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About KW Legacy

Who We Are

Our History

KW Legacy was formed in 2014 with the goal of using its founder’s networks and skills to accelerate start-up charitable initiatives in the community and leave a lasting legacy in the Waterloo Region.

Legacy’s first initiative, Golf for Scholarships, has raised over $800,000 to date, offering more than 95 scholarships to deserving students within Waterloo Region.

Legacy Scholarship recipients enrich the lives of others by demonstrating elite community leadership skills.

KW Legacy continues to work with scholarship recipients in a mentoring role, with annual winners being announced each June.

 

Our second initiative, Top Home Chefs, an annual gala dinner cooking contest held in late April each year at St. George Hall in Waterloo has raised $148,000 in 3 years with funds raised supporting Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council.

KW Legacy recently announced a 3rd initiative focused on local housing and the 4th initiative on men’s mental health.  Please see the Legacy initiatives section on the website for more information.

Our mission

We seek to provide meaningful financial support to other charitable organizations within our community whose aim is to improve the lives of those in need.

Our Vision

Leave a lasting Legacy in our community.

Our values

1. Give back to the community in which we live.
2. Improve the lives of those in need.
3. Empower others to leave a significant and sustainable legacy.
4. Target local, starter initiatives with passion and good causes.
5. Mentor future generations.
6. Enable and leverage our network and friends to achieve greater deeds.

Mentorship

Anyone interested are welcome to reach out to any and all Legacy members for mentorship. Members would be honoured to provide advice and support, such as on jobs, volunteering, academic decisions, etc. Review their bios or contact us for advice on matchups or general request.

Governing Board Members

Bill Lawlor
Bill Lemon
Chris Kelly
Craig Nickel
Dan Sajkowski
Darcy Mintz
Darrell Husk
Dave Kalbfleisch
David Vrolyk
Darren Denomme
Denise Kelly
Derek Hamilton
Jeff May
Jeff Miller
Joe Benninger
Kelly Denomme
Lisa Ball
Michael Cherevaty
Mike Denomme
Pat Targosz
Paul Brown
Peter Kalbfleisch
Rhonda Cherevaty
Scott Jordan
Scott Lackenbauer
Sean Doherty
Scott Denomme
Susan Denomme
Willy Schill

Advisory Board Members

Chair – Sean Doherty
Vice-Chair – Lisa Ball
Treasurer – Scott Lackenbauer
Secretary – Peter Kalbfleisch
Director – Mike Denomme
Director – Derek Hamilton

Memoriam

Brian Denomme

Brian Denomme was a driving force behind the beginning and growth of KW Legacy.  Brian’s vision and friendship inspired like minded friends and family to invest in his dream to improve the conditions of the Waterloo Region community we were so lucky to be raised in.

His complete devotion to the work and his community and the belief that a group of friends can make a difference continue to guide our thinking as KW Legacy.  Brian’s passion for service, leadership, and friendship lives on in the work of KW Legacy and in the hearts of all the members.

Read about KW Legacy

Read what the Waterloo Chronicle has to say about KW Legacy
Click Here

Mentorship

Bill Lawlor

(ST. JEROME'S 1985-1990)​

23 years in environmental consulting (contaminated site management, transactional due diligence, business/strategic planning and staff mangement). Instructor in Heavy Equipment Operator Program at Conestoga College since 2013. Corporate Board of Director experience at 3 different companies. Own a couple of rental properties, and am an owner in a small company that has 2 rental properties (and counting).

Joe Benninger

(St. Jerome’s / St. Mary’s 1988-1993)

Commercial Real Estate Broker and Investor – specialize in Income Producing Properties and Development Land. President of Fat Sparrow Group Inc, a Food Services company that owns and operates a diverse collection of restaurants, bakery, butcher shop, catering services, food production wholesale and retail, and food delivery services.

Scott Lackenbauer

(St. Jerome’s 1982-1987)

CPA, Operations Manager in medium size manufacturing plant for 20 years. Specialized in World Class Manufacturing. Currently assisting in financials and governance for Real Estate Opportuniites Trust fund.

