About Us
Who we are
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The AsONE Foundation is focused on enabling socially responsible investors to magnify their impact by partnering in sustainable projects and initiatives that enhance people's lives at home and abroad. AsONE Foundation uses a unique discovery system, gathering our core executive team, partners and diverse stakeholders to identify specific needs of the community and opportunities of each project.
Our passion is to do things in a more excellent way and to facilitate others doing their unique part in a unified vision.
Purpose
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Our real estate impact investment and development company enables our foundation to partner with others - to unite and create in a more excellent way, by doing our unique part.
Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others].
- Colossians 3:14 AMP
A More Excellent Way - Our Values
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Unified Connection - we seek to unite people, knowledge, resources and ideas for holistic initiatives where each person does their unique part. We seek the interests of others first
Creativity, Ingenuity & Originality - we think of new ways to do things - it's a crucial part of who we are. We are not content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible
Best idea wins - we continuously seek and facilitate an environment of extreme transparency and humility to ensure a more excellent way
Diligent perseverance - we are committed to continuous, conscientious care and hyper attention to details in all conditions until obtaining a purposeful outcome
Responsible Accountability - we act with authority and fully accept all outcomes
Empower adaptive and resilient servant leaders - we influence and facilitate an environment that promotes true authenticity and a committed willingness to pursue a more excellent way, where leaders seek the good of many
Sustainable Stewardship - we work with our partners to impact people, communities and the world through our holistic model to maximize the highest return from resources entrusted to us
Partner with us to unite and create
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Gulu, Uganda
We partnered with World Embrace to create a sustainable housing model to support and maximize the impact of their community transforming initiative - Gulu Youth Sports Park. We are aligned to their dialogue of community and unity.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When we think about system thinking we may think about single solutions. However, even what might seem to be a simple solution, there may be a need for multiple interventions at various levels. When we think pro-sustainability thinking we know that “single solution thinking” is not appropriate. Cause and effect relationships are usually complex, inter-dependent and multifactorial. Gains in capacity, demand for services and performance of service providers affect each other and affect outcomes. Progress can motivate people to continue their work. There are moments called “tipping point effects,” that provide both acceleration and stagnation of results along the way. If we come in with guns ablazing and bring in a ton of technical capacity to move the project by leaps and bounds, what happens when we leave? The technical capacity may not translate into an appreciable gain in the chance for sustainability. However, if there is a plan to develop technical competence through small incremental gain then the local system partners have sufficient capacity and viability to do their tasks within an enabling environment.
After a year or two of implementation the team will be in a much better position to have tangible discussions with partners about how to transition key activities. As trust continues to build this will happen more and more. With strong sustainability indicators or milestones these conversations are a lot easier to have. The key is to have these conversations from the beginning, not as part of the exit strategy.
A stakeholder is someone who holds an interest in either an institution or a program. Interests are not necessarily an indication that the project is on their mind. There are careers that try to gain control over programs, but even families can have less admirable agendas of their own that are more based on social dynamics.
A visioning session can either align with the existing goals and objectives of the current stakeholders or rally different groups with a new set of objectives that can support existing agendas. At the end of the day, the route chosen will be the one that supports a long-term common vision. That means that both groups mentioned above will need to work together.
There needs to be a long-term owner (one or two stakeholders) implementing partners, a key facilitator (AsONE takes that role) and other key potential allies, including key outside influencing partners.
Our Team
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Our leadership team understands people and impact investing. We each play a unique role in AsONE. In unity, we work together to create holistic real estate investment solutions.
Rick Summers
President, CEO
As the President, CEO and Founder of Summers & Co. and AsONE Foundation, Rick Summers is firm on one thing: vision matters.
With 2 decades of experience in real estate investment and development, Rick is well-known for his keen sense of design and possibilities for transformation. Today, with hundreds of units under development and constructed, Rick’s focused on transforming declining urban landscapes with a holistic vision. With creative imagination, he leads the process with purpose and precision.
He can evaluate the success of the city by one look at the downtown core. His passion is to come alongside city leaders and stakeholders to help facilitate one unified vision. You know when he is at the helm the investment will not only contribute to the health of the community, it will be financially viable.
Rick’s own investment portfolio of managed properties is built on long-term relationships with strategic partners and investors – including trades, community professionals and leaders, suppliers and contractors. Rick has a specific emphasis on the collaboration and rapport with public officials, city and regional staff, and media.
After more than two decades in the making, Rick’s vision of creating a foundation was realized. Built on wisdom from his journey, AsONE’s focus is to connect the right people to do their unique part.
Rick’s leadership has received the following accolades:
- 2022 Urban Design Award Of Excellence
- Finalist: Civic Pride Award Chamber of Commerce
- Nominated for a national heritage award
- Status as Durham Originals’ first selection
Jeff Steffen
Chief Operating Officer
As the Chief Operating Officer for Summers&Co and the AsONE Foundation, Jeff's mastery of project management leads with an “on time/on budget” mandate.
A leader in business growth, sales and partner development, Jeff’s 28 year career with IBM provided a foundation of consistency, loyalty, leadership and attention to detail. From start to finish, his career with IBM illustrated his natural giftedness in relationships, drive and achievement. More than that, his commitment to success was driven by his unique capacity to persevere, overcome and deliver
A winner and elite member of the worldwide golden circle is just one example of Jeff’s determination to succeed. He also led a team of 80 internal staff and external partners to the first ever life science win for IBM North America valued at over $30M
His achievements illustrate his focus on the goal:
- Sales management executive & leadership award winner to America’s Channel Vice President, multiple year plan overachievement and first team ever to eclipse $1B in channel sales
- Built & led national software channel for 7 years, delivering multiple years of plan overachievement
- Successfully managed teams growing the Partner base consisting of Distributors, OEM companies and close to 150 software reselling firms.
