The People Behind Homeless Cars
Meet the staff and board members working behind the scenes to turn vehicle donations into meaningful support for communities across Canada. Their experience, leadership, and commitment help move the Homeless Cars mission forward.
Staff
Amanda Katz
Executive DirectorAmanda Katz brings a strategic and heart-led approach to her role as Executive Director of Homeless Cars. With a background in advertising and brand building, she has a deep understanding of how to grow meaningful relationships, communicate with purpose, and drive operational success. Amanda leads the organisation’s growth strategy alongside Gillian, and oversees board relations, team leadership, and recycling operations—always with the goal of raising the most funds possible for our local Canadian charity partners.
She is also the Co-Founder of The Parentless Club, a community for those who have lost a parent, and the creator of Motherless Day, an annual grief and mental health event in support of CAMH (the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health).
Amanda, originally from Hamilton and now based in Toronto, is always on the lookout for a great coffee, standout independent films, and meaningful causes to support.
Gillian Speziali
Managing DirectorGillian Speziali leads with a deep commitment to social impact and operational integrity through the strategic planning and long-term growth of Homeless Cars. She shapes organisational priorities, develops strategic partnerships, and identifies opportunities to expand the foundation’s reach and maximize support for local charity partners.
With over a decade of leadership experience in the automotive industry, most recently as Senior Supervisor of Franchise Services for Driven Brands Canada, Gillian combines forward-thinking strategy with operational expertise to turn ideas into meaningful results.
Gillian is based in the Rocky Mountains, and outside of work she enjoys reading, painting, and connecting with nature on two wheels.
Ashley Hanna
Tow AdministratorAshley is often the first point of contact when you donate a vehicle to Homeless Cars—whether she’s coordinating with our recycling partners or ensuring your car is picked up smoothly, she brings care and professionalism to every step of the process.
With over a decade of experience in the automotive industry, Ashley has worked across customer service, operations, and management. Before joining Homeless Cars, she spent 12 years at a major salvage automotive auction and also held a leadership role in Calgary, where she further honed her skills in logistics and client care. Born and raised in Hamilton, ON, Ashley combines her deep industry knowledge with a genuine desire to make a difference.
When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her spending time with her daughter—especially if it involves swimming or go-karting.
Board Members
Neil Mandel
Board PresidentNeil started working at FM Page while still at university. An opportunity arose for him to purchase the company in 1987. Excited to be a business owner, Neil has worked tirelessly to build on the reputation of the company which was founded in the 1940s. Neil expanded the fencing product lines and together with his team, they have continued to provide the outstanding and reliable service that FM Page was known for.
When not working, Neil can be found jumping off cliffs, or working on perfecting his golf swing.
Neil has strong compassion for those less fortunate, and gives his time and resources to many charities. Neil is excited to be on the Board of Homeless Cars, given their mission of working towards eliminating homelessness.
Frank Smyth
Board Vice PresidentFounder of Smyth Co., a sales and marketing holding company with strong interests in the metal recycling sector.
Frank has more than 25 years of ownership and management of metal recycling facilities within southern Ontario, Canada’s manufacturing centre. Frank is the President and Managing Partner of Stainless Recycling Services Inc., an industrial service company for scrap metal management. SRS is a joint venture with CFF stainless steels and Posner Metals of Hamilton.
In addition, Frank is a Board member of Gabel Sports Group, an import and distribution company set up as a stand-alone subsidiary of Gabel Srl Italy, a world leader in the Ski, Trekking and Fitness pole manufacturing.
Frank has been married for 29 years and has 2 adult children. He is an avid snow skier and golfer. When time permits, he sits in as the drummer with various session players.
Miah Kortekaas
Board SecretaryMiah Kortekaas is a senior manager at Deloitte Canada, where she leads work within Wonder—Deloitte’s business foundry focused on creating and scaling new ventures beyond the firm’s traditional services. In this role, Miah helps transform early-stage ideas into viable businesses, guiding teams through ambiguity and making rapid decisions to drive growth.
Before joining Wonder, Miah was with Deloitte Digital, where she helped clients develop and launch new products, services, and business models. She brings a background in civil engineering and a master’s degree in corporate innovation, blending technical expertise with a passion for building scalable, practical solutions.
At Homeless Cars, Miah leverages her experience in building new ventures to help shape thoughtful, innovative approaches to addressing homelessness.
Ready To Have It Gone?
Give us a call at 1-833-465-7227 or click the Donate Your Car button to fill in the form. It takes about five minutes.