Ted Shafran
President

A computer science graduate of York University, Ted founded Connectability Inc. in 1995, with a focus on providing end-to-end support for business IT needs. Prior to that he was Founder, President and CEO of KTS Business Systems Inc. in Toronto, a large Systems Integrator and software developer.

Over the years, Ted has been a pioneer in exploring and implementing new technologies in business environments. In the early 1990s, he was instrumental in the implementation of Linux, the Internet, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in a variety of corporate settings, long before they were widely in use. More recently, he has worked extensively in the areas of Virtualization and Cloud Computing. Ted continues to be intrigued by the possible applications of new technologies.

Ted is also passionate about customer service, courtesy, and the need for professionalism in IT. He believes that IT specialists should demonstrate the same level of commitment and professionalism as lawyers and accountants, and he insists that every member of the Connectability team adhere to those principles.

Brad Shafran
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Brad joined Connectability in 2014 after completing his Bachelor of Commerce program at Queen’s University. Brad first joined Connectability as the Marketing & Sales Manager and was responsible for planning and executing marketing communications and sales activities. That included the creation of our monthly newsletter Connectability Corner, weekly security tips, quarterly webinars, and a regular stream of valuable educational content for business owners, managers and executives.

In 2019, Brad’s role expanded, and he became Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Some of his additional responsibilities include management of the Operations Team, guidance around operational strategy, process improvement, and proper communications.

Brad grew up in Toronto, and is a lover of sports, fitness, reading, film, and anything outdoors. He is an avid fan of the Toronto Raptors and New England Patriots, a self-described chef and food buff, and a lover of self-development. Brad regularly finds opportunities to expand on his skills through formal courses, accountability groups, and business publications.

Kate McLeod
Service Delivery Manager

Kate is a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts (Community Studies) program at the University College of Cape Breton (currently known as Cape Breton University). Kate brings a wealth of knowledge to the Connectability team with over 30 years of experience in the Logistics/CIC Branches of the military. Kate has extensive expertise in customer service, project management, supply, finance, and administration. Kate is able to deliver consistent service to prospects and customers alike through her focused, efficient, creative, team oriented approach.

Kate hails from the Maritimes, but her military travels have given her the opportunity to travel and experience a wide variety of cultures and perspectives. Through her experience as a Scuba Instructor, Kate has developed a commitment to detail oriented customer service. Kate is passionate about her commitment to our customers and understands that professionalism isn’t optional, it’s mandatory. That’s the equation Kate, and the whole team at Connectability follow so we are always exceeding customer expectations.

Manas Dutta
Project Manager

Manas Dutta, an IT professional with 16 years of experience, holds a degree in Computer Applications with a specialization in Wireless Networking from George Brown College.

In his varied career, Manas has excelled in roles such as IT Leader at Compass Group Canada, Senior System Administrator at Bayshore HealthCare, and I.T Supervisor at the Toronto School of Management. His expertise spans network engineering, project management, cybersecurity, and server optimization.

Originally from Kolkata, India, Manas has worked in locations such as Vaughan, Canada, and Hyderabad, India. His significant role includes almost four years as IT Administrator, Systems at Redpath Mining Inc.

Beyond work, Manas values family time and enjoys driving, biking, and staying updated on emerging technologies. He has solo-traveled across India, favoring crime thriller series like 24.

In the kitchen, Manas excels in crafting pasta and egg curry, with a preference for dishes like Biryani and Ravioli.

In summary, Manas Dutta’s extensive experience and skills in IT, combined with his passion for family, travel, technology, and culinary arts, make him a valuable addition to any team.

Abarnaa Arunaruban
Marketing Manager

Abarnaa is a graduate of Ryerson University, with a Bachelor of Commerce from the Business Management program. With a major in Marketing Management, minors in both e-Business, and Professional Communications, and a handful of experiences in the marketing field, Abarnaa’s role at Connectability is to ensure that our brand is communicated consistently across different media platforms and that we are delivering valuable content to our customers.

Abarnaa’s prior experience includes 4 years as a sales advisor for a large retail company. In this role Abarnaa was able to develop her customer service skills and is committed to delivering exceptional service through continuous professionalism and a desire to deliver value to customers. Abarnaa believes in working collaboratively, being kind, friendly, and creative.

In her spare time, Abarnaa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching a variety of television shows, trying new restaurants/foods, and going shopping! Abarnaa is always looking to network and connect with people from all walks of life, and like the entire Connectability team, to go above and beyond for our customers!

Suhail Dalvi
Account Manager

Suhail is a talented professional with a strong background in Information Technology and Business. He holds a degree in Information Technology, and a postgraduate degree in Business, preparing him to excel as an Account Manager in the IT industry.

With over 15 years of experience in Sales and Account Management, Suhail has demonstrated expertise in the Consumer Electronics and Fin-Tech sectors. He has successfully collaborated with well-known companies such as Samsung and Panasonic.

Suhail is committed to customer satisfaction, aiming to create delightful experiences and provide customers with the most suitable solutions. These qualities align perfectly with our core values, which prioritize customer focus and self-improvement.

Outside of work, Suhail enjoys exploring small towns in Ontario, engaging in video game competitions with friends, and motorbike riding. He also has a passion for traveling, maintaining an active lifestyle by going to the gym, and learning about diverse cultures and people.

