Carmen Andrew
Carmen is the Director of Rural Programming with Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development. The Alberta Agricultural Societies Program is one of the main projects in her portfolio, in addition to the Ag-Info Centre, Agri-News and other key agricultural recognition programs like the Century Farm and Ranch Award and Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Carmen is based out of the Stettler office, resides in the central Alberta village of Delburne and is active with her community and family.
Tim Carson
Tim Carson has been involved with his local Ag Society in Redwater for more than 20 years as both staff and a volunteer. His involvement there led into the role of Director on the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies Board of Directors for 2 years which was then followed by 2 years as President.
He has since stepped off of the Board and been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the association for over 10 years.
Tannis Baker
Tannis brings her knowledge and experience of over 15 years working in beverage-alcohol to the culinary tourism industry at Food Tourism Strategies (FTS), an Alberta-based consulting firm with a passion for growing and sharing the local food scene. Tannis was appointed Executive Director of the Alberta Culinary Tourism Alliance in 2014 as a result of her leadership and deep experience in food marketing, wine and spirits, sales and education fields.
In 2015, Tannis was named 50 Most Influential Albertans by Alberta Venture Magazine. Previous to this, Tannis was project lead of market research on Food Marketing & Policy at the University of Calgary, and was Brown-Forman’s Director of Business Development for Western Canada. She is a sessional instructor for the hospitality program at Olds College, and sits on the Advisory Committee for the program. Alongside her FTS partner Rheannon Green, their programs have been nominated for and won several awards, including an Alto Award for Collaborative Marketing, and a Canadian Tourism Award for Best Culinary Experience.
Colin Gosselin
Colin Gosselin is the Sr. Project Coordinator for the Rural Programming Section at Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation. Colin has been focused on the agricultural societies program for the last several years, and has been involved with rural affairs more broadly for over 15 years.
He “keeps it rural” with his wife and two children in Lac Ste. Anne County, and is based out of the Department’s Stony Plain field office
Cameo Hanlon
Cameo is an honors graduate of the Alberta School of Business, as well as a former varsity basketball player for the University of Alberta Pandas. Cameo founded Best Marketing Co. in 2022, and since then has been working with organizations globally to elevate their marketing presences and present them to the world in the best possible light.
She currently lives in Edmonton, but spends much of her winters in Arizona escaping the cold & working on her golf game.
Ian Hill
Humanitarian, Business Leader, Award Winning Social Innovator, Professional Development Pioneer, and World Record Breaker; these are some of the words often used when referring to Ian Hill.
Today, Ian is CEO of the National Grassroots Media Corporation and its family of networks. These Digital TV networks reach into 87% households across Canada and the US, as well 4.1 billion mobile devices around the world.
Currently, Ian is attempting to set his 2nd world record by becoming the oldest man to play NCAA Division 1 college football in the US. This effort is to bring light to the alarming suicide rates in our communities. He just finished playing at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster California where he was the starting Longsnapper.
Ian is also known for his humanitarian effort, “Let Them Be Kids”, of which he is the founder and volunteer CEO. This initiative built 168 playgrounds, skate parks and fitness parks across Canada and the World Leisure Congress named the Let Them Be Kids program one of the foremost innovative social leisure programs in the world.
The National Council for Community and Justice and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, recognized Ian for his commitment to positive change, by naming Ian Humanitarian of the Year. Canadian Business legend, Harry Rosen, presented Ian with the Alder Business Leaders award, and he was nominated for the Prime Minister's “Social Innovator of the Year Award.
Eileen Kotowich
Farmers’ Market Specialist, Food Science & Development Section
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation - Government of Alberta
Eileen Kotowich is the provincial farmers’ market specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation and has worked with farmers’ markets since 2004. She works closely with the market managers, boards, sponsors and vendors to help clarify the Guidelines, and provide coaching on conflict resolution, market rules, bylaws and regulations. She sits on the Alberta Farmers’ Market Association board of directors as a non-voting ex officio advisor, helping them to achieve their goals as the voice of Alberta farmers’ markets. When not on a boat fishing in the summer, she can often be found visiting our approved markets throughout the province.
