The Howland Company is thrilled to introduce you to the company’s Board of Directors. The collective Artistic Leadership of the company are honoured to be working with board members Benjamin Dermer, Rona Ghanbari, James Graham, Michael Joseph, Steven Sager, and Stephanie Stevens. These six theatre-loving and civic-minded board members bring a wide range of skills to the company and are engaged in building on the company’s track record of innovative independent theatrical productions and community programming.
The Howland Company is led by a collective leadership model of Artistic Leaders, currently set at 5 Artistic Leaders, with 3 Associate Artists.
With the support and leadership of the board and a shared collective leadership organizational structure, the company is poised to move into its next phase of development, while continuing to center the values of art-making, collaboration, community building, and the creation of meaningful learning and working opportunities for artists.
Get to Know The Board:
Co-Facilitator of The Board
Steven Sager is the managing partner of the law firm Macdonald Sager Manis and primarily focuses his practice on the financial services sector. His main areas of practice include construction, take out and acquisition financing, corporate and commercial lending, asset-based financing, sub debt lending, multi-jurisdictional transactions, as well as various other areas of commercial financings. Steven also regularly assists developers and entrepreneurs in the acquisition, financing and development of commercial, residential, industrial, hospitality and retail properties. Additionally, he frequently speaks to industry groups and others on various aspects of secured lending and real estate.
Steven has been practicing law since 1989 and has an extensive background in secured lending, real estate and development. He holds an undergraduate degree from Western University and completed his LLB at Osgoode Hall Law School. Steven has many years of successful experience assisting foreign corporations in establishing a Canadian presence, including representing many American companies with various interests throughout Canada. Steven’s numerous contacts in the Canadian business and lending industries continues to allow for the smooth and efficient transition of foreign corporations into the Canadian marketplace.
Steven is invested in the Toronto community in which he was raised, and where he continues to reside with his wife, Arlene. He acts as counsel to numerous non-profit and charitable organizations and regularly chairs fundraising events. Outside of the office Steven enjoys golfing, supporting his beloved Leafs, Raptors, Jays and Bucs, listening to vinyl, traveling (including being with his daughter in LA) and used to enjoy competitive running.
Co-Facilitator of The Board
James Graham is an original founding member of The Howland Company. He graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago and worked as an actor in Toronto from 2012-2020. Beyond his work with Howland, he is best known for his three seasons on Murdoch Mysteries as the charming but troubled Arthur Carmichael.
Driven by a lifelong interest in politics, James left acting in 2020 to lead Honourable Chrystia Freeland’s Toronto office. He served in that role through the COVID crisis and its aftermath before stepping away in May of 2024. He most recently worked as the national volunteer coordinator on Chrystia’s leadership bid. He is thrilled to bring this experience back to Howland and help the company continue to build on its tremendous success.
James loves all things sports, both playing and watching. He is working to improve his French and is trying to read at least two books a month.
Treasurer of The Board
Michael Joseph is a financial operations professional working for an international media and advertising firm in Toronto. Michael has held diverse finance roles within the advertising industry. At the companies Michael has worked for, he has been responsible for corporate accounting procedures. Additionally, he has also been responsible for maintaining sound financial stewardship on behalf of clients.
Michael has wide-ranging experience in non-profit capital fundraising. Graduating from the University of Toronto, Michael held many board positions under the University of Toronto International Health Program and was responsible for fundraising initiatives from alumni networks and private corporations. Recently, Michael had a past board appoint as a capital campaign board member for a local historical church in Aurora, Ontario. In this role, he planned fundraising strategies to renovate and modernize the building.
Michael is a passionate supporter of the arts and is a strong advocate for Canadian art and theatre advancement. He has been a volunteer with the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, a supporter of the Canadian Opera Company and The National Ballet of Canada.
Board Secretary
Stephanie Stevens is an arts-loving Human Resources professional working for an international financial services company in Toronto. Stephanie achieved her Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation on 2019 and has spent time in employee relations, HR operations, and diversity & inclusion roles throughout her career. Stephanie holds a Bachelors of Commerce from Queen’s University.
Her passion for the arts started at a young age attending the theatre and ballet in Toronto with her family, while also studying piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music from age 7. Stephanie has volunteered in the piano classes at the Regent Park School of Music and is excited to join The Howland Company to continue to support the arts & theatre industry in Toronto.
In her free time, Stephanie loves to watercolour, travel, watch musicals, try new restaurants, and see live music.
Fundraising Committee Facilitator
Rona Ghanbari is a theatre lover and a corporate lawyer practising at Stikeman Elliott LLP. Her legal practice focuses on securities, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general corporate and commercial law. Previously, Rona held positions as a legal researcher for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, and was a legal intern at SECTION27, a South African constitutional human rights legal centre. Rona is a volunteer with Matthew House Toronto’s Refugee Hearing Program, a program which helps refugees prepare for hearings before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Rona currently serves on the Board of Directors of Young Diplomats of Canada, a not-for-profit organization led by young Canadians which sends delegations of young subject-matter-experts to global forums such as the annual World Bank, IMF, and UN conferences, to ensure young voices are heard during policy making.
Rona graduated from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law in 2017, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2018. During her time at U of T Law, Rona was the Editor-in-Chief of Rights Review Magazine, the independent student-led publication of the Faculty of Law’s International Human Rights Program, and was an Editor for an independent student-led publication called Ultra Vires. Additionally, Rona directed and produced the Faculty of Law’s annual sketch comedy show, Law Follies. In 2019, Rona starred in Nightwood Theatre’s production of Mamma Mia as Sophie. Rona indulges her love of theatre by continuing to be involved in Nightwood Theatre’s Lawyer Show each year, and taking advantage of the wonderful art the Toronto theatre community has to offer.
Ben Dermer is the SVP of Innovation and Deputy Creative Director of Spin Master Ltd., a leading multi-national Children’s Toy and Entertainment company. For over 20 years, Benjamin has worked hand in hand with designers, inventors, roboticists, artists and creators around the world, helping bring to market new Toy and Entertainment properties like Hatchimals, Paw Patrol, Present Pets, Bakugan, Kinetic Sand and more. His work spans classic toy brands such as Rubik’s Cube, GUND and Etch-a-Sketch, as well as global entertainment properties like Harry Potter, Disney, Batman, and Star Wars.
Benjamin is a patron of Toronto theatre and has previously worked with the Toronto Fringe board. He holds a BFA in Film Writing from Winters College, York University.
The Howland Company 