Sophie Okonye
Office Administrator

Sophie Okonye, our Office Administrator, holds a degree in International Relations from Landmark University and a Postgraduate Degree in Project Management from George Brown College. With previous roles as a Project Coordinator and Administrative Assistant, Sophie brings significant experience in administration, project management, and CRM system utilization.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Sophie worked for one year as a Project Coordinator at NewTrend Solar and Security Systems and two years at Islington Golf Club as an Administrative Assistant. Her diverse background contributes to her effectiveness in office management.

In her free time, Sophie enjoys swimming, video games (favorites include The Last of Us II and Call of Duty), reading, and solo travel, having explored Ghana. She also has a penchant for cooking, with Fried Rice being her specialty and Yam and Fried Egg Sauce as her favorite dish.

With a passion for efficient operations and a positive work environment, Sophie’s skills and international experience make her an essential asset to our team.

Philip Nascimento
Technical Specialist

Phil has been with Connectability since January of 2007. With over 20 years of technical expertise, Phil’s prior experience includes time working at Samsung Electronics Canada, GE Capital Technology, CIBC and Hewlett-Packard. Like all Connectability staff members, Phil has a wide range of technical skills, including experience with Microsoft applications, operating systems and servers.

In addition, Phil has worked extensively with Open Source technologies such as Samba, OpenLDAP, Zimbra Collaboration Suite and Linux distributions from Red Hat, Fedora, OpenSUSE and CentOS. A dedicated problem-solver, Phil takes his greatest pleasure from rolling up his sleeves and getting the job done.

Chris Barnes
Technical Specialist

Chris is a graduate of Humber College and specialized in Micro Computer Management and Technical Support. Chris enjoys the challenges that digging into computer problems provides and gets a great deal of satisfaction from fixing a complex issue. Plus, Chris is driven by a focus on the customer experience and works hard to ensure his clients have a positive experience every time.

With over 16 years of technical support experience, Chris has the skills and the drive to solve your IT problems, answer your questions, get you back to work, and help you and your team leverage technology!

In his free time, Chris enjoys spending time with his family and playing video games with his kids. He also enjoys experimenting with computers on occasion, cooking, automotive repair and practice martials arts specifically Kenjutsu and Ninjutsu.

Lisa Oelmann
Technical Specialist

Lisa Oelmann was born in Terrace Bay and grew up in St. Catharines. Lisa joins our team with an abundance of experience. She began her IT career with a co-op program while still in school, after which, she decided to go into programming. After working and interacting directly with clients Lisa decided it was time for a change, and never looked back! She worked to develop her skills and eventually become a senior advisor for support and help desk. Lisa joins our team with lots of experience as both a Network Engineer, but also a Technology consultant.

Next, Lisa worked for a small legal firm as support analyst. The firm was eventually acquired by KPMG, after which, Lisa worked as a senior advisor for support and help desk and spearheaded the Y2K conversion from MAC O/S over to Windows. She then spent time at various companies managing and overseeing similar conversions and setting up training centers. Lisa finally found a role with Amphenol Canada Corp where she stayed for 30 years and gained valuable experience and knowledge which she looks forward to sharing with her new colleagues and peers.

Lisa has 2 lovely daughters that she enjoys spending time with. They share a passion for soccer (futbol) and love cheering against one another during the world cup. Lisa loves the outdoors, would rather vacation in the alps than an island, and enjoys playing board games and completing puzzles with her family. She’s not one for shopping or restaurants, Lisa would rather picnic in the park or skip rocks on the lake.

Lisa is ready to go above and beyond to help solve your IT problems, get you back to work, and help you scale your business!

Yed Vista
Technical Specialist

Yed Vista, is an experienced IT professional who earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the Central Colleges of The Philippines.

Yed has held a variety of roles in his career, including Microsoft 365 Level 1 support, Service Desk operations, System Engineer, and customer service. With over 5 years of experience, he has become proficient in various IT tools and is known for his empathetic approach to assisting clients.

Outside of work, Yed enjoys weekend motorcycle rides and cherishes quality family time, maintaining a balance between his personal and professional life.

Yed’s love for exploration has taken him to diverse travel destinations, showing a deep interest in the Philippines, from Palawan to Boracay and Siargao, well-known for its exceptional surfing opportunities. In terms of entertainment, Yed’s favorite show is “My Hero Academia,” reflecting his passion for dynamic storytelling and heroic adventures. He’s also a skilled cook, known for preparing dishes like Buttered Shrimp and Papaitan Kambing (Bitter Goat Stew).

Yed Vista is a versatile and compassionate IT professional, who offers a wealth of expertise in the field and is ready to assist our customers.

Renz Valerio
Technical Specialist

Renz Valerio, a graduate in Computer Science with a specialization in Network Administration from the University of Makati, is a seasoned L2 Technical Support Engineer. With over six years of experience in an Australian Managed Service Provider (MSP), he excels in troubleshooting and resolving complex IT issues.

His expertise encompasses networking, Systems Administration, and adeptly handling escalated challenges through collaboration with cross-functional teams. Renz is also well-versed in Cloud Computing, actively designing, developing, and maintaining cloud-based systems. His client interactions involve providing tailored cloud support and recommendations.

With a total of 11 years in the IT industry, Renz brings a wealth of experience, combining technical proficiency with effective communication in delivering high-quality Technical Support.

Outside of work, Renz enjoys motorcycle riding, quality family time, mobile gaming, and customizing ROM and Kernel for Android. His current favorite show is “Can’t Buy Me Love,” and he takes pride in his culinary skills, particularly in crafting a delicious Filipino dish, Pork Pochero.