About Us

Who We Are

The Ontario Credit Union Foundation (OCUF) became a registered charitable foundation May 11, 1979. Over the past 45 years we have supported credit unions and co-operatives with their philanthropic giving in communities across Ontario. OCUF receives oversight and strategic direction from a nine-member volunteer Board of Directors elected by members of the Foundation at the AGM.

Charitable Registration #11906 7692 RR 0001

CU Succeed Youth Bursary

The CUSYB rewards deserving students for their community involvement. We take into account financial need, personal circumstances, and dedication to community. Over the past nine years, we have disbursed $736,000 to 577 students.

Grant Assessment/Distribution

We offer grant assessment, grant disbursement, and scholarship/bursary assessment services to member Credit Unions. We have the advantage of being an independent, objective, third party which helps member organizations achieve their transparency obligations.

Fund Management

We manage donor established funds that are held by the Foundation. We ensure disbursements go to registered charities, support our charitable activity, or are moved to another foundation.

In addition to the 30+ funds we manage, we maintain a general fund we use to support our main charitable activity, the support of youth education and leadership.

Join Us

Engagement with Youth Education provides alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals, and ESG goals. Join 82% of Ontario Credit Unions, and make a difference. Collectively, we are making an impact in communities across the province.

You Don’t Need to Create A Foundation – You Have Us

We will help you look after your strategic philanthropic needs and can integrate tax receiptable contributions to your member to leverage your local community causes.

Board of Directors

Chris Inniss

Chris Inniss – Board Chair

Chris Inniss, CEO & President of Mainstreet Credit Union, brings a strong and diversified background in financial services. A charismatic culture builder and big-picture thinker, Chris leads by example, fostering open communication and mentorship to empower his team to achieve the vision. Chris looks forward to transforming Mainstreet into a more digital organization while maintaining what differentiates us: caring for our members’ financial well-being and our commitment to communities and local businesses.

In his downtime, Chris enjoys spending time at home with his wife, daughter and son. He also enjoys making fun cocktails, competing in triathlons, traveling, and making connections.

Frugina Ball – Vice Chair

Frugina has over 25 years of Financial Services industry experience with the majority spent in senior leadership roles at both Alterna and a national Canadian Bank. These included the areas of Commercial Banking, Corporate Office, Wealth Private Client Services, and Retail Distribution.

Specifically at Alterna, as part of her mandate, Frugina leads the growth and profitability of the branch portfolio; provides guidance and coaching to deliver superior member and customer experience in all channels; contributes to business development activities; overall leadership to the Retail branch teams in GTA, Wealth Management, Contact Centre, and Affinity team oversight.

In her spare time, Frugina is a passionate champion of the benefits of a post-secondary education. She has been an active volunteer in her high school, Toronto French School, as well as with Enactus Canada and her Church youth program. Frugina has an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto and obtained an MBA from Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their daughter.

Frugina Ball
Adam Kirilo

Adam Kirilo – Secretary-Treasurer

Adam started in the Credit Union industry in 2006, joining the Audit Committee for Food Family Credit Union. Adam became Chair of the Board and an instrumental voice to lead merger discussions as his vision and determination proved influential amongst the other Directors. Adam continued his leadership on the Board as FFCU joined Luminus Financial in 2011. As Luminus Financial grew, its development fostered interest from Adam to join the Senior Management Team; to which he stepped down from the Board in early 2014 to live the dream of working for his Credit Union on a daily basis.

Adam is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University. He led the integration of an enterprise content management system, Laserfiche, and helped earn Luminus Financial a Run Smarter Award for Best Human Resources Initiative at the 2017 Laserfiche Empower Conference. He has governed a handful of minor sports organizations but currently enjoys watching his son play high-level baseball and his daughter skate across the ice.

Rob Cefaratti – Director

As Senior Vice President, Alternative Investments, Rob Cefaratti is responsible for the strategic direction and operations of the Alternative Investment Department. Rob boasts more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, holding progressive roles within both the banking and credit union systems. Proudly, he has spent the last 25 years with FirstOntario, holding positions such as Executive Vice President, Credit, Vice President, Business Banking Group and Director, Retail Banking.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts from Western University, an Honour’s Bachelor of Business Admin from Brock University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Dalhousie University. Presently, Rob is completing the Chartered Director certification from McMaster University. Invested in the community, Rob has held numerous positions with chambers of commerce, Rotary Clubs and United Way agencies throughout the Niagara Region.

Rob Cefaratti
Linda Moroz

Linda Moroz – Director

Linda Moroz has worked in the financial service industry for 25 years. Her credit union career began in the 90s after working at a trust and insurance company. She also worked at chartered banks before returning to credit unions. She has found that cooperative values have always aligned best with her own.

In 2010, she was hired as the CEO of RCPU. In her 14 years, she has led the credit union in following the seven cooperative principles. Linda has taken her staff, Board, and membership through many changes including opening the Bond of Association, elevating the professional image of the staff and the credit union, including a rebrand and name change, and navigating through several By-law revisions. Linda is skilled in leadership, strategic planning, governance, and collaboration. She has previous board experience as Vice-Chair at Beneplan from 2015 to 2018.

