Ben Vozzolo

Ex-officio (Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Chair), Villa Charities Inc. / Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery

Ben Vozzolo has been on the Villa Colombo Toronto board since 2018 and is also a member of the Nominations & Governance, and Quality & Risk committees. Currently, he serves as 2nd Vice-Chair.


Ben has 24 years of experience in the healthcare sector in various roles in hospitals and healthcare agencies. He is currently the Executive Director of Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto, a social services agency serving vulnerable populations, seniors and people experiencing social isolation.


Ben’s volunteer work has been in the community health and social services sector and he is passionate about building healthy communities where everyone belongs. Ben is also a member of the Board of Directors of Pugalug Pug Rescue, a dog rescue charity in Toronto.


In addition to serving as a board member, Ben holds the position of Chair on the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Cultural Committee.

Joseph Arcuri

Ex-Officio (Villa Charities Inc. Chair), Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders. 

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Board and the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He serves as Treasurer on the Villa Charities Foundation Board and an Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board and the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Pina Falbo

1st Vice-Chair, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Pina Falbo is a seasoned business and retail professional, with greater than 20 years of experience in luxury retail, technology and not-for-profit companies and organizations.

 
Pina has contributed her strategic and tactical managerial, operational, sales, marketing, fundraising, events planning and human resource talents to large corporations, as well as start-up and private enterprise organizations. Organizations have included Holt Renfrew, Danier Leather, Saks Fifth Avenue, Chanel, Veretta Fashion Imports and MMX Retail as well as consulting services to Mircom Technologies Ltd.


With a passion for giving back, Pina has also been an active community participant. Pina holds considerable board and committee experience in the not-for-profit and philanthropic sectors. She is a current board member for Villa Charities Vaughan and a past director of the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce. She was appointed to the City of Vaughan Canada 150 Task Force and has participated in numerous committee and events including as co-chair of the Mackenzie Health Volunteer Association Annual Gala and fundraising for The Schulich Heart Centre for Sunnybrook Hospital, The Look Good Feel Better Charity for Women with Cancer, 2 Kids with Love (Mexico) and The Fred Victor Homeless Shelter.


Pina earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from York University and has a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Seneca College with a current pursuit of a Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. Pina is a resident of Vaughan and is married with two wonderful teenage boys.


In addition to serving as a board member, Pina is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee.

Catherine (Rina) Tiberini

Past Chair, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Anthony Moscar

Secretary, Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Anthony Moscar, Naturopathic Doctor, BSc (Hons) has worked in healthcare for over 10 years. Having started his career in direct patient care, he has since provided leadership support to the Napanee Community Health Center. Returning back to his community to provide leadership in home and community care, he is passionate about ensuring quality, equitable healthcare delivery for everyone.

 

Anthony is a long-time resident of the area and remembers fondly when he learned to cook at Villa Colombo in a youth program and later as a teen travelling to Italy with Centro Scuola. In the past he also served on the Villa Charities Board of Governors.

Joseph Arcuri

Ex-Officio (Villa Charities Inc. Chair), Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc.

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Inc. Board and the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He serves as Treasurer and Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Foundation Board and as Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board, the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board and the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

John Zerucelli

Director, Villa Charities Foundation

Marianne Corigliano

Vice-Chair, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Marianne is an Elementary Guidance Counsellor with TCDSB.  She also taught core French for eight years. Prior to this, she had a twenty-year career in Hospitality where she was Director of Business Development for Dynamic Hospitality and Entertainment Group.  Marianne is passionate about the Italian community. She is a graduate of University of Toronto and completed her Bachelor of Education at Tyndale University. She has been a board member of NCIC, CIBPA Education Fund and CIBPA where she held the position of President. Over the years, Marianne has been actively involved with VCI’s cultural events, including Villa d’Arte and La Befana, as well as the Cultural and Food and Beverage Committees. Marianne is currently Vice-Chair of the Columbus Centre. She also served as an Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Inc. Board for a few years.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, she is also a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee and the Villa Charities Cultural Committee.

