Our experienced facilitators will deliver your Community Futures Leadership Institute board session with professionalism. All facilitators have an extensive background in Community Economic Development and other topics related to the Community Futures Leadership Institute modules.
Find out more about our Board Development Facilitators across the country:
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Jon Close
Jon Close
4213-101 Sunset Drive
Cochrane AB
T4C 0W7
Tel: 587-834-6060
Email: jon@upcloseteam.comWith over 40 years of experience, Jon Close is a highly respected professional who helps Community Futures staff and board members to reach their full potential.
Since 1988, Jon has taken on pivotal roles in the Community Futures Program: from being a founding executive director at the local and provincial CF levels, to being a founding board member at the Community Futures Pan West Network & Community Futures Canadian Network of Canada levels. Jon has developed and continues to deliver board and staff development to non-profit organizations across Canada.
Furthermore, Jon's non-profit leadership experience includes roles on various boards such as the Rural Alberta Development Fund, President of the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chair of the Medicine Hat College board of governors. Currently, Jon serves in leadership roles on several boards including being the Finance, Audit, and Risk Management Committee chair with a highly respected non-profit organization.
Available sessons facilitated by Jon Close:
Module 1 - Community Economic Development
Module 2 - Operations: Board and Staff
Module 3 - Legal Responsibilities of Boards
Module 4 - Financial Management of a Non-Profit
Module 5 - Board Development and Performance
Module 6 - Community Futures Lending
Module 7 - Management, Recruitment, Performance, Evaluation & Development
Module 8 - Board Leadership
Module 9 - Cultural Awareness
Module 10 - Social Economy & Social Enterprise
Module 11 - Role of Planning
Module 12 - The Role of the Chair
Module 13 - Strategic Loan Fund Management
Module 14 - Is Your CF Prepared for Natural and Economic Disaster?
Module 15 - Volunteer Attraction, Retention and SuccessionJason Denbow
Jason Denbow
Suite 559, 167 Lombard Ave.
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 0V3
Tel: 204-943-2905
Email: jdenbow@cfmanitoba.caJason Denbow is the Executive Director of both Community Futures Manitoba and Community Futures Saskatchewan, the associations representing the 16 Community Futures organizations in Manitoba and the 13 Community Futures organizations in Saskatchewan.
Jason has served as a facilitator for the Community Futures Leadership Institute since 2004; delivering board governance and leadership training sessions to volunteer boards in eight provinces and territories across Canada; and has facilitated both strategic and operational planning sessions for communities, non-profits, and CF organizations in all four western provinces.Available sessons facilitated by Jason Denbow:
Module 1 - Community Economic Development
Module 2 - Operations: Board and Staff
Module 3 - Legal Responsibilities of Boards
Module 4 - Financial Management of a Non-Profit
Module 5 - Board Development and Performance
Module 6 - Community Futures Lending
Module 7 - Management, Recruitment, Performance, Evaluation & Development
Module 8 - Board Leadership
Module 9 - Cultural Awareness
Module 10 - Social Economy & Social Enterprise
Module 11 - Role of Planning
Module 12 - The Role of the Chair
Module 13 - Strategic Loan Fund Management
Module 14 - Is Your CF Prepared for Natural and Economic Disaster?
Module 15 - Volunteer Attraction, Retention and SuccessionTroy Dungate
1209 4th Avenue
Prince George, BC
Tel: 250 563 7747
Email: tdungate@hotmail.comTroy has served as a director of Community Futures Fraser Fort George since 2009 and has been the chair of the board since 2011.Available sessons facilitated by Troy Dungate:
Module 2 - Operations: Board and Staff
Module 3 - Legal Responsibilities of Boards
Module 4 - Financial Management of a Non-Profit
Module 5 - Board Development and Performance
Module 6 - Community Futures Lending
Module 7 - Management, Recruitment, Performance, Evaluation & Development
Module 8 - Board Leadership
Module 10 - Social Economy & Social Enterprise
Module 11 - Role of Planning
Module 12 - The Role of the Chair
Module 13 - Strategic Loan Fund Management
Module 14 - Is Your CF Prepared for Natural and Economic Disaster?
Module 15 - Volunteer Attraction, Retention and SuccessionSteve Lupky, C.I.M, C. Mgr.
Steve Lupky,
107-70 Des Hivernants Blvd North
Winnipeg, MB R3X 0T4
Tel: 204-791-5965
Email: sjlupky@gmail.comSteve Lupky has over 30 years of extensive leadership and not for profit board experience. He has served on and led numerous local, regional and provincial boards and organizations. Steve has been volunteer board member with Community Futures from 2004 to 2010, and from 2016 to present. He is currently the Board Chair of Community Futures East Interlake, Community Futures Manitoba and Community Futures Pan West Network. He is also the President and Board Chair of the Canadian Institute of Management.
Steve had the privilege of serving 18 years as an elected Councillor and Deputy Mayor for the Town of Arborg, Manitoba, and was elected a Regional Director with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities for 6 years. Keenly interested in community economic development, he was the founding President and Board Chair of both the Arborg Bifrost Community Development Corporation and the Arborg Seniors Housing Corporation.
Steve retired in 2024, as Senior Director, Physical Damage Claims with Manitoba Public Insurance. Along with his Chartered Manager designation, he holds a BA (economics) degree from the University of Manitoba, an Advanced Certificate in Management. Leadership & Strategy from the Asper School of Business, a Human Resource Management Diploma from the University of Winnipeg, and Certificates in Management, and Rehabilitation Case Management from the University of Manitoba.
