Shelley Cahill, Associate

Shelley has been an associate at Young Associates since 2001. Her responsibilities include senior accounting functions including preparing and maintaining cash flow, budgets and financial statements, overseeing the work of junior accounting staff, training clients to use their accounting systems more effectively. Prior to joining Young Associates she was a Production Coordinator for Harbourfront Centre – York Quay Productions and an Administrator for Theatre Gargantua. Shelley holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts – Technical Production from Ryerson Polytechnic University.For clients, Shelley has played a leadership role in implementing procedural changes which have increased productivity within accounting departments, increased effective use of software and resources, and decreased the number of hours required for year-end preparation by 20%. Shelley has advanced knowledge of Simply Accounting, QuickBooks, and Microsoft Office Suite. She is bilingual in English and French with some knowledge of Spanish.

Shelley’s current clients include: Prologue to the Performing Arts and hum dansoundart.

Katie Chasowy, Associate

Katie holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Ontario College of Art & Design (2007) and Ontario Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration from Humber College (2009). Before joining the Young Associates team full time in February of 2011, Katie worked at Factory Theatre, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Stephen Bulger Gallery, and Gallery 44. In her spare time, Katie tries to spend as much time on photography in the darkroom and also enjoys aerial circus arts.

Katie’s current clients include: Bloor Street United Church, Clay & Paper Theatre, Crow’s Theatre, InterAccess, Maggie’s, mabelleARTS, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, and the Ontario Association of Art Galleries.

Anna Mathew, Knowledge Coordinator

Anna has eight years experience in the not for profit and cultural sectors. She is currently pursuing a Master of Information from the University of Toronto’s iSchool, focusing on Special Libraries and Knowledge Management. For Young Associates, Anna is working closely with Principal Heather Young and Senior Associate Jerry Smith to build a library of resources and increase the reach of the organization. She also maintains the company website and coordinates staff professional development. Prior to joining Young Associates she worked in various roles for Tapestry New Opera, Theatre North West, Dance Ontario, and Framework, also undertaking a variety of editing and grant writing contracts. Anna holds a BA Honours in History from Queen’s University and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Arts Administration/Cultural Management from Humber College. She sits on the Board of Directors for DreamNorth Theatre Company and is Secretary for the Special Libraries Association – Toronto Student Group Executive.

Diann Missal, Associate

Diann joined the Young Associates team in 2010 as a bookkeeper and administrative assistant. She has a certificate in Arts Administration/Cultural Management from Humber College and a BA in History from the University of Guelph. Currently, she is working towards a certificate in Accounting from the University of Toronto. Work experiences include conference logistics, marketing, administration, and customer service, having previously worked for organizations including Orchestras Canada, the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, CARFAC Ontario and Loop Gallery. She has also worked in the for-profit industry as an administrative assistant and customer service representative at Hamsar Diversco Inc. and as a tier one technician and reservation agent at Camis Inc.

Diann’s current clients include Coleman Lemieux Dance Compagnie, Necessary Angel Theatre Company, Orchestras Canada, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Horizon Arts Camp, Theatre Direct, Toronto Dance Theatre, Toronto Dance Foundation, Canadian Journalism Foundation, and Toronto Summer Music Academy and Festival.

Chris Mustard, Senior Associate

Chris Mustard’s career in arts management spans more than two decades, and has focused on charitable organizations’ financial systems and reporting needs. Currently working with Young Associates, a leading Toronto arts consulting firm, Chris specializes in working with managements to develop effective accounting systems, from software implementation through development of internal and external reports, and financial information management.

Chris is also an accomplished one-on-one trainer, helping individuals with limited technical backgrounds become proficient at maintaining their accounting records, preparing and interpreting accurate financial statements, and making sound financial decisions for their companies. Read More

Chiaki Nemoto, Senior Associate

Chiaki earned a degree in Education in Japan and worked as a professional actor in Japan and the U.S., then went to Australia to earn her second degree in Arts Management. She joined Young Associates in 2008 after leaving the b current performing arts company as General Manager. Currently at Young Associates, she manages over 20 clients. Besides having completed both Quickbooks and Simply Accounting advanced seminars, she consistently attends seminars organized by CRA, KPMG, Ernst & Young, and Canadian Payroll Association, among others. Outside of her regular work, she has been enjoying working as a special event volunteer for the David Suzuki Foundation.

