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.”

Jenson Tan

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.

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.

Vice-President

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.

Emmanuela (Ella) Awoh

Director

With ten years of experience across Product Marketing, Brand Development, and Business Growth Management, Ella has contributed to transformative initiatives within the financial, FMCG, and pharmaceutical sectors. Her work centers on turning challenges into strategic opportunities and building cohesive teams that drive impactful results. Ella’s background includes board experience, and a diverse skill set that covers relationship management, strategic communication, market positioning, and optimizing sales pipelines. Her efforts in building and maintaining strong partnerships have consistently supported positive outcomes for the businesses she collaborates with. She is also passionate about Economic Development, People Empowerment, and social causes that enrich communities. Inspired by her late younger brother, who had Down syndrome, she is excited to join PREP and actively drive/support initiatives focused on inclusion and empowerment of people in this community.

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.

Tamar Epstein

Director

Tamar Epstein is a seasoned legal professional with extensive experience as General Counsel in the energy sector. Currently serving as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Vermilion Energy, she provides strategic legal guidance to the executive team while leading initiatives in corporate governance, environmental sustainability, and compliance. With a proven track record in negotiations and policy development, Tamar’s career highlights include establishing corporate ESG strategies, and managing substantial acquisitions and divestitures. She has held prominent positions at Validere Technologies and IPC Canada, where she shaped legal functions and contributed to various multi-disciplinary teams. Tamar is fluent in Spanish and has a keen interest in music, travel, and historical fiction. She is also an active board member for Calgary Economic Development, promoting investment in the region. Tamar holds a Bachelor of Laws and further qualifications in corporate social responsibility and environmental law.

Madeleine Lemire

Director

Madeleine is an educator who has spent the last 15 years serving as Executive Director of a nonprofit, grant funded organization that offers professional learning to those in the K-12 education sector.  She believes in the importance of community involvement and making a difference in the lives of others. She brings her professional background in education and her love for a neighbour who attends PREP.  Madeleine and her husband have two grown sons away from home. Madeleine is thrilled to join the PREP board and looks forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of the program.

Rick Filipovic

Director

Rick has spent the last 30 years working in executive roles across a variety of industries and specializes in providing strategic guidance and support in areas such as leadership development, organizational change, and business growth. Rick employs various tools and techniques to cultivate exceptional workplace culture by establishing trust, enabling healthy conflict, and driving accountability. Most recently Rick established a social enterprise dedicated to the betterment of children with disabilities in Alberta.  Rick and his wife Ana have been married for 30 years and have two boys. They spend most of their free time supporting their children’s endeavors in sports and music.