Derek Hamilton

(St. John's Brantford 1988-93)

Current owner of two Freshii restaurants. Prior to having a mid career crisis and opening two freshii’s I was a high energy sales professional with a proven track record of identifying and capitalizing on business opportunities. Family above all and proud Legacy Member. https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-hamilton-10618714/

Sean Doherty

(St. Jerome’s 1982-1987)

Easy-going WLU professor, chef, brewer and grandpa who enjoys mentoring youth through the university experience. I live near WLU campus (surrounded by lively students!), grew up in a Kitchener “hood”, and graduated from U. Waterloo (Environmental Studies, Geography) and U. Toronto (Civil Engineering). As professor, I conduct research in urban/health/food geography and enjoy teaching statistics and field research methods. I currently serve as Legacy chair, and past chair of the Top Home Chef event.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-doherty-9a21613b/

http://www.wlu.ca/sdoherty

https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=KKaH8AsAAAAJ

David Vrolyk

(St. Jerome’s / St. Mary’s 1988-1993)

High school physics teacher in Waterloo Region District School Board since 1999. B.Sc from University of Waterloo in Honours Physics. and a B. Ed. from Queen’s University. I have consulted and done work developing curriculum for Perimeter Institute and Ministry of Education.

Darcy Mintz

(St. Jerome’s 1984-1989)

High School Vice Principal – HHSS. I have spent 25 years in secondary education as a teacher and administrator. Education of students and staff has been at the core of my work. It is exciting to think about how I can connect with young people to make education effective in the future.

Peter Kalbfleisch

(Grand River 1982-1987)

High School Vice Principal – KCI . Leadership in education. Relationship building with the purpose of improving the organization for 22 years in the Waterloo Region District School Board. Building the organization to develop stakeholders to trust and collaborate to improve. Serving all stakeholders to ensure a happy, safe place for all students to learn, grow and thrive.

Darren Denomme

(St. Jerome’s 1979-84)

CPA with experience working with startups and scale ups. Currently working as the CFO of a tech scale up company Smile Inc. (smile.io)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrendenomme/

Mike Denomme

(St. Jerome’s 1984-1989)

Professional role(s) include Finance, Accounting, Sales and Sales Operations. Education: BA in Economics, CMA, MBA. Co-founder of Legacy. I have a “work hard” “play harder” attitude and enjoy spending my free time helping others and mentoring/guiding people with career or life decisions. I enjoy leading fundraisers for the ‘greater good” and enjoy seeing people do great things for the community.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-denomme-289380/

Mike Cherevaty

(St. Jerome's 1982-87, WLU 1987-92

Manage a Master Distribution Company specialized in products primarily marketed through Canadian Electrical Distribution. 25+ years experience in sales, small business development, self-employment. HBA, Economics WLU 1992

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-cherevaty-00297a1b/

Susan Denomme

(St. David’s - St. Mary's 1982-1987)

Mortgage Banker with over 25+ years in the mortgage industry. Currently, I hold the role of Director of Mortgage Underwriting and Operations at MCAP. I am accountable for the overall leadership of Underwriters, Mortgage Fulfillment Specialists and General Administrators for the alternative lending channel, Eclipse. I presently serve as the Co-Chair of Legacy Top Home Chef event.

Dave Kalbfleisch

(Grand River 1985-1990)

Contract Construction Management, Project and Business Development, Consulting Services. – Principal.  
A successful construction development professional with over 25 years of progressive management and leadership experience in all veins of construction, real estate, property, and project management.  Specializing in commercial and residential multi compartmented mid- and high-rise developments. 

Proud KW Legacy founder/member since its inception.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-kalbfleisch-a8407925/

 

Scott Jordan

Senior Technical Manager – Igloo Software. Graduate of University of Western Ontario with a B.A. Psych. 20 years of experience specific to the tech industry with companies including BlackBerry, Microsoft and Samsung. Passion for coaching and mentoring young athletes within Waterloo Minor Hockey for over 15 years. Proud member of KW Legacy group for 3 years.

Bill Lemon

(Waterloo CI 1982-87)

Superintendent, Waterloo Region DSB. Began career in education as a Math & PHE teacher in secondary school. Previous adventures include Child & Youth Worker – Young Offenders and Special Populations; Residence Life Coordinator, University of Waterloo; and Assistant Director YMCA Camp Wabanaki.

LinkedIn Profile

Lisa Ball

WLU Psychology grad turned ERP Manager for Mtchell Plastics. 20+ years of automotive manufacturing businees experience in between. Past Director at Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society, current proud member of KW Legacy.

Scott Denomme

(St. Jerome’s / Resurrection 1988-1993)

Graduate from Conestoga College Construction Engineering program. Licensed Carpenter with 25 years plus experience in construction. Gold Seal Certification as a Site Superintendent. Working as a General Superintendent for a local mid rise builder.

Craig Nickel

(Bluevale 1979-84)

Director of Student Activities and Guidance Counsellor at Grand River CI and Waterloo CI. Actively involved in coaching basketball at all levels (club, high school and university). Currently Director of Basketball Development with PGC Basketball