Mario Fiorucci

Chair, Columbus Centre of Toronto

Mario Fiorucci is an entrepreneur, lawyer & technology expert.  As a serial entrepreneur, Mario has been through the start-up, growth, and acquisition of companies in retail, e-commerce and real estate development.  He has been awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by the Toronto Business Development Centre, Excellence in Corporate Responsibility Award by ECR, and inducted into the Ontario Hostelry Institute as a fellow, among other recognitions.  As a lawyer, he practiced at McCarthy Tétrault in the area of corporate law with a specialty in technology-related companies.  He holds degrees in Computer Science, Physics, and Law.  Mario credits his work ethic, passion for life, and family priorities to his Italian roots, with both of his parents having emigrated to Canada with nothing but a dream for a better life.  Mario joined the Columbus Centre Board in 2022 and hopes to use his knowledge and experiences to keep the Columbus Centre a vibrant part of the community in line with the Villa Charities mission. 

 

In addition to serving on the board, Mario serves as an Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Inc. Board.

Paul Pellegrini

Director, Villa Charities Foundation

Paul is the founder and Executive Chairman of Sussex Strategy Group, with over 30 years of experience in government relations and public affairs. He specializes in advising clients in the healthcare, life sciences, infrastructure, and transportation sectors, using his relationship-building skills to help them succeed at all levels of government.  

 

Paul has played pivotal roles in transforming a downtown Toronto hospital into a cutting-edge healthcare, research, and education facility and guiding a national rail company through a major infrastructure project approval process. He continues to advise clients on policy, politics, and corporate strategy.  

 

Before launching Sussex, Paul was a trusted advisor to cabinet ministers at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill, providing expertise in crisis communications, stakeholder relations, and issues management.  

 

Paul’s commitment to charity and community service has been publicly recognized with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal and the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award. He has chaired the Boards of the Columbus Centre of Toronto and Reach for the Rainbow and served as the Ontario Campaign Chair for Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Currently, he serves on the Campaign Cabinet for Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital.  

 

Paul holds an Honours BA in Public Policy and Administration from York University.

 

Outside of work, Paul enjoys testing recipes for his outdoor pizza oven, spending time with family, and improving his golf game. 

Joseph Arcuri

Treasurer & Ex-Officio (Villa Charities Inc. Chair), Villa Charities Foundation

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Board and the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He serves as an Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board, the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board and the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Sandro D’Ercole

Treasurer, Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation / Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation

Sandro D’Ercole is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant with over 40 years of senior management experience. His breadth of knowledge ranges from real estate construction, asset management, property management, client reporting, leasing to cash management, finance, financial reporting, and accounting. He is currently the Executive Vice President and CFO of a private equity company.


In addition to serving as Treasurer on this board, Sandro holds the position of Treasurer on the Villa Charities Inc. Board and Chair on the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Joseph Arcuri

Chair, Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation / Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation

Joseph Arcuri, CPA, CA, is the Chief Financial Officer of NRStor. He has been a Director of BioSyent Inc. since 2018 and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and Disclosure Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arcuri started his professional career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers within its assurance group and later was president of AOL Canada. Joseph is a passionate Senior Account Executive with 29 years of experience working collaboratively with seniors, employees, members, partners, government and other vested stakeholders.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Joseph holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Inc. Board. He serves as Treasurer and Ex-Officio on the Villa Charities Foundation Board and as Ex-Officio on the Columbus Centre Board, the Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. Board and the Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating and Governance Committee, the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Santo Veltri

Past Chair & Secretary, Villa Charities Inc.

After his call to the Bar in 1983, Santo began his practice in the core areas of family law and civil litigation. In 1993, he became one of the three founding members of Bianchi Presta LLP.  From 1994 to 2019, he was a standing agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for Newmarket. When not volunteering his time on behalf of Villa Colombo and Villa Charities, Santo is a passionate sports fan, enjoys cooking and espionage novels, and is still trying to break 100 in his occasional rounds of golf.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Santo holds the position of Secretary on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Nominating & Governance Committee, Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Sandro D’Ercole x

Treasurer, Villa Charities Inc.