Monika Warring
I would like to introduce myself. My name is Monika Warring and I have been with the Government of Alberta for a little over 8 years. About 3 years ago I joined the Rural Policy and Programming Section as Grant Program Support. I process the Agricultural Societies Annual Grant and Annual Return applications and assist with the review of Bylaws.
Those are just a few of the many ways I am available to assist agricultural societies. I can be found in the Stony Plain Office of Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development. An original Eastern transplant I have lived in Alberta for over 30 years and currently live in the Lac Ste Anne County.
Brittany Miller
Brittany Miller is a dynamic social media & marketing consultant, speaker, and educator who empowers businesses and personal brands to navigate the complexities of social media with simplified, actionable strategies.
Since founding her consultancy and speaking business, Brittany has partnered with diverse industries—including healthcare, finance, travel, hospitality, non-profits, municipalities, and personal branding—guiding them through their digital marketing journeys. With over a decade of experience, she has transformed the online presence of more than 100+ clients worldwide, helping them shift from scattered and inconsistent to cohesive, memorable, and engaging—driving significant growth in visibility and audience engagement.
In her high-energy keynotes and training sessions, she combines storytelling, firsthand experiences, and impactful visuals to create clear roadmaps for standing out online. She also pulls from the latest trends and insights in the marketing world to help businesses & industries understand what works and where to adjust for maximum impact.
As a prolific content creator, Brittany shares insights on effective social media strategies and personal branding, consistently delivering value to business owners and service providers. Known for her engaging teaching style, she equips audiences with tools and practical strategies that yield measurable results, leaving them inspired and ready to elevate their online presence.
Karen Bergland
Karen says she has horticulture in her DNA. Growing up on Vancouver Island, her whole family gardened together. Karen is an Olds College grad, with a Diploma in Vegetable Production. For more than 30 years Karen’s community of Stony Plain has benefited from her horticultural skills- running a horticulture maintenance business, volunteering with the Stony Plain Horticultural Society, teaching a comprehensive school horticulture program, and exhibiting at local fairs. Karen also has a passion for photography. She takes photos at every fair she visits.
In 2016 Karen became an accredited horticulture judge through the Alberta Horticultural Association. As a board member, she took on the responsibility for coordinating the AHA Judging Program in 2019. Working with bench show convenors, Karen has enjoyed meeting amazing volunteers, travelling throughout Alberta, sharing experiences with fellow judges, and hearing many people’s gardening experiences and challenges. Karen is keen to share with you what she has learned.
Jess Cook
Jess has had a passion for agricultural societies and fair season from a young age. She is a past president of the Dundalk Agricultural Society and is currently on the OAAS Provincial Board. She is passionate about making it a family affair and ensures all youth are included; believing that youth recognition and ensuring they have a role in the succession planning of the society is key to a society's success.
She is a mom of two beautiful girls, Audrey and Mackenzie, raising them alongside her husband Jordan. In her work life, Jess manages a busy mixed-animal veterinary clinic and loves the rural life her small town provides.
Dr. Jody Carrington
Renowned Psychologist | Human Connection Expert | Bestselling Author
Dr. Jody Carrington is a renowned psychologist and a charismatic keynote speaker celebrated for her profound expertise in human connections. As a leading authority in addressing complex, human-centered challenges, Dr. Carrington excels in guiding individuals and organizations through the intricacies of re-establishing relationships in today's increasingly disconnected society. She boldly believes that all humans have the capacity for good; however, so many of us these days, because of isolation and burnout, have lost access to that good.
