Our Executive Team

Art Forster

CEO

Art provides strategic planning and operational support to the group of companies and strives to make any one of the Forster Group of companies an “Employer of Choice” for quality, dedicated hospitality and health care professionals. Art brings over 30 years’ experience in the industry having successfully led and managed food service, housekeeping, and maintenance services in long term care, airports, hotels, restaurants, corrections and post-secondary food services. For 15 years, Art worked as the VP of “Forster’s” operations, one of the largest and most respected contract service providers in B.C. Following the sale of Forster Food Services in 1995, he became an instructor for the Hospitality Management Program at CompuCollege, and then the Foods Coordinator for the Coquitlam School district #43 where he was responsible for food service for all the schools in the district from 1998 – 2003.

Art is a graduate of the Hospitality Management Program from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto, Ontario. He also completed the Provincial Instructors’ Diploma Program and a Diploma in Adult Education from Vancouver Community College.

Yasser Barsoum

President

After 15 years working for large multi-national companies, Yasser Barsoum arrived in Canada looking for a position in a dynamic and growing organization where he could make a significant difference. Hired by company principals as a Financial Controller for a group of businesses with great promise, he knew very quickly he had arrived at the right place. These affiliated businesses had a solid hold in the health care industry and presented a huge growth opportunity. Over the past decade it has proven a progressive and exciting place to work and now employs over 3,000 people.

Now Executive Vice President, Yasser has been a critical player in the development and success of the group of companies. With new challenges every day and the flexibility to expand his expertise and impact, the growth of the businesses has marched hand in hand with his own. Moreover, this group of businesses operates from an overriding workplace philosophy of which he is proud to be a part.

Yasser is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified General Accountant (CGA), and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B Comm). Before immigrating to Canada, Yasser worked for Heineken International in Holland as Associate Director, Accounts and Controls. Prior, he was Assistant Finance Manager at Orix Leasing and General Accountant at Hughes Inteq (Petroleum). Yasser began his career in 1991 with KPMG in the tax department.

Ashley Hertner

Director of Administration

Ashley has been with Pro Administration Services since January 2020 where she joined as the Director of Administration. In her role, Ashley oversees all administrative functions, including Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Health and Safety, and Payroll. She brings to her role, over 10 years’ experience in team leadership, people development and business management.

Ashley started her career in the Financial Services Industry in 2008, where she worked for TD Canada Trust in both Advice and Leadership capacities; her most recent role being that of a Branch Manager. Having graduated from Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2013, she holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Human Resources Management.

Lawrence Ogbeni 

Manager of Corporate Occupational Safety

Lawrence Ogbeni is a highly skilled Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) professional with over a decade of experience in workplace safety, emergency response, security, and loss prevention. As an OH&S Manager, he leads a team of six OH&S Specialist , ensuring compliance with industry regulations and fostering a proactive culture of safety across diverse work environments.

With a strong background in developing and implementing safety programs, Lawrence has successfully worked across various industries, including healthcare, home care, hospitals, long-term care, and disability support services. His expertise extends to creating tailored safety solutions that protect vulnerable populations, including the elderly and individuals with disabilities. He understands the unique risks associated with these sectors and is committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality of care, and regulatory compliance for both staff and clients.

Lawrence’s experience also includes leadership roles at Grainger Canada, Sears, YVR, and Bzam, where he played a pivotal role in enhancing workplace safety, reducing incidents, and ensuring employees were equipped with the knowledge and tools to work safely. His ability to assess risks, develop practical solutions, and engage teams in safety initiatives makes him an invaluable asset to any organization.

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a diploma in Occupational Health & Safety, Lawrence is currently pursuing a master’s degree in occupational health & safety and environmental studies. His academic background, combined with real-world experience, positions him as a thought leader in the field of workplace safety.

Lawrence is not only a technical expert but also a passionate advocate for people-first safety practices. His multilingual ability, customer-focused approach, and leadership skills allow him to build strong relationships with clients, employees, and stakeholders. He believes that a safe workplace is the foundation of a thriving business and works collaboratively with organizations to create sustainable, effective safety programs that not only meet compliance standards but also enhance overall operational efficiency.

With his extensive experience and unwavering commitment to safety, Lawrence brings immense value to organizations by reducing workplace risks, improving employee well-being, and ensuring that every individual—whether staff or client—feels safe and protected in their environment.

Lily Wang

Payroll Manager

Lily joined the company in 2009 and was promoted to Payroll Manager in 2012. Lily is an experienced Certified Payroll Manager with extensive knowledge of payroll analysis.

Her responsibilities include leading the payroll function, simplifying, standardizing and identifying opportunities for payroll technology improvements and year end balancing. Lily is an active member of the Canadian Payroll Association.

Wei Yang

Accounting Manager

Wei joined the company in September 2009 after she moved from Montreal to Vancouver. She started as an intermediate accountant, then accounting supervisor, and now is the accounting manager for the group companies.

As a member of Certified General Accountant, she is responsible for the companies’ full accounting function, cash flow management and budgeting. She also assists the Executive Vice President in preparing financials for proposals and contracts. Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the current internal control system is also Wei’s strong interest.

Rebecca Jarvis, RPN

Vice President of Operations (Care)

Rebecca started with Pro Vita Care Management in 2004, beginning first as a Director of Care of a mental health facility. In 2008, Rebecca accepted the position of Operations Manager with Pro Vita. Rebecca, a native of Alberta, is a graduate of the Douglas College Psychiatric Nursing Program, maintaining her current professional registration as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse. Rebecca has continued to complete advanced courses in the field of psychiatry and health care management since her graduation.

In 2003, Rebecca completed the Management Development for Residential Settings Certificate Program at the Justice Institute of British Columbia. As the Senior Operations Manager, Rebecca held the responsibility of corporate oversite as well as a support for managers at the sites by acting as a resource in areas such as staff development, implementation, evaluation of clinical policies and procedures, workload initiatives and accreditation in both Complex Care and Assisted Living homes.

Although a nurse by training Rebecca’s passion has always gravitated to the employees of the organization, focusing on staff wellness and development. As such in September 2021, she was promoted to Director of Human Resources and Benefits, where she can dedicate her focus on the valued employees of Forster’s Group of Companies. She brings to this role her vast knowledge of operations thus creating an HR department that truly understands the foundation of the work being done on a front-line level.