Board of Directors

Chair/President, Community Futures Network of Canada
Vice-Chair, Community Futures Pan West
Chair, Community Futures British Columbia
Chair, Community Futures Fraser Fort George

• Troy Dungate has been the Chair/President of CF Network of Canada since 2021
• Chair of Community Futures (CF) Fraser Fort George since 2012. He joined the CFBC Board in 2017 became Chair in 2020.
• Previously, Mr. Dungate managed offices focusing on business development for TD Waterhouse in Prince George, Langley, Victoria, and Vancouver.
• He is a graduate of the University of Victoria’s Bachelor of Commerce program and the University of Saskatchewan’s Bachelor of Law program.

Chair, Community Futures Thompson Country

Tom Hoffman graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Alberta and is a Registered Professional Forester in both Alberta and British Columbia. He has worked in the Forest Industry for about 37 years.

He and been with Tolko Industries for the last 18 years and has worked in a variety of areas including Sawmill Superintendent, Regional Woodlands Manager and in his current role as Manager of External and Stakeholder Relations where he is responsible for developing and managing relationships that improve stakeholder relations and profitability in all 3 Provinces (Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia) that Tolko operates in.

Tom is the Vice-Chair for the Northern Development Initiative Trust, Chair of the Community Futures Cariboo-Chilcotin and a member of the Williams Lake Rotary Club.

Previous Chair, Community Futures Cowichan

​Bob Annis is the former Director of Brandon University’s Rural Development Institute (1999-2009) and has served for numerous years as a tenured university professor in Departments of Native Studies, Psychology and Rural Development.  Dr. Annis was awarded both Bachelor and a Master of Arts degrees from Queen’s University in Canada, a Doctor of Psychology degree from Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland.

Bob has published numerous reports and academic articles concerning critical demographic, social and community development issues facing rural Canadians. Over many years, Bob has volunteered his time and expertise to numerous organizations.

He served as a National Selection Committee Member for the Canadian Government’s Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Program, as a past President of the Canadian Rural Restructuring Foundation and as a past member of the International Comparative Rural Policy Studies Consortium.

Bob is an active volunteer with Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue.

Bob has been a member of the Board since 2013.  

General Manager, Community Futures Thompson Country

Blair Gray joined the CFTC in the General Manager role in June 2017. With ten plus years’ experience managing in Not- for Profit environments, he has overseen multiple acquisitions of competitive government-funded agreements with the federal and provincial governments. Areas of expertise include economic, community and partnership development and employment service contract delivery. 

General Manager, Stó:lō Community Futures

Rocio Zielinski has been General Manager of Stó:lō Community Futures since 2019 and was previously employed there since 2005. She is dedicated to leading the momentum of the rapidly expanding Indigenous economy in in S’ólh Téméxw, the Stó:lō Traditional Territory, with her strong connections and relationships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous Communities, businesses, and entrepreneurs.

SCF has achieved tremendous success and made significant impacts on the Communities of S’ólh Téméxw with Rocio’s leadership, with business training participation increasing by 371%, Indigenous female entrepreneurship growing by 140% and expanding SCF’s businesses services, particularly to youth and entrepreneurs with disabilities clients.

Rocio is currently on the BC Economic Development Association Board serving as Secretary on the Executive and was previously served as a Board Member and Chair of the former Aboriginal Business and Services Network Society of BC. Rocio is also a Member of the Chilliwack Innovation Network Committee focusing on the tech sector and the Chilliwack Economic Resource Network developed in partnership with local non-Indigenous organizations, including Community Futures South Fraser, providing business support services and resources during and post COVID.

Director, Community Futures Nicola Valley

As a First Nation Lenora appreciates and practices the cultural values and beliefs she was taught by her elders and mentors. She believes we can never stop learning and experience new opportunities that can come to us if we open the door to let them in.

Lenora has been a director of Community Futures Nicola valley since 2022 and Chair since 2023. She believes community support service providers should partner whenever possible to better help the community.

Lenora has lived and worked in Merritt for 24 years and grew up in Clinton BC. She attended TRU (Thompson River University) for small business management, the Royal Road University cultural communication Masters program, Douglas College (New Westminster) Autism Outreach Program, and obtained the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Early Childhood Educator certification.

Examples of agencies Lenora works with other than CF are the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Chapter (Chair), Merritt Country Run, Youth Suicide Prevention committee, Child & Youth committee, Nicola Valley Food Bank, former High Bar First Nation Chief and on the Band Council for 12 years.