Rose Shikatani, Senior Associate

Rose Shikatani has just started her sixth year with Young Associates on a part-time basis. The transition from working in the commercial sector to the charities and not-for-profit world continues to be a wonderful experience. She feels that it’s afforded her a great sense of contribution to the efforts that they make to bring culture, art, history, dance and theatre to all Canadians. “The essentially supportive role that I play in the fabric of their organization is really quite humbling when I see how dedicated they are to making their organization the absolute best that it can be.”

While studying Design & Communications at OCA (now OCAD) Rose left to pursue a career with a typesetting company because she’s fascinated with type and how effective it is in graphic design and visual communications. While there she got into the accounting side of the business and never looked back. College courses in Accounting have increased her knowledge and abilities in accounts management to help support her clients. Read More

Jerry (Gerald S.) Smith, Senior Associate & Business Development

Jerry Smith has worked with Young Associates for over a decade, collaborating with Heather Young on a wide range of contracts and projects. Together, they carried out strategic planning work for Municipal Cultural Planning Inc., the Imperial Theatre in Sarnia, the Regent Theatre in Picton, and the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. Over the last few years, they have partnered on original organizational development work for the Ontario Association of Art Galleries, CARFAC Ontario and ARCCO (Artist Run Centres and Collectives Ontario), as well as a Marketing audit for The Red Barn Theatre. Jerry contributed development work to the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI).As a free lance consultant, Jerry has carried out feasibility studies and program reviews, facilitated numerous community and public consultations, as well as delivered a series of workshops in the areas of Board Development and Leadership, Strategic Planning, Marketing, Fundraising and Sponsorship. In the private sector, Jerry has planned and executed market research and focus groups in the retail and service sectors.

Carol Dan Wang, Administrative Coordinator

Carol has over seven years experience providing effective administrative support and accounting clerk experience. At Young Associates, she is responsible for all administrative coordination for the company, working closely with Heather Young, Principal. Carol’s experience includes accounting and office administration in the commercial sector, both in China and Canada. She has specialist certification in Microsoft Word and Excel and is trained in Computerized Accounting and Office Administration from the Metro College of Technology and Commercial English from Liaoning University.

Heather Clara Young, Principal

Heather Clara Young has worked in the field of arts management for twenty-five years. Her experience includes leadership roles with a variety of arts and heritage service organizations, theatre and dance producing companies, galleries and museums, facilities, festivals and community organizations, in both professional and volunteer capacities. Before founding Young Associates in 1993, Heather had served as General Manager for both Nightwood Theatre and the Fringe of Toronto Festival.

As the Principal of Young Associates, Heather has provided bookkeeping and consulting services to dozens of organizations, and delivered professional workshops, training and seminars on topics ranging from budgeting to sales tax, to setting prices, to reading financial statements.

She has completed business and strategic planning assignments for an array of arts organizations in Toronto and across Southern Ontario, frequently in partnership with First Stage. Read More

Samantha Zimmerman, Senior Associate & Data Management Consultant

Samantha joined the Young Associates team in 2008. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies with a Fine and Performing Arts Option from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Certificate in Arts Administration/Cultural Management from Humber College. Samantha is a Senior Associate and Data Management Consultant at Young Associates, and has played a leadership role in the development of Data Management services offered by Young Associates since 2009. Samantha continues to expand her knowledge of finance and the not for profit sector through workshops and seminars, including those offered by the Canadian Payroll Association, Revenue Canada, and Canada Helps.

Samantha’s current clients include: Arts Etobicoke, Factory Theatre, CARFAC Ontario, Nightwood Theatre, Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, and Comrags.