About Us

Curtis Slater

Executive Director

Curtis is the Executive Director of PREP and has been working in the nonprofit and education sectors for over 13 years. He is passionate about making a difference in the lives of those who face barriers, and has spent his entire career focused on making a significant social impact for those who need it most.

Curtis and his wife Karyn have 4 young boys who keep them very busy. Their oldest, Jake, has Down syndrome and has been attending PREP since he was just a baby. “PREP has been an incredible part of our journey, and I am excited that I get to lead such an amazing organization to serve others in the same way our family has been served.”

Keith Peterson

President

Keith and his wife are the proud parents of two amazing boys. Their youngest son has Down syndrome and he benefited from going through the early learning and early childhood services programs at PREP. Keith is a Human Resources professional who has spent the last twenty years working in leadership roles in large, unionized employers. He has recently started his own consulting company providing Human Resources support to employers. “PREP is at a significant time in its history and I’m excited to be able to contribute to shaping the future by serving on the board.”

Jason Loo

Treasurer

Jason is an assurance manager in the PwC Calgary office. Over his 5 year career with PwC Jason has worked with a variety of public, private and not-for-profit entities. Jason has experience with NPO accounting frameworks, in addition to implementation of internal controls and corporate governance policies. Jason received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary in 2017 and obtained his Chartered Professional Accountant qualification in 2020.

In his spare time, Jason enjoys watching his favorite football team the Cincinnati Bengals and spending time with his girlfriend Jennifer and their goldendoodle Remi. He is looking forward to working with the directors and members of PREP to make a difference in the community.

Jenson Tan

Vice-President

Jenson has been living in Calgary since 2009 and previously lived in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Jenson and his wife are proud parents of three girls and his youngest daughter has Down syndrome. Jenson’s daughter has been benefiting from PREP’s programs since she was 1 year old and is currently utilizing the Early Learning and Family Support programs. He is excited to support PREP and such a worthy cause to support families and children affected by Down syndrome. Jenson is an engineer and business executive in the oil and gas sector and also a member of the board of directors at a private Montessori school in Calgary.

Miranda Specht

Secretary

Michele Kerr

Director

With a passion for innovative companies that create a positive impact, Michele has joined The Prep Program to support their mission of assisting children with Down Syndrome and their families. Having formed a close relationship with a child with Down Syndrome, Michele is driven to give back to this community and make a difference. “It’s been a goal of mine to find a way to make an impact, and I’m excited to be part of the valuable work that The Prep Program is doing.”

Michele brings over 10 years of marketing expertise to the table, including expertise in content creation, digital marketing, market research, and strategy development. As a big-picture thinker, Michele is focused on creating value for all. In her free time, she enjoys the great outdoors, participating in activities such as cycling, hiking, and skiing in her home city of Calgary, where she has settled after living abroad.

Marlena Bova

Director

“Marlena was determined to be an advocate from an early age, given that she told her parents at the ripe old age of 8 that she was going to be a senator so she could decide what bills deserved to become law. She currently acts as national legal counsel to the ~750 lawyers of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, where she sometimes spends more hours than she’d like to admit consulting on business risk mitigation, liability, professional conduct, conflicts and ethics. She also has a passion for child advocacy, having two children with exceptionalities. Serving previously on the boards of two non-profits at very different life stages, this born and bred Winnipegger knows that when matters need handling, there is nothing that a shot of espresso, a pair of great shoes and collaborative hard work can’t fix. Marlena believes in giving back, paying forward, and erring on the side of taking practical action.”

Shannon Kelley

Director

My daughter, Ashlyn, has been involved with PREP since she was nine months old, in their early learning program. From there she moved onto preschool and currently attends biweekly for speech and reading. PREP has played a significant role in Ashlyn’s development and her inclusion in her Grade five class at St. Michael’s school. PREP has been an invaluable resource to me over the years, both in terms of supporting Ashlyn through various classes and therapies as well as helping me advocate on her behalf. As well the friendships both she and I have made through PREP have been irreplaceable. I am excited to help support PREP as it moves forward through these transitions years and beyond. Personally, I am married to Brett, whom I met in 2016. Before that I was a single mother to Ashlyn for six years. Professionally, I have been a lawyer for 18 years with the law firm of Parlee McLaws LLP. I specialize in insurance defence claims and oil and gas litigation.

Jacqueline Arnold

Director

Jacqueline joined PREP 9 years ago shortly after her son was born with Down syndrome. They received amazing support and community at PREP and have been dedicated members ever since. “In that time, Nolan was setup for success in his neighbourhood school and I developed a stronger voice for my son’s inclusion and acceptance in the community. I feel that PREP is gearing up to offer even greater services for our members and being on the board at this time is an exciting and valuable opportunity. I look forward to learning a great deal and bringing a can do attitude to the table.” Jacqueline currently balances her time between being a mom to her two wonderful sons and Personal Organizer and vacation Property Manager. When she finds some free time, her passion is hiking, yoga and a good read.