Sandro D’Ercole is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant with over 40 years of senior management experience. His breadth of knowledge ranges from real estate construction, asset management, property management, client reporting, leasing to cash management, finance, financial reporting, and accounting. He is currently the Executive Vice President and CFO of a private equity company. Sandro serves as Treasurer on the Villa Charities Inc. Board.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Sandro holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and Treasurer on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

Dr. Claudia Machiella

Director, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

As a passionate doctor, mother and health enthusiast, Dr. Claudia teaches those around her to embrace a lifestyle that promotes a sound body, mind and spirit. She is a true advocate for living a healthy lifestyle and is dedicated to spreading knowledge, insight and motivation to others on how to achieve optimal health. As a busy mother, wife and entrepreneur she is most aware that the journey toward living your best life requires commitment. Her goal is to help anyone she can feel confident about their health. She believes we are all entitled to health and wellness we just need the right tools, knowledge and team.

 

Not only is Dr. Claudia a Chiropractor, but she also owns and operates two multidisciplinary clinics in Vaughan, Ontario, The Centre for Health and Rehabilitation and The Centre for Health & Performance. Both clinics offer a wide variety of services ranging from chiropractic, physiotherapy, naturopathy, registered massage therapy, acupuncture, podiatry as well as nutrition counselling. Her clinics are your one-stop shop for a total health overhaul. As a way of giving back to her community, Dr. Claudia is a committee member of Waves of Changes for Autism, a charity foundation that helps children and their families who are affected with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She wholeheartedly gives of her time to help the foundation raise money that goes directly to helping the children get the help they need.

 

Her latest project has been the work she is doing on her radio show ‘The Wellness Prescription’ with Dr. Claudia that airs every Saturday at 10 am on 105.9 The Region. This show is Dr. Claudia’s way of sharing tips, information and motivation for living your best life. She chats weekly with experts, authors and brands that offer insight for making the changes you need to reach optimal health. You can also hear her weekly ‘Wellness Wednesday’ tips on 105.9 The Region during your afternoon drive home. Wherever you are in your health journey, Dr. Claudia is there to get you to the next level.

Antoinette Benedetto

Director, Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre

Antoinette is an executive with over 40 years of experience in the residential, commercial, industrial, and retail sectors of real estate. She has managed property assets for both private and institutional investors. Her experience includes involvement in budgeting, planning, zoning, construction and all aspects of marketing sales and administration.


During her career, she has engaged extensively with various government agencies at the municipal and provincial level.
For the past 12 years, Antoinette has served as a volunteer on the Board of Directors of a private retirement home for 130 plus residents. As a result – oriented, hands-on team player, with experience in negotiations, project management, HR management and strategic planning, she brings a broad range of skills to any committee or board.

Tony Costa

Vice-Chair, Villa Charities Inc.

Tony is a retired automotive executive whose career spanned over 40 years with experience in Manufacturing, Engineering and Human Resources across Canada and the US. He is Italian (Calabria) born, raised in Montreal, educated at McGill University in Engineering, and now living in Toronto with his wife of 43 years. Tony was well known for his progressive leadership and his commitment to an enterprise’s continuous improvement by the engagement, empowerment, and inclusion of its human resources. He was also recognized as a key contributor in transforming organizations into high-performance ones and creating effective labor/management relationships.

 

Being retired has allowed Tony the time to give back to the Italian community by serving on the Columbus Centre and Villa Charities Boards. He also enjoys spending more time with friends and family…especially his three daughters and 7 grandchildren.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Tony holds the position of Vice-Chair on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board and Chair on the Villa Charities Nominating & Governance Committee.

Sandro D’Ercole

Treasurer, Villa Charities Inc.

Sandro D’Ercole is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant with over 40 years of senior management experience. His breadth of knowledge ranges from real estate construction, asset management, property management, client reporting, leasing to cash management, finance, financial reporting, and accounting. He is currently the Executive Vice President and CFO of a private equity company. Sandro serves as Treasurer on the Villa Charities Inc. Board.

 

In addition to serving as a board member, Sandro holds the position of Chair on the Villa Charities Audit and Asset Management Committee and Treasurer on the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation & Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation Board. He is also a member of the Villa Charities Strategic Planning Committee.

×