Staff

Youth Opportunities Unlimited has a unique and diverse staff including Job Developers, Workshop Facilitators, Youth Outreach Workers, Employment Counsellors, industry experts within Enterprise Services as well as Administrative and Management positions. In addition, YOU develops and supports the direct hiring of youth within Enterprise Services creating opportunities for youth to gain valuable workplace skills and experiences while being part of the YOU team. Up to 80 Youth, Staff and Management bring varied academic and professional backgrounds to their work. These include traditional social service educations, recreation and leisure diplomas, career practitioner diplomas, graduate degrees in cultural studies and counselling among others, and decades of front-line experience. YOU recruits individuals who have the skills and attributes to engage youth and help youth build positive lives. Interested in joining YOU? Employment postings are widely circulated and are posted on the Job Seekers page of our website.

Leadership Team

Steve Cordes
Executive Director

Under Steve Cordes' leadership Youth Opportunities Unlimited has developed into an internationally recognized and award-winning agency in the area of youth services and remained true to its original purpose: to unlock the potential of youth and be a caring and active place where all youth are engaged in learning and creating opportunities to build their future. Steve joined the agency in 1984, has served as Executive Director since 1988 and has developed extensive connections in the youth service sector both nationally and internationally. Steve is credited with building a diverse staff team that has developed and sustained a highly integrated model of youth services, supports, training and education which permeates all areas of the agency. This model includes the innovative Enterprise Services program which incorporates private sector principles and practices into a non-profit organization. The award-winning program has been recognized across North America and abroad. A 2008 report to the International Labour Organization acknowledged Youth Opportunities Unlimited as a leading example from across the globe of best practice in community-based youth employment initiatives. Steve is a native Londoner. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from The University of Western Ontario. In 2008 Steve was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship through Rotary. He is a frequent guest speaker on topics related to non-profit leadership, community development and innovation.

Christine Dirks
Director, Marketing & Communications

Before joining Youth Opportunities Unlimited in 2007, Christine was Marketing Manager, Galleria London. This followed 10 years as a journalist specializing in architecture, design and education. She was a columnist and features writer for The London Free Press and contributor to national publications including Toronto Life, Building, The Globe and Mail, Canadian House & Home and Chatelaine. Before moving to London, Christine worked for the Toronto-based trade association, Canadian Book Publishers' Council where she specialized in marketing Canadian publications to the United States and abroad. Her volunteer work in London includes board and committee work with local heritage and community groups including Heritage London Foundation, Old South Community Organization, MainStreet and the Staying in Schools program of Junior Achievement. At Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Christine is responsible for developing and implementing strategic marketing and communications and directing the agency's annual fundraisers and special events. Christine is originally from Winnipeg. She received her Masters in Journalism from The University of Western Ontario, Honours Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Waterloo and has completed professional development courses including Developing and Leading Teams at the Western Centre for Continuing Studies.

Melissa Abercromby
Director, Operations & Project Management

As Director, Operations & Project Management Melissa leads the production and sales functions of the agency's social enterprise programs and provides project management leadership and support to a variety of other projects. Melissa has more than five years of project management and leadership experience and has worked in Canada with Corix Utilities and CH2M Hill Canada and in Australia with GHD Party Ltd. She received her Masters in Business Administration with a Strategic Management Concentration from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Applied Science, Civil Engineering with Management Science Option from the University of Waterloo . Melissa has been actively involved in her community for many years. Her volunteer work includes the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, Campaign Chair for Employees of Greater Vancouver Regional District to support the United Way of BC Lower Mainland and Corix Corporate Campaigns to support the United Way of Ontario and organizing the Breakaway Leadership Conferences for teens at A.B. Lucas Secondary School. Melissa brings strong leadership, project management, operations and organizational skills to her work with YOU.