Jeff’s dedication and focus were formed playing hockey. As a Major Junior A Hockey player, Jeff won the Academic leadership award, most underrated player, Ontario Championship and Finalist in the Canadian Championships.
With a full 4-year hockey scholarship to University of Prince Edward Island he successfully completed a Bachelor of Business Administration and helped the team to 3 Atlantic championships while receiving top Athlete who best combines Athletics and Academics.
David Lee
Director Of Projects
As Director of Projects for Summers&Co and AsONE foundation, David is passionate about building teams to their full potential. He knows what it takes to achieve the highest levels of excellence.
David first learned the value of discipline and teamwork while playing football. David played professionally for 3 years in the CFL, where he played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and won the 2012 Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts. David achieved numerous awards while playing for the Western Mustangs, including a Team World under-19 selection, Mustang All-Decade team selection, 1st-team OUA All-Star and Defensive MVP.
A business graduate of Kings College at Western University, David holds awards for both the highest average in the business program and the highest overall average at Kings College. He was the recipient of multiple academic scholarships and a 4-year full athletic scholarship.
David spent 5 years serving as the COO and Country Director for World Embrace, a Canadian charity operating in Uganda. He assembled and led a multinational team to develop the design, master plans, structural plans, budgets, and marketing material for Gulu Community Park (East Africa’s premiere recreation center) and Reside Housing (a 72-unit residential development that will financially support the park operations). David also developed and trained an in-house construction company to deliver the highest level of quality for both projects. During his time in Uganda, World Embrace grew from a handful of staff to over 100 team members, which he oversaw in daily operations.
David is also a published author, contributing to ERABI, Canada’s gold standard for acquired brain injury rehabilitation.
Asennaienton Frank Horn
Director of Indigenous Partnerships
As Director of Indigenous Partnerships, Frank takes leadership in building strong relationships with Indigenous partners, skillfully navigating impact investing in real estate and sustainable urban housing. His leadership is key to establishing and managing multi-generation wealth through real estate, facilitating the immediate opportunity for Indigenous in the market.
Throughout his career, Frank has developed his skill-set, knowledge and understanding of indigenous community to close the gap and elevate their status in Canada.
His role as housing specialist working with First Nation communities across Ontario at Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) was essential in preparing for his role with Summers & Co. He is well prepared to assist communities to imagine beyond current investment, to build real estate wealth for many generations. More than that, he is passionate about the importance of creating quality multi-unit housing for families, couples and singles.
His 20 years of work experience in the federal space includes meeting, listening and assisting Residential School survivors with the Common Experience Payment program at Service Canada. He understands the critical need for off-reserve housing and government funding programs available for real-estate development.
He has recently been engaged by Rogers Communications to bridge the “Digital Divide” of indigenous communities in the telecom space.
Angie Pal
Director of Real Estate
As Director of Real Estate, Angie Pal puts people first. With more than fifteen years of experience in real estate investment and as a licensed real estate, mortgage agent and property manager, Angie understands the market, the opportunity and the process of real estate investment.
Equipped to serve our client's interests, Angie’s knowledge of real estate acquisitions and assets, property management and private lending is core to guiding clients to impact investing through real estate development. Angie’s knowledge and expertise of the real estate industry, precision and attention to detail, and nurturing and empathetic attitude transform your experience as you navigate investment development. Her work ethic is unparalleled, honed from her extensive experience in real estate as well as two decades as a career nurse in the social field.
Angie embraces learning to continually expand her knowledge base with ongoing courses, staying abreast of the latest real estate trends to give you every advantage in the marketplace. She has assisted investors and corporate businesses, diligently seeking out acquisitions to expand their portfolios and increase their profitability.
Dedicated to improving communities, Angie served on the board of a local youth shelter for six years and on the board of a private school for three years. She has also been actively engaged in professional communities and committees.
Awards and achievements:
- Real Estate Sales Representative since 2007
- Mortgage Agent since 2009
- Real Estate Sales Awards, 3 consecutive years
- George Graham Scholarships, awarded for excellence in academics and for Nursing
- Doctor’s Hospital Foundation Award for Nursing
Taryn Dube
Chief Administrator
A seasoned and accomplished administrator, Taryn has a wealth of experience as a High Performance and Executive Coach. She excels in communications and has a unique skill to tackle complex organizational problems with ease. Taryn inspires leaders as she coaches them to achieve success. She is a John Maxwell Certified Coach and has been a DISC Behavioral Style Consultant for the last 18 years. Focusing on individual skills and building personal relationships, she has coached hundreds of clients to achieve their personal and business goals.
Her career is multifaceted, working as a business owner and operations manager for a multimillion-dollar coaching business.
Taryn has a global perspective, adapting to multiple cultures and living in South Africa, Zimbabwe, the U.K., and Canada. This gives her a unique understanding of cultural dynamics and people's behaviour.
As Chief Administrator to our C-level executives, Taryn's role is critical to the organization's success. She is highly organized and has excellent time management skills. More than that, as a leadership-oriented team player, she is able to make decisions and act on them with minimum direction.
Taryn is a welcome addition to our team, taking us to the next level in IT tools, increased performance and attention to detail. Managing our C-level team is a challenge she is certainly prepared for. She is able to help each team member focus on their role by supporting them in generating reports, proposals, documentation and scheduling.