Our Board

Past Chair, Community Futures East Kootenay

Mike Guarnery joined the Community Futures East Kootenay Board in 2008 and currently serves as their Past-Chair.  He is the General Manager of the Kimberley & District Chamber of Commerce, supporting the business community through advocacy, business-related training, community partnering and events.

Mike originally hails from Indianapolis where he worked as a Defense Contractor on military projects that migrated drawings into cross-platform digital formats.  After arriving to Canada, he worked at the I.T. Department at the College of the Rockies, then 12 years with the Ktunaxa Nation Council in the Employment and Economic Development sector. He was awarded the 2013 CFEK Volunteer of the Year Award.

Mike has been a member of the Board since 2015, and was re-elected as Chair at the AGM in 2018.

CFs Represented:

• Boundary
• Central Kootenay
• East Kootenay
• Greater Trail
• Revelstoke

Chair, Community Futures Pacific Northwest

Wendy Prystay has called Prince Rupert home for over 40 years. Wendy holds a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and Sociology and a Diploma in Education. She has worked as an adult educator and trainer in industrial and educational settings. She served as Manager and Employment Counsellor for the Career Resource Centre for many years, prior to joining Northwest Community College where she retired from the position of Interim Regional Director-Western Region in 2013.

Wendy was the President of the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce in 2007 and continues to serve as a Past President. In 2009 she joined the Board of Directors of Community Futures Pacific Northwest where she currently holds the position of Chair.

Wendy has participated as a Director on the CFBC Board for the past 6 years where she currently serves as Treasurer as well as chairing both the Finance and Audit Committee and the Governance Committee. She also sits on the Indigenous Engagement and Awareness Committee.

Wendy is passionate about the connection between education and community economic development and sustainability.

Wendy joined the Board in 2012, and her second term will end in 2018.

CFs Represented:

• 16/37
• Haida Gwaii
• Nadina
• Pacific Northwest
• Stuart Nechako

Community Futures Peace Liard

Russ Beerling, former business owner of Moose FM, Energetic City.ca, Big Ideas Marketing Company, and a small billboard company, and current partner in ESR Business Solutions Inc. has benefited his position with Community Futures. 

He has been involved with Community Futures for several years now, sitting as a board member, a director, business advisory board and Past Chair. He also sat on the B.C. Community Futures Board of Directors. Russ has been a big contributor to Community Futures Peace Liard representing business through his connections in the region and with the Fort St. John Chamber of Commerce. 

Russ’ community involvement has been extensive, as his passions for business and tourism has been his driving force. He sits as the Vice-President of the Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce, having held the President’s position in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John. His role as Northern Vice-Chair for United Way has brought Russ even closer to community development. 

With each role he has played in each community he has lived in, it has been exciting and a true pleasure to watch their markets grow and know that he has been able to contribute to that growth. Being a business owner has helped Russ to understand the challenges faced with business today. Giving input to the direction Community Futures who helps grow communities, has been important to ensuring that not only do we see growth in the Peace Liard region, but also throughout rural BC.

Russ joined the Board of CFBC in 2017.

CFs Represented:

• Central Island
• North Fraser
• Peace Liard
• South Fraser

Chair, Community Futures Fraser Fort George

Troy was born and raised in Prince George. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria’s Bachelor of Commerce program and the University of Saskatchewan’s Bachelor of Law program. Troy has previously managed offices focusing in business development in Prince George, Langley, Victoria and Vancouver for TD Waterhouse. He now practices law with his family at their Prince George based law firm.  Troy has been the Chair of Community Futures Fraser Fort George since 2012.

Troy joined the CFBC Board in 2017.

CFs Represented:

• Cariboo Chilcotin
• Fraser Fort George
• North Cariboo
• Sun Country
• Thompson Country

Director, Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen

Brenda is a successful professional archaeologist and restaurateur residing in Hedley BC. She has 15 years of experience working with First Nations in the south Okanagan and Similkameen in cultural heritage assessments as well as economic development initiatives associated with heritage tourism. Brenda is a former client (twice) of Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen. She is also a previous member of the Economic Gardening Steering Committee.

Brenda joined the CFBC Board in 2017.

CF's Represented:

• Central Okanagan
• North Okanagan
• Okanagan Similkameen
• Nicola Valley
• Shuswap

General Manager, Community Futures Revelstoke

Kevin joined the CF Revelstoke corporation in 1997 as a Business Analyst and in 2014 became the General Manager. Kevin works with business clients, oversees the activity and administration associated with the loan funds and the Self Employment Program Contract and coordinates staff and volunteers working on a variety of projects. 

Kevin is actively involved in the local squash club as a player and coach, and enjoys hiking, biking and camping.

Kevin joined the Board in 2015 and is now on his second term.

CFs Represented

• Central Interior First Nations
• Nuu Chah Nulth
• Sto:lo
• Haida Gwaii

Charlotte is the CEO of Thrive Coaching & Consulting providing high perfomance coaching, leadership training and inspiration to clients globally. She has managed multi-million dollar operations/teams for other companies like Lululemon Athletica and has created a 6-figure organization of her own that has pivoted to being primarily online.

Charlotte has been practicing and coaching personal development for over 15 years, as well as having more than 20 years of restaurant, retails and fashion industry experience focusing primarily in leadership and senior management roles. A past Self-Employment program client, Charlotte is a resident of Castlegar, BC where she sits on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Charlotte is an engaged member of her community who brings entrepreneurial, leadership, human resources and online skills to our Board.

Charlotte joined the Community Futures Central Kootenay Board in 2015 and is a member of their Nominating Committee, Chairs their Self-Employment Committee and became Vice Chair in 2017.

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  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.

John started his career with CF as Chair of Haida Gwaii Community Futures right at the turn of the millennium. After returning to Prince Rupert he spent some time working for government and ventured into the first of two restaurants with his wife, Kristi.

John became General Manager of CF Pacific Northwest in 2011. During this time, he has been actively involved at the BC network level, serving on a number of committees including: the WD Strategic Working Group, Fisheries Legacy Trust, New Relations Task Force, Communications and Marketing, Lending & Investment Pool Task Force.  John continues to be involved with the BC network serving on two committees.

In addition to John’s service with CF, he has extensive experience serving on non-profit boards, and is presently as Vice-Chair of the Prince Rupert Port Authority, past Chair of the Port Edward Harbour Authority, and Past-President of the Prince Rupert & District Chamber of Commerce.  

John holds a Bachelors degree in political studies and a Management Certificate from the Sauder School of Business.  In his spare time he can be found serving wine to customers or washing dishes in the restaurants and coaching youth soccer.

Since 2008 Cathy has been the General Manager of Community Futures Cowichan. In this role she oversees a range of Community Economic Development projects and the Small Business lending program in addition to the day-to-day management of the organization. As Community Futures Cowichan General Manager, she has initiated and led projects in Business Retention and Expansion, Tourism Development, and Downtown Revitalization.

Cathy chaired the Community Futures British Columbia Marketing Committee from 2012 – 2016, and remains a Committee Member. The Cowichan Community Futures is founding member of Venture Connect; of which she is a Board Member. Representing her local Community Futures, she sits on the Municipal Planning Advisory Committee and is a director on the Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the work done with Community Futures, Cathy’s background in marketing and business operations, and with over 20 years of experience in the tourism and banking sectors, provides her with extensive knowledge and skills to serve the Community Futures network.