Senior Management Team

MARIO J. CALLA
Executive Director
416.658.1600

Mario J. Calla has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. He has served as the Executive Director of COSTI Immigrant Services since 1987.

Prior to his current position, Mario was a manager with the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto.

Mario is involved in the community in a volunteer capacity. Mario is a member of Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) and Chairs its Mentorship Committee. Mario sits on the Executive Committee of the Board of the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto. He has served as Chair of the City of York Community and Agency Social Planning Council, Vice-President of OCASI (Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants), and Vice-President of International Social Services of Canada, among other activities.

JOSIE DI ZIO
Senior Director of Planning and Program Development
416.658.1600

Josie Di Zio has over 15 years experience in Senior Management of agencies serving newcomers.  She was the Executive Director of the Working Women Community Centre, an immigrant women's agency in downtown Toronto for 10 years.  Josie joined COSTI in 1999 as the Director of Employment Services, and is currently the Senior Director of Planning and Program Development.

Josie has served on many community boards including the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), where she currently holds the position of Vice President, and formerly served as its Treasurer. Josie is a member of the Policy Roundtable Mobilizing Professions and Trades (PROMPT), and presently serves on the Board of the National Congress of Italian Canadians - Toronto District.

ROBERT CAZZOLA
Director, Education and Information Technology
416.534.7400

Robert Cazzola has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto, and has been a Director at COSTI since 1984. Prior to his current position, Robert was the Director of Social Services for COSTI.

Robert presently serves as Chair of the English Language Development Working Group of the Human Services Planning Coalition of York Region. He previously served as Chair of the Multicultural Coalition for Access to Family Services, and Co-chair of the City of Toronto's Community Reference Group for Ethno-racial Access to Metropolitan Services. Robert has also been an active member of the Multicultural Committee of the Office of Seniors Advisor, and the Addiction Research Foundation's Culture & Race Advisory Group.

MATTHEW S. K. CHAN
Director of Finance
416.658.1600

Matthew Chan joined COSTI in 1998 as Director of Finance. He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Prior to joining COSTI, Matthew was the Senior Associate of a chartered accounting firm. He came to COSTI with 20 years of experience in the finance/accounting field where he has spent an equal number of years in public accounting practice, banking and manufacturing.

Matthew is a volunteer member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of Homesfirst Society. He is also a member of the Board Report Panel which evaluates graduating CMA's of the Society of Management Accountants of Ontario.

YASMINE DOSSAL
Director, Social Services
416.789.7925

Yasmine joined COSTI in her present position in 2002.

Yasmine came to Canada from Pakistan in 1999, following a 25 year career in teaching and educational administration, where she was responsible for educational program development for both private and public schools. Prior to leaving Pakistan, Yasmine was Regional Director for the largest private network of schools in South Asia. She has worked on a number of educational projects funded by the World Bank, IMF, CIDA and the Agha Khan Foundation.

Yasmine presently serves as Treasurer of the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA). She is Co-Chair of the South Asian Community Services Network - York Region, and is a Member of the Board of the Woman Abuse Council.

ED KOTHIRINGER
Director, Employment Services
416.789.7295

Ed joined COSTI in the Spring of 2005. Prior to joining COSTI, Ed was Director of Programs and Services at JobStart, an Etobicoke-based agency specializing in employment services for the community. In prior positions, Ed worked as an organizational consultant specializing in resourcing community agencies; he acted as Interim Executive Director of Skills for Change; he was a Program Policy Advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Housing; was Executive Director of Central Neighbourhood House and the Community Services Administrator with the City of Toronto.

Ed is currently the Vice-President and President-elect of the Ontario Network of Employment Skills Training Projects (OneStep). Other volunteer work has included the position of President of the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto and President of St. Christopher House.