Through her insightful analysis, Dr. Carrington explores how societal detachment occurs and outlines practical, meaningful solutions for reconnection. Her approach combines a deeper understanding of how necessary acknowledgment has become and she underscores how this need is so much bigger than recognition. Her dynamic and heartfelt presentations, infused with humor and honesty, captivate and energize audiences worldwide. She is the Founder and Principal Psychologist at Carrington & Company, she has served as a civilian member of Canada's national police force, the RCMP, and practiced with the most complex cases on a psychiatric inpatient unit. Dr. Jody's balance as a devoted practitioner and brilliant communicator result in an ability to authentically connect through impactful presentations that has set a new bar in talking about the shifting landscape of mental health. Dr. Jody has authored three best-selling books including Feeling Seen (Harper Collins, 2022) and hosts the widely celebrated podcast, "Everyone Comes from Somewhere." From major theatres and convention halls of 5,000 attendees, to boardrooms of 20 senior leaders, she revels in connecting and delighting an audience of any size, championing the profound need for genuine human connection in an era often dominated by digital communication.
Her work is trusted by many of the world's Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, education and healthcare leaders all working to solve similar core challenges in creating a new set of rules to support and motivate their teams. She is a mom to three, a wife to her (very lucky) husband, a hockey coach, a daughter, and a sister, navigating this world, alongside everyone she has the privilege to learn from and serve.
Michelle Molloy
Michelle is currently a Provincial Director with the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies and Secretary of the Orono Agricultural Society.
She proudly sits on the OAAS Provincial Youth Committee, which focuses on promoting and sustaining youth volunteerism within the 210+ Agricultural Societies across Ontario. She enjoys fishing, geocaching, and spending time with her two sons.
Winston Gamache
Winston joins AWES with expertise in horticulture, agroecology, and agroforestry. He has a passion for all things gardening especially perennial crops and tree fruit crops. He loves exploring the ways trees and human systems interact and planning resilient systems.
With a background in biochemistry and biology, years of experience in horticulture, and perspective from being raised on a farm, Winston helps to support our shelter belt and agroforestry projects as well as our extension work.
Marie-Laure Polydore
Marie-Laure is a Senior Business Development professional with Futurpreneur’s Alberta Team. She believes in the power of a small business in contributing to the development of a community. She has a passion for entrepreneurship, the environment and is a catalyst for change. Marie-Laure has developed and refined her considerable skill set and experience through various industries including clothing, telecommunications, manufacturing, paper industries and in the non-for-profit sectors.
Fluently bilingual, she has given herself the mission to support and assist as many entrepreneurs as possible, and she feels she is well positioned to do so with Futurpreneur Canada!
Melody Garner-Skiba
Melody Garner-Skiba has spent her life with one foot in agriculture and one foot in industry. Raised at Rocking Heart Ranch she spent her childhood on the back of a horse and working alongside her dad as his “hired man” and working in Waterton Lakes National Park. Graduating from the U of L with a Bachelor of Management, she has spent the last 20+ years in various senior and executive leadership positions in a variety of industries including non-profit, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. She switched her focus to be full time back at home in 2023 leading the family ranch which includes an equine breeding operation, agri-tourism/education, and selling aggregate while starting her consulting firm called “Garnering Results."
Her consulting firm led her to the position of being the Executive Director with the Intensive Livestock Working Group. She is a wife, mother, and a recipient of the 2023 AFSC Women in Ag Award as well as Rocking Heart Ranch was named the 2023 Canadian Quarter Horse Association Ranch Breeder of the year under her direction. She is the Past President of the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association and was the President of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce in 2015-2016. Her passion is building community and people to ensure the ag industry is strong and growing!
Larry Golby
Larry was born and raised on a farm in Coronation, Alberta and after high school he attended the University of Lethbridge where he majored in Physical Education and Psychology. He then returned to his hometown and was the Recreation Director for 25 years. He was as a Recreation Facility Consultant for the Government of Alberta for 5 years and 6 years as the Executive Director for the Recreation Facility Personnel.
Larry has installed ice in a number of unique places, such a large shopping mall in Doha, Qatar, Honolulu, Hawaii, Orlando, Florida, Glasgow, Scotland, numerous communities in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut as well as all over Western Canada and the northern United States. Larry has been a Senior instructor for the recreation facility personnel for over 20 years.
