What does the Board do?
The Board of Directors is responsible for managing the organization honestly, in good faith, and in the best interest of the organization. This work includes financial management, program and policy planning, implementation and evaluation, communication, and strategic direction. All committees report to the Board of Directors. The committees provide background information and make recommendations to the Board. The Board works closely with the Executive Director. Meet CCOC’s 2024-2025 Board of Directors below! To find out more about joining the Board, click here.
Chris Yordy – President (2024-2025)
Chris is a CCOC tenant, grassroots entrepreneur, working and volunteering in the areas of affordable housing, mental health, and 2SLGBTQ+ events over the past 10+ years. After serving as Chair of Rental Committee for six years, he also took on the role of Vice-President of the CCOC board in 2021 during the pandemic, and currently serves on many diverse committees. In his spare time, he enjoys making music, connecting with neighbours, and participating in benefit concerts. Valuing the people-centred culture of CCOC is the driving force for why Chris is committed to CCOC. As CCOC Board President, he wants to continue to be there for staff and tenants over the coming term, most of all, to maintain, improve, and continue building our housing stock in Centretown and beyond.
Courtney Lockhart – Vice-President (2023-2025)
Courtney is a CCOC tenant in her second term on the Board. She was Secretary on the Board for the past 2 years. Courtney works at the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, as the Associate Director of Public Affairs and Policy, and works to see more co-op and non-profit housing built across the country. She holds a Masters of Political Science from Carleton University and has called Ottawa home for the past 10 years. In her spare time, Courtney can be found running in Gatineau Park or hanging out with her cat, Nicks.
Mitchell Cogan – Treasurer (2024-2026)
Mitchell Cogan is an Ottawa native and a retired Senior Project Leader with academic training as a professional city planner and significant experience in corporate real estate, investment analysis, acquisition, disposal, and leasing. His training and expertise have led to a successful 35+ year career, with long-standing positions at the City of Ottawa and Public Services and Procurement Canada, where he analyzed and advised senior management on real property portfolios.
Sophia Kelly-Langer – Secretary (2024-2026)
Sophia Kelly-Langer is a lifelong resident of Centretown, and Project Coordinator for the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa. Her work generally addresses the concept of pipelines into homelessness and the steps we can take to make it rare, brief, and non-recurring. She believes strongly in by-community for-community initiatives. Coming from a Child and Youth Care background and into Social Work, she sees home as the heart of a family or community’s safety and well-being. Outside of work, Sophia shares her home with her spouse, three children, five animals, and a consistently half-finished craft pile.
Zak Spelay – Exec At-Large (2023-2025)
Zak has been a volunteer member of the Personnel Committee for the last 5 years. Over this time, he has had the opportunity to learn about the non-profit housing sector while at the same time contributing to CCOC’s success by advising on personnel related policies, procedures and other HR matters. Zak would like to continue to contribute by taking on a greater challenge and becoming a Board member. He works as a Senior HR Specialist at one of Canada’s Federal Crowns and his background is in economics. Zak lives in Ottawa’s east end with his partner Angela and dog Rey.
Iman Hussein (2023-2025)
Iman holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Arts in Conflict Studies from Saint Paul University. She has 14 years of combined local and international experience in the community development field with relevant work experience in the areas of conflict resolution, community development, and project management. Over the past two years, Iman has been working with the homeless population and those that are newly housed. She is honoured to be a CCOC board member to expand her skills and utilize her experience in assisting those who are experiencing homelessness and are being pushed away from affordable housing. As a minority woman, Iman has similar lived experiences and working in the front lines, she has gained valuable experience in what obstacles this vulnerable population faces.
Nnamdi Anyene (2024-2026)
Nnamdi has over 12 years of experience in the banking, financial services and consulting industries. He is well-versed in strategy, advisory, policy development, process improvements and change management. Nnamdi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Masters in Taxation from St. John’s University, New York. He has previously served on the board of local and foreign non-profits including Kids on The Block, Ottawa. Nnamdi is passionate about social development, innovation, creativity, and communities that are healthy, energy-efficient, and respectful of nature. In his spare time, Nnamdi enjoys writing and hiking.
Micah Melnyk (2024-2026)
Micah is a long-time Centretown resident with a background in environmental engineering, economics, and urbanism. He holds a B.Sc. in Civil Environmental Engineering and a B.A. in Economics from Queen’s University, and a Masters Degree in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge (UK). He currently holds a position with the federal government working on energy policy to address climate change. Micah is also the Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Commitee for a crown corporation. He joined the CCOC Board of Directors, as he has an interest in building community and supporting affordable housing in Centretown. In his spare time, Micah can be found cross-country skiing or playing tennis.
Yohanan Demeke (2024-2026)
Yohanan Demeke (She/Her, INFP) is a University of Ottawa graduate with an Honours Bachelor in International Development and Globalization, specializing in Gender Studies and African Studies. She has extensive experience in project management, ESG analysis for impact investing, workshop facilitation, and proposal writing. She is passionate about climate resilience, youth empowerment, and gender equality. Yohanan is the 2014 Black History Ottawa Community Builder Award recipient and the first-place winner of the 2019 University of Ottawa Faculty of Social Sciences’ Social Innovation Competition. Currently, Yohanan is the manager of the TWC Mentorship Program at the Somali Centre for Family Services. She is also a 2024 DYLOTT Black Diplomats Academy fellow and Co-Creath Lab research fellow. Yohanan is committed to volunteerism. With the Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment, she is a volunteer policy analyst. With Youth Action Now, she is a grant reviewer. In her free time, Yohanan loves shopping for vintage gems, reading, and hiking.
Janoah Willsie (2024-2026)
Janoah is a long-time resident of Ottawa and has been a CCOC tenant for almost four years. She has lived in many rental properties and knew CCOC was different since day one. Janoah appreciates the way CCOC cares about its tenants and the Ottawa community. She is passionate about affordable, good quality housing in the city’s downtown and is interested in joining the board to give back to the organization and have a positive impact on the future of CCOC. Janoah works as a policy advisor at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami in downtown Ottawa and loves walking and biking around the city.
Olu’ Meso (2024-2026)
Olu offers more than ten years of experience in project management, sustainability initiatives, and financial management. He works for Gloucester Housing Corporation as the facilities manager. Olu has a Master’s degree in information science and is currently honing his talents at the University of Ottawa by enrolling in an MBA program with a focus on sustainable management. Olu’s first full-time position at CCOC, as a newcomer to Canada in 2019, had a profound impact on his career path and sparked a lifelong interest in social housing provision. His desire to further the goals and objectives of CCOC are evidence of his appreciation and dedication to giving back to the community that accepted him.
Liz Allan (2024-2026)
Liz is retired after over 35 years in the military and public service. During this period, Liz gained experience in a variety of management areas including strategic planning, business planning, risk management and project management. Through her work with refugee sponsorship and resettlement Liz gain a deeper understanding of the difficulties people have in securing affordable housing in Ottawa. It was while working to secure affordable housing for a refugee family that Liz learned about CCOC. Liz had been a member of the Development committee since late 2023. Working with CCOC and the development committee has sparked a deep interest in the complex issue of affordable housing. Liz has a desire to help pursue ways to ensure people have access to affordable housing across Ottawa.