Available sessons facilitated by Steve Lupky, C.I.M, C. Mgr.:
Module 1 - Community Economic Development
Module 2 - Operations: Board and Staff
Module 3 - Legal Responsibilities of Boards
Module 4 - Financial Management of a Non-Profit
Module 5 - Board Development and Performance
Module 6 - Community Futures Lending
Module 7 - Management, Recruitment, Performance, Evaluation & Development
Module 8 - Board Leadership
Module 9 - Cultural Awareness
Module 12 - The Role of the Chair
Module 14 - Is Your CF Prepared for Natural and Economic Disaster?
Module 15 - Volunteer Attraction, Retention and SuccessionVerna O'Neill
85 Knighton Road
Kimberley, BC V1A 0B4
Tel: 306-861-1666
Email: verna@vlobusiness.caOver the past 25 years Verna O'Neill has worked in the Community Futures (CF) world, most recently for nine years as General Manager of CF Sunrise in southeast Saskatchewan. Now living in Kimberley, British Columbia with her family, Verna is continuing to follow her passion for small business development and the CF program, founding her own company VLO Business Solutions. She is eager to assist small business and the non-profit sector, sharing her knowledge, skills and innovative perspectives.
Verna has a long history of facilitation experience, working with small business groups, non-profits and the post-secondary system.
Participants rave about their experience with her as the facilitator:
"Verna was the facilitator of the program and was so knowledgeable, enthusiastic and incredibly helpful with all my stumbling blocks. Thank you so much." - Dalelynn - Kenosee Lake, SK
"Verna as a facilitator is skilled at allowing and encouraging discussion but always steering the participants back to the business at hand. An awesome experience." - Kathy - Weyburn, SK
Verna has a Bachelor of Commerce degree (finance major) from the University of Saskatchewan and a Certificate in Adult Continuing Education from the University of Manitoba.
Available sessons facilitated by Verna O'Neill:
Module 1 - Community Economic Development
Module 2 - Operations: Board and Staff
Module 4 - Financial Management of a Non-Profit
Module 6 - Community Futures Lending
Module 7 - Management, Recruitment, Performance, Evaluation & Development
Module 11 - Role of Planning
Module 15 - Volunteer Attraction, Retention and SuccessionTerri Parent
Terri Parent
250 Churchill Drive
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 3Y7
Tel: 306-242-8783 or 306-227-8415
Email: parentt@shaw.caTerri Parent is an experienced workshop and training facilitator recognized for her ability to translate theoretical business concepts into practical, easy-to-implement techniques.
She has received formal training in Adult Education and has both developed and facilitated training workshops on a wide variety of topics, including a Certified Small Business Counseling course for the Acadia University’s Centre for Social and Business Entrepreneurship, Human Resources Management series to mention a few.
Terri is an entrepreneur, operating her own business that offers business training solutions. She is an APEC International Certified Small Business Counselor with both hands-on and theoretical expertise in all aspects of entrepreneurship and small business management.Available sessons facilitated by Terri Parent:
Module 1 - Community Economic Development
Module 2 - Operations: Board and Staff
Module 3 - Legal Responsibilities of Boards
Module 4 - Financial Management of a Non-Profit
Module 5 - Board Development and Performance
Module 6 - Community Futures Lending
Module 9 - Cultural Awareness
Module 11 - Role of Planning
Module 12 - The Role of the Chair
Module 13 - Strategic Loan Fund Management
Module 14 - Is Your CF Prepared for Natural and Economic Disaster?
Module 15 - Volunteer Attraction, Retention and SuccessionPaul Gregory Wiest
Suite B
515 Vernon St.
Nelson, BC
V1L 4E9
Tel: 250-354-1213
Email: paul@cornerstoneconsulting.caPaul holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Finance and a Diploma in Urban Land Economics from the University of British Columbia. After receiving his degree Paul worked for the corporate banking sector in Vancouver. For the past 26 years, he has worked in the field of business finance, senior management, corporate leadership, and economic development. Paul has an extensive work history with Community Futures as a Business Analysis, General Manager and most recently as the interim Executive Director for Community Futures British Columbia. Over his career, Paul has facilitated strategic planning processes for organizations such as Community Futures, Credit Unions, Chambers of Commerce, and private sector organizations. He has also provided executive and regional director services to provincial and national organizations. Paul has authored reports and studies that encompass workforce development, feasibility assessments, immigration strategies, economic development tactics, and business competitiveness.
Paul is a recipient of the Don McMillan Award for outstanding contribution to community development and has been a guest speaker at various events, and national and international conferences.Available sessons facilitated by Paul Gregory Wiest:
Module 1 - Community Economic Development
Module 2 - Operations: Board and Staff
Module 3 - Legal Responsibilities of Boards
Module 4 - Financial Management of a Non-Profit
Module 5 - Board Development and Performance
Module 6 - Community Futures Lending
Module 7 - Management, Recruitment, Performance, Evaluation & Development
Module 8 - Board Leadership
Module 9 - Cultural Awareness
Module 10 - Social Economy & Social Enterprise
Module 11 - Role of Planning
Module 12 - The Role of the Chair
Module 13 - Strategic Loan Fund Management
Module 14 - Is Your CF Prepared for Natural and Economic Disaster?
Module 15 - Volunteer Attraction, Retention and Succession
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