Chair, Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin

 John presently owns and operates O-Netrix Solutions, and has been the owner of several other successful businesses in the Cariboo. John is also a dedicated volunteer in the Williams Lake Community.

Chair, Community Futures South Fraser

Meghan is a Senior Relationship Manager for Farm Credit Canada and is passionate about supporting Canadian Agri-food and Agri-businesses. With over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry, Meghan’s approach to serving her clients is inclusive and engaging. She is not only passionate about helping her clients prosper – she wants her community to thrive as well. Meghan enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and spending time with her family and friends in both her childhood hometown of Enderby (Okanagan) and her current hometown in the beautiful community of Chilliwack.

Chair, Community Futures Central Kootenay

Am Naqvi joined the Community Futures Central Kootenay (CFCK) Board of Directors in 2019. Since then, he has been active not only on the board, but also as a representative of CFCK as the Chair of the Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership Advisory Committee and a volunteer on the West Kootenay Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Steering Committee. Am became the Chair of CF Central Kootenay in 2022 and also joined the Loans Committee at that time. 

Am Naqvi brings an extensive knowledge of the community as a board member of the Kootenay Co-operative Grocery Store, Granite Point Golf Course, Nelson Police Department, Kootenay Savings Credit Union, and the BC Institute of Chartered Accountants boards, and as a past board member of Columbia Basin Trust. 

He is an impassioned supporter of the work that CFCK does, contributing both his financial know-how as an accountant and a thoughtful, heartfelt perspective to the governance of the organization.

Chair, Community Futures East Kootenay

Carrie began her journey with Community Futures starting with CF Peace Liard as the Self-Employment Assistance coordinator. She continued with CFPL as general Manager from 1996-2000 and was the first recipient of the Community Futures’ Don McMillan Memorial Award for Community Economic Development accomplishments.

Following her passion for CF in 2019 she joined the board of Community Futures East Kootenay; in 2021 she became Vice Chair and then in 2022 became Chair.

Carrie's background includes working with College of the Rockies as Invermere Campus Manager then as Community Development Manager for the East Kootenay. She then worked with Columbia Basin Trust as Community Liaison for East Kootenay. She has been an active community volunteer with organizations like Dawson Creek Art Society (President), Pynelogs Cultural Centre (President), Rotary (Rotarian of the Year), Chamber of Commerce (Director), Wings over the Rockies (Director), Sam Steele Days (Chair), and the Spirit of BC Committee to name a few.

Carrie is also an entrepreneur as a professional photographer running a side business for most of her career and in 2011 she and her partner started online news business www.e-KNOW.ca and have been operating it for the past 13 years.

Executive Director, Community Futures North Fraser

As the Executive Director of Community Futures North Fraser her work not only reflects her own values but also allows her to make a significant impact. Gwen’s passion for community partnership and collaboration, combined with her extensive experience in finance and a certificate in Community Economic Development, equips her with unique skills and a fresh perspective on rural development.

With a decade-long career at a local credit union, Gwen recognized the need for deeper community support, leading her to join Community Futures. For the past nine years, she has been instrumental in helping businesses grow and thrive. Her deep-rooted love and appreciation for her community are evident through her active involvement in local initiatives.

Gwen's contributions extend beyond her professional role. She is a dedicated Rotarian and serves on numerous boards and organizations, including Hope Central, the Mission Skating Club, the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Mission Downtown Business Association, the Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Harrison River Valley, the Mission Economic Development Select Committee, the Mission Tourism Committee, and the Government Relations Committee.

General Manager, Community Futures 16/37

Wade has lived his entire life in Northwestern BC. As such, he's very familiar with the many challenges rural communities and entrepreneurs face. These roots have given him firsthand insight into the resilience and resourcefulness of rural communities. 

As a former Director of the Terrace & District Chamber of Commerce, Terrace Economic Development Authority and the founding Chair of Coast Mountain College Foundation; Wade enjoys developing lasting partnerships with community, business, educational and government organizations.  

Wade has been the General Manager of Community Futures of 16-37 for 14 years and a commercial lender for 24 years. During his time with Community Futures 16-37 he has tripled the loan portfolio and developed several diversified revenue streams. This diverse background has strengthened and honed his skill and commitment to nurturing entrepreneurs and community driven economic growth. 

Wade currently serves on the CFBC CFLIP Committee and is looking forward to serving on the CFBC Board as a Manager Rep.