Andrew Jones
Andrew is the Client Service Representative with the Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel. He has been employed in recreation for the past 12 years holding a variety of roles in aquatics, arena, parks and recreation management.
He is currently the Manager of Parks, Recreation & Facilities for the Town of Ponoka and have held this role for the past 4 years. He also comes with 20 years of competitive curling experience at the local, provincial, national and worlds level.
Julie Matthews
Julie Matthews was an Investigative TV reporter for 19 years including 10 years as Global TV Edmonton’s Troubleshooter where she solved problems for many Albertans. She then traded her microphone for a badge, becoming a peace officer and senior investigator with the Government of Alberta’s Consumer Investigations Unit.
She now has her own consulting business touring around Alberta educating seniors, businesses and community groups about how to spot the latest frauds and scams. This consumer protection expert is passionate about fraud prevention especially in rural areas.
She is a certified fraud examiner and co-chair of the Alberta Fraud Prevention Month committee. She has a weekly segment on CFCW radio called “Scam Alert” which airs every Thursday. A self proclaimed “Fraud Nerd” you can also find her sharing her latest scam stories and fraud prevention videos across social media.
She has been recognized with numerous awards for her efforts to protect Albertans including the Alberta Consumer Champion Award and Solicitor General and Public Security Crime Prevention Award.
Chris McKenna
Chris is the Executive Director for the Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel. He has been instructing Ice Making Course for the past 35 years.
He was the Operations Manager for the Edmonton Oilers and a Consultant for the Phoenix Coyotes for 5 years. He has also taught courses throughout Canada and consulted with a number of Associations in the United States.
Sam Becker
Sam started volunteering at a young age and was involved with many 4-H clubs; becoming a leader within that environment led her to attempt to become the Fair Ambassador in her hometown. After coming 1st runner up, she was approached to become the Ambassador for the Milverton Agricultural Society, where she is currently Past-President and Chair of the Royalty Committee.
Sam currently attends Wilfrid Laurier University completing a double major in Criminology and Policing with a minor in leadership. While she works two jobs (one in security and the other on a dairy farm) she fills in her spare time with friends, family, or additional volunteer work.
Eric Moland
With 40 years in the insurance business Eric has seen the good, the bad and the ugly of how insurance responds when claims happen. As a Senior Commercial Insurance Broker Eric has seen many changes over the years in the insurance industry, but his focus has always remained the same: focus on the needs of the customer!
Previously with the largest insurance brokerage in Canada, Eric joined All Insurance Ltd. 3 years ago as he found this family owned brokerage had a much stronger focus on their client’s needs rather than their bottom line. Licensed across Canada Eric specializes in rural based operations, as well as tourism and faith-based organizations (churches, schools & non-profits). Living in Drayton Valley he also, of course, insures anything oil patch related.
Michelle Simoneau
Michelle Simoneau is the Team Lead – Lending for North West region. She has been a lender with AFSC for 10 years and in her current role leading a team of Lenders in LaCrete, Grimshaw, Fairview, Grande Prairie, Falher and Athabasca. As a farmer and a lender, Michelle is keenly aware of the joys and challenges of farming and financial management.
Jason Roy
Jason combines a friendly approach to technology with a deep understanding of what community groups need. With over two decades in the tech world, he has been creating tools that are simple to use and really make a difference.
At FrontDoor+, which he co-founded, Jason’s passion is to make event organizing a breeze, especially for volunteers and agricultural societies. He is dedicated to providing solutions that help your events run smoothly, ensuring that technology feels like a helpful neighbour, not a hurdle. His Mission – to make every interaction with tech as straightforward and rewarding as possible.
Tonya Fleming
Tonya Fleming is an experienced leader and lawyer. Currently heading the Private Markets and Innovation team at the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC), she assists private businesses in navigating securities laws for capital raising. After a decade of legal experience at one of Canada’s top corporate firms, specializing in securities law, mergers, acquisitions, and corporate governance, Tonya transitioned to leadership roles in the energy sector as General Counsel and Vice-President of three TSX-listed energy companies.