Rhonda Taylor – Director

Having over 35 years of invaluable experience in the industry, Rhonda Taylor is the President and CEO of HMECU. She leads through living their values to cultivate an environment of innovation & inclusion, delivering on their purpose: to care for the financial needs and well-being of their members so they can focus on what matters most. Her unwavering commitment contributes to the vision of transforming the communities served into unparalleled places to live and work.

Along with a deep breadth of experience, her educational achievements include a Master’s Degree in Leadership, Certified Financial Planner, Certified International Wealth Manager, Responsible Investment Specialist, and Associate of the Institute of Canada Bankers.

Rhonda sits on the board of directors for the Credit Union Leaders Association as their Vice-Chair and is an active educator for CCUA. She is also an associate faculty member with ELeadership, speaking on topics including leadership, strategy, credit, and investment/advice.

Linda Moroz
Mimi Regimbal

Mimi Regimbal – Director

Mimi Regimbal has worked with Sudbury Credit Union for more than 25 years. She began her career with the credit union as a part-time teller, later transitioning into marketing and then finance after earning her designation as a Certified Management Accountant. Prior to becoming CEO in 2009, she held the position of CFO. Mimi also holds a designation as an Associate of the Credit Union Institute of Canada.

Within the credit union system, she is a member of the Central 1 Payments Customer Advisory Council, the CUSA Board (Credit Union Services Association), and the National Advisory Committee with CGI. In her community, she serves as the Chair of the Sudbury McCulloch Hospice Foundation Board and as the treasurer for a local Community Action Network.

Mimi is a lifelong resident of Copper Cliff and a very proud mom of her daughter and son.

Ron Smith – Director

Ron Smith has served as the CEO of Talka Credit Union since 2017. Before that, he held senior management positions at two Ontario credit unions and spent 20 years as Controller at Credit Union Central of Ontario, where he oversaw the accounts of OCUF.

With a lifelong career in Ontario credit unions, Ron’s connection to the Foundation dates back to one of his first audits at Ward Mallette, working with Ontario Central’s Corporate Secretary, Kevin Fleming, who managed the Foundation’s ledger book at the time. As a Certified Public Accountant, Ron is eager to share his knowledge and experience to support OCUF’s impactful work.

Ron Smith
Aimee Wagner

Aimee Wagner – Director

Aimee Wagner has enjoyed a successful career with YNCU over the past 11 years, and serves as Chief Retail and Commercial Officer, where she leads the Retail and Commercial sales team with a focus on delivering an exceptional member experience. Aimee has held several key positions, including Commercial Account Manager, Director of Small Business, and VP of Retail Member Experience, and then joining the Senior Leadership Team in 2022. In April 2024, she was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer, a role she held until September 2024.

Bringing over 25 years of experience in business, investment, and retail financial services, Aimee offers a well-rounded and strategic perspective. Her deep understanding of YNCU’s operations is grounded in hands-on experience serving members and staff, and a strong appreciation for the synergy required to create a consistent, supportive journey for all stakeholders.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Aimee has contributed to her community through board positions with organizations such as Nurse Practitioners and shelters supporting at-risk youth and loves to volunteer her time with community groups. She is a strong advocate for empathetic leadership and believes in fostering a collaborative and trusting team environment to enhance both employee engagement and the member experience. As she often says, “In all the jobs we do and all the people we support, we shouldn’t leave our hearts at home.” Outside of work, Aimee enjoys spending time with her husband, five children and her dog, Pickles, often while taking in local live music on a weekend afternoon.

Guido Chezzi – Retired Executive – Director Emeritus

Guido Chezzi has been involved with the Credit Union sector for 50 years. He was Vice Chair of OCUF, a CYL facilitator, and was an avid member of Northern Credit Union. He was the chapter president in Sudbury for 33 different Credit Unions throughout the city. Guido also sat for ten years on Cumis Board’s International Program Committee and ten years supporting Ontario Cooperative Association. Guido dedicated time in Africa working with various Credit Unions. He was a volunteer fireman for 35 years, a community Lions Club member, and worked at INCO for 38 years.

Guido Chezzi
Tony Niessen

Tony Niessen – Retired Executive – Director Emeritus

Tony Niessen started in the credit union system in 1967, was CEO of Family Savings & Credit Union until 1999 when he became CEO of FirstOntario. Tony is Past Chair of the Credit Union Executive Society Ontario Council and was a director of CUMIS Insurance. Tony’s involvement with the OCUF began in 1987 as a Director until the board in 2005 hired him as the first Executive Director which he held for a decade. From its very beginning, Tony has been a strong proponent of the Foundation leveraging its funding through partnerships with Ontario’s credit unions.

Management

Rea Vriends

Rea Vriends – Executive Director

As the Executive Director of the Ontario Credit Union Foundation (OCUF), Rea Vriends is dedicated to empowering young leaders through financial support and community-driven initiatives. With a background in psychology and experience as a Community Engagement Representative for United Way, she brings a deep understanding of community impact, financial accessibility, and youth development.

A four-time recipient of the CU Succeed Youth Bursary, Rea has experienced firsthand the transformative power of credit union support. Today, she leads OCUF’s efforts to expand opportunities for students and strengthen connections between credit unions and young members.

Outside of work, Rea enjoys sports, hiking, and camping—always seeking new adventures both in the outdoors and within the communities she serves.