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 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:

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

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 and 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 currently also serves as Chair of the Board for Community Futures Cowichan. Bob is an active volunteer with Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue.

Bob has been a member of the Board since 2013, and is now on his second term.  

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 ended in 2018. She is continuing her role as Treasurer as a non-voting officer of the Board.

Past- Chair, Community Futures Central Island

Advisory position on CFBC Board

Wendy Smitka sits on the CF British Columbia Board as an appointed officer, and is the current President of the Community Futures Network of Canada.

Wendy was elected to the Board of Community Futures British Columbia in September 2011. She has been involved in her local CF Central Island in one capacity or another for almost 20 years, serving on the Self-Employment Committee, the Loans Committee, Governance Committee and the Board.  She has a gracious and respectful manner and believes in the power of team work.  Wendy epitomizes the role of Volunteer and serves as a Director on the board of Theatre One in addition to her CF commitments.  She is a big picture thinker and believes she can provide the provincial board with strategic thinking and organizational vigour.

A true entrepreneur she co-owned and operated, Bridgeway Transport Ltd., from 1991 until its sale.  Bridgeway had two locations and employed twenty-five staff.

Wendy served the Board, as a Director from 2011-2017.

CFs Represented

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

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

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

Director - Community Futures Central Kootenay

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.

CFs Represented:

• Alberni-Clayoquot
• Cowichan Region
• Howe Sound
• Mount Waddington
• Powell River
• Strathcona
• Sunshine Coast

Chair - Community Futures Cariboo-Chilcotin

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.

CFs Represented:

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

Executive Director, Community Futures Shuswap

Rob has followed a rewarding career in the retail grocery/pharmacy industry for over years, many of those in management and leadership roles before transitioning into his current job as Executive Director at Community Futures Shuswap. He has been actively involved in several businesses and service organizations whose purpose is to improve the vitality and economic health of the community.   

Rob's interests are varied and diverse, but anything that includes hiking, biking, travelling and photography make for a perfect day.

Rob has joined the Board this year, 2019 and on his first term.

Manager - Community Futures Cowichan

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.

Manager - Community Futures Pacific Northwest

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.