Her valuable expertise extends to advising Boards of Directors and senior management on governance and regulatory compliance. Tonya also actively contributes to the community as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
Heather Karst
Heather grew up on a mixed beef and grain farm in southern Saskatchewan before completing her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. She has then spent almost 22 years in Agriculture lending in Saskatchewan and Alberta. 10 ½ years at RBC, just over 3 years at AFSC, and the last 7 ½ years with Servus.
"In my spare time I like to read a good book or spend time walking my 2 dogs. I love the outdoors and camping, as well as hanging with friends and family. When time and money allows, I love to travel, and explore new places and cultures."
Heather will speak to the loans and lines of credit that Servus offers.
Debbie Hagman
Community Development Officer, Alberta Arts, Culture and Status of Women
Debbie has worked in this position for 20 + years. She enjoys working with volunteers in the non-profit sector as they are passionate about what they do and the impacts they make in the communities where they live and serve. Although she and her husband of almost 49 years, own, operate and live on a farm in the Mayerthorpe/Whitecourt area, her office is in the Stony Plain Provincial Building. She has worked in economic development, participated on many provincial, regional and local boards as well as was an elected school trustee and regional health authority board member in her region.
During time spent volunteering with a community foundation she ran a successful annual golf tournament fundraiser for 18 years. Much of the government work she has done has involved facilitating workshops on strategic and fund development planning, grant and proposal writing, volunteer engagement, board governance, and event planning. Debbie has three grown children and four grandchildren!
In her spare time she enjoys dancing, gardening and reading with her grand children. She is an avid volunteer herself, involved in various local community projects and organizations.
Melanie Harty
Melanie Harty is a CPA and certified Family Enterprise Advisor with Doane Grant Thornton LLP. She helps business owners build their family legacy and successfully transition their businesses to the next generation. Melanie assists with specialty tax work, farm succession, corporate reorganizations, and amalgamations.
Melanie leverages her broad experience to guide businesses and non-profits through their tax planning initiatives, estate and succession planning, accounting, auditing, and financial management. She has worked with clients across various industries, including agriculture, construction, oil and gas, retail, and family businesses.
Prior to joining forces with Doane Grant Thornton LLP, Melanie was a managing partner at BVA LLP and, before that, spent time working on her family farm. This experience allows her to provide clients with a real-world perspective for their businesses.
Shawn Gramiak
On September 1, 2023, Shawn Gramiak celebrated his 25th year of working with MacEwan University as a computer skills instructor. He started back when it was Grant MacEwan Community College, and along the way, worked with clients such as the Alberta Provincial Government, Enbridge Pipelines and The Capital Health Authority.
Shawn is most proud of his work with seniors, having worked with Northgate and Central Lions Senior’s Centres, Edmonton Lifelong Learning Association, The South East Edmonton Seniors Association and a variety of Agricultural groups and Learning Councils in Alberta. He has also worked as a trainer with Metro Continuing Education in Edmonton and has recently been working with Norquest. Shawn is also an accomplished standup comic, a proud Cat Dad and an amateur worm farmer.
Dan Ohler
Dan is a devoted husband, father, entrepreneur, and community builder. He was crucial in incorporating the Sangudo Opportunity Development Co-operative (SODC) in 2010, Canada's first of its kind. He has since collaborated with ACCA to develop the Unleashing Local Capital program. Dan has shared his insights on investment co-ops in numerous communities across Western Canada, the Yukon, and the USA, inspiring the formation of many such initiatives.
He also supports new and existing Community Investment Co-ops, including the Vermilion Community Development Co-operative and the Homestead Investment Co-op in Edmonton. Additionally, Dan is a Founding Board member of Community Capital Solutions Co-operative and a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation.
Brad Kotowich
With a passion and appreciation for the power of people, Brad helps organizations develop strategies that align people and processes to achieve great outcomes. He created Focused Leadership Group in 2004 and enjoys strong ongoing relationships with a myriad of client organizations across all sectors.
Approximately 40% of Brad’s work is helping non-profit organizations evolve and achieve their desired outcomes. Brad was an executive senior leader for 10 years with a large non-profit organization with over 700 staff where he honed skills in strategic growth and organizational development. During this time, he was recognized provincially (Alberta) for his leadership and facilitation skills and became a leading speaker and facilitator in the areas of workforce development, organizational planning and design, leadership training, and strategic planning.
Since then, Brad is proud to have worked over 300 different organization and leaders across all sectors. Brad continues his lifelong leadership learning journey. He is a certified interpersonal relationship coach and is a co-founder of Tendencies: A Personality Perspective which is a dynamic organizational personality platform designed to assess individual and collective behavioral tendencies and the challenges thereof, complete with strategies to strengthen the human potential.
Brad prides himself on being an engaged and ever-evolving leader with enthusiasm, a great attitude and the willingness to be as awesome as he can for those around him.
Perry Cramer
Perry Cramer has been in the insurance industry for 16 years, getting his start as a State Farm Agent while attending college. He grew up in Red Deer and eventually moved to Edmonton to study business at MacEwan University. After obtaining his undergraduate degree in Commerce he joined Foster Park Brokers as an Account Executive and Partner. Foster Park Brokers was acquired by NFP Canada in 2021 and has since grown to over 1,000 employees across Canada.
Currently based out of Edmonton, Perry and his team offer a broad and cost effective insurance solutions for all types of businesses. While specializing in Agricultural Societies, Perry also insures other non-profits, political associations, farms, and other private businesses. Perry also serves as the board treasurer at the Strathcona Christian Academy and volunteers as a hockey and ringette coach. He currently lives on an acreage outside of Ardrossan with his wife and three kids and enjoys playing hockey in the winter and mountain biking in the summer.
Clifton Lofthaug
Clifton Lofthaug is the President of Great Canadian Solar Ltd. He will be speaking about Solar Electric Systems and Agriculture
This presentation will explain how grid-tied solar systems work, what type of systems to consider, and available grants, rebates, and financing is available to help harvest the sun in a different way.
Max Fritz
Max brings a unique suite of skills from an extensive business background. His previous senior positions and working with agricultural societies and fairs at the community, regional and national levels have created a passion for advocating for Alberta’s world class landscape, the critical fabric of rural communities and the people that care for it so well.
He is approachable and a perceptive individual who enjoys working with organizations in building realistic strategic solutions that advances their relevance and purpose; this blends well in his current leadership position with a regional land conservation organization where he has the pleasure of safeguarding the beauty of our natural landscape in partnership with ranchers and farmers that share those same values.
Omar Puri
Omar Puri is an Account Manager with Stride Capital Corp, servicing the Southern Alberta territory. He brings 15 years of progressive sales experience in various industries with 5 years directly in the Equipment Finance Sector.
Based in Calgary and believing in a client-first philosophy, Omar concentrates his approach on learning about your business’s goals in order to achieve the best financing solution, to ensure the growth you need while advancing your bottom line. Through understanding a diverse range of equipment assets and operational structures, Omar aims to get your asset in the field where it belongs, driving revenue forward for your company.
Raised in a family of entrepreneurs with world perspective from a young age, Omar brought that entrepreneurial spirit to his career in order to better understand his client’s objectives while ensuring a high degree of service and a positive experience along the entire customer interaction. With two years of direct experience at an independent leasing company and three years at a large credit union working in asset-based lending, Omar has skills in Leases, Loans, Refinance/Sale Leaseback transactions, and Collateral Security Agreements across a vast array of assets. Omar aspires to find creative solutions to win deals for customers of every kind: O/O, Vendor, Commercial Fleet, and End User.
Born in Edmonton and raised in Calgary, Omar is an Alberta boy through and through. He understands the unique challenges your business faces in this Western economic climate and is committed to meeting those challenges head on via strong client rapport and savvy financing solutions to get you the equipment you need when you need it.
"I have a passion for learning, engineering, design and all things mechanical. I can often be found tinkering around in the garage. I have always enjoyed Formula 1, weightlifting, movies, writing, and reading. In between, I spend as much time as I can enjoying the company of family and friends over great food, drinks, and even better laughs."
Seth McVeity
Seth McVeity is the Buddy Up Lead at Canadian Mental Health Association Alberta Division and Centre for Suicide Prevention. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Mount Royal University, with a major in marketing and a minor in social innovation.
Seth supports the organization’s mission to reduce stigma and increase awareness and uptake of suicide prevention education. The Buddy Up Campaign is one of his main projects, which aims to promote authentic conversations among men and their buddies, while also contributing to the external elements of research and community development projects.
Stefani Lisk
Stefani Lisk is the Project Lead for the Rural Mental Health Project. Based in Edmonton, AB, with a degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Public Health, Stefani has been with the project since 2019. She is deeply passionate about creating community-driven solutions and empowering citizen-led initiatives to address the complex issues of mental health and wellness across Alberta.
Stefani recognizes the immense value of strong networks and connections, believing that collaboration and shared knowledge are key to driving sustainable change in rural communities. Her work focuses on building meaningful partnerships and fostering a collective approach to mental wellness.
Nick Exner
Nick is the President of the Orono Agricultural Society which hosts over 30,000 visitors during the 4-day annual event.
Recognizing the value of youth volunteers within the organization, he has become a leader in recruiting Junior Board Members and youth volunteers. He is a proud father of two sons, a volunteer firefighter, and an avid outdoorsman.
Elliot Bridgewater
Elliot Bridgewater, founder of Oemichen Bridgewater LLP, is a respected speaker, educator, and advocate for cooperative development. He teaches cooperative advocacy at the University of Calgary and inspires the next generation of leaders. As a lawyer and member of the Alberta Law Society, Elliot provides legal services to cooperatives across Canada, specializing in civil litigation, corporate and commercial law, and securities.
In addition to his legal work, Elliot serves as a Director of Calgary Co-op, one of North America's largest consumer cooperatives. His extensive experience and leadership further underscore his dedication to fostering sustainable, community-driven solutions, solidifying his impact on Alberta's cooperative landscape.
Keith Shologan
Keith Shologan is a dedicated Relationship Manager Lending (RML) in the financial services industry with a focus on agricultural lending. With over six years of experience at AFSC, Keith has cultivated a strong reputation for building meaningful relationships, delivering exceptional customer service, and supporting the growth of the agricultural sector.
As an agricultural lender, Keith combines his expertise in financial services with a passion for helping clients achieve their goals. His collaborative and team-oriented approach ensures he is a trusted partner for customers and colleagues alike. Keith finds fulfillment in supporting and fostering growth within the agricultural industry, ensuring clients have the resources they need to succeed.
Adrian MacDonald
Adrian MacDonald is the Team Lead – Lending for AFSC’s West Central lending region. He has been working for AFSC supporting lending clients for 24 years and currently leads a team of lenders in AFSC’s Ponoka, Leduc, Stony Plain, Barrhead, Westlock, and Lamont branches. Adrian grew up on the farm before joining AFSC and having the opportunity to support our agriculture producers to start and grow their operations.
Marc Haine
Marc is a customer and employee experience strategist, keynote speaker, consultant, and author of Lights! Camera! Action! With more than 30 years of experience as a hospitality specialist, Marc has created unique frameworks that empower businesses to transform everyday operations into extraordinary experiences. Marc’s energetic, humorous, and authentic delivery makes him relatable and fun. He empowers business operators with unique tools to create jaw-dropping, show-stopping experiences their customers and employees deserve.
Marc’s podcasts, Marc Haine Live and Experience Leadership: The Small Business Podcast, have over 180,000 views worldwide. Marc is the 2023 Community Spirit Award recipient in his local community. He is the Past National President of the Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals (CAFP), the co-founder and president of several non-profit organizations, such as: Walk the Talks, East of 60 Productions Society, and sits on the national board of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS).