Our Team:

Ashton Gibson – Lead Consultant (Sub-contract)

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Mr. Gibson has over 15 years of experience working in Indigenous Business and Economic Development in Alberta and is passionate about helping communities to grow their economies. Mr. Gibson’s experience includes 17 years working at Indigenous and Services Canada (ISC) in finance, community economic development, and business development positions. He has also been working for Whiskeyjack Group as a sub-consultant for the past 5 years. Mr. Gibson received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta in 2002. He also obtained the Certified Professional Accountant, Certified Management Accountant Designation (CPA, CMA) in 2016 and left ISC in August of 2018 to pursue his consultancy business on a full-time basis.

Shelley Honish – Sub-contract Consultant 

 

Based in Alberta, EFC has served Indigenous Entrepreneurs and Communities throughout Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.  EFC has worked exclusively with Indigenous peoples and communities for over twenty years developing feasibility studies and business plans delivered to various Federal and Provincial Governments, Aboriginal Financing Institutions, plus various other Commercial Banks / Lending Institutions. The Lead Planner, Shelly Honish, CPA-CMA, MBA, understands the wants and needs of clients, all involved stakeholders, including the desire for economic development and meaningful employment opportunities.  EFC Business Services Inc was a 2018 Business Award recipient “Special Recognition” delivered by Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation.

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Brenda Nystrom - Sub-contract Consultant (Land Designation Specialist) 

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Brenda Nystrom, B.A. History, is a member of the Metis Nation of Alberta.  She has over 20 years of experience participating in projects and initiatives with Indigenous groups within the agriculture, construction, oil, gas, and government sectors of the economy throughout the Prairie west. Brenda has been involved in every aspect of working with Indigenous communities through her roles in Indigenous Relations, Band Administration/Management, Business Development, Federal Land Transactions, Project Management, and Consultation to name a few.  Her experience working with Governments, First Nations, and the resource industry has provided her valuable insight into the proper execution and successful completion of projects on federal lands. 

 

Some of the accomplishments and projects that Brenda has been involved in include:

 

• 2017               Alberta Indigenous Solar Program (AISP)

• 2017               Alberta Indigenous Energy Program (AICEP)

• 2015               Bigstone Cree Nation – School Portable Project

• 2011-2014      Highway 43 Service Road Project – Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation

• 2012-2015      Highway 43 Twinning Project – Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation

• 2011               Heavy Equipment Operator Course Coordination – Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation

• 2011               ACR Rewarding Partnerships Aboriginal Summer Student Job Shadow Program Award

• 2008               INAC Regional Award – AltaLink Project Team

• 2000-2008      Land Designation/Infrastructure Projects/Community Development Projects
                         with First Nations in Alberta

 

Brenda’s experience and passion for all that is Indigenous makes her a valuable member of any team. Since 2009, she has operated her own consulting company, this allows her the flexibility to take on other projects and contracts.  As an example, she has taken on contracts such as Operating Manager for the Grande Prairie Army and Navy Unit #389 where she oversaw the operations for the ANAVETS Community Center.   In her spare time, Brenda actively researches and writes about her Indigenous family history.  Brenda likes to maintain a busy schedule and enjoys being involved in the local community. 

 

Narinder Singh - Sub-contract Consultant 
 

Narinder, a proud father of two daughters, has been involved in areas of public accounting, including corporate and personal taxes, accounting, strategic planning and assisting in audits for public, private, and not-for-profit entities. Before founding his own public accounting practice in Calgary, Narinder worked as a senior accountant in one of the Big four international accounting firm for almost 6 years in countries including Monaco, Bermuda and Oman. 

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Narinder enjoys working with clients to help them meet their business goals and provides them with a source for reliable information for business decision-making. His areas of expertise include corporate and personal tax, financial statements, business plan and forecasts, cash flows, budgeting, and planning assistance for small businesses. Narinder also teaches bookkeeping and financial planning to First Nation people in Alberta.

Professional Affiliations - Prior to obtaining his CGA, CPA designation in Calgary Alberta, Narinder earned his CA designation in 2002 in India after acquiring his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Delhi in 2000. In 2011, Narinder was awarded with one of the top 10 students by CGA Institute of Alberta.

 

Errol Wilson – Sub-contract Consultant

 

A Cree-Ojibway from the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba, Errol has a wealth of experience serving in corporate leadership roles and external front-line relations. Errol Wilson has had an extensive career in sustainable entrepreneur capacity development and financing for over thirty years, working primarily with Aboriginal Financial Institutions and three years with the Aboriginal Capital Corporations Program within the Federal Government.

 

Academically, Errol has an ICD designation (Directors Education Program) through the Institute of Corporate Directors and Rotman School of Business, an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Alberta School of Business, and an Agriculture undergraduate degree from the University of Manitoba. His life-long learning also includes certificates in Not-For-Profit Governance Essentials, Indigenous Partnership Development, Public Sector Management, and Advanced Business Counselling.

 

Errol has over fifteen years of corporate governance experience. He currently serves as Chair of financial trustees for the Peguis First Nation Surrender Claim Trust, Vice-Chair of Siksika Group of Companies, Board of Trustee of the First Nation Market Housing Fund, and Board member of the New Buffalo Education Circle. His past board experiences include a founding director of AKSIS, Edmonton Aboriginal Business and Professional Association, and CANDO, Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers.

 

Ken Hein – Sub-contract consultant 

 

Ken Hein is awarded the esteemed Fellow Certified Management Consultant designation with 35 years of experience.  His in-depth expertise developed through a balanced mix of public and private sector consulting assignments including work with First Nations, municipal, provincial and private industry.  Ken’s approach is client-focused, forward thinking and business-oriented on both business and technology-based initiatives.  He has led as well as provided support on many assignments in Business Transformation, Project Management and Risk.

 

Ken’s expertise includes Business Case Development, Strategic and Outcome Planning, Governance, Change Management, Process Design and Documentation, highly success with responding by way of proposals to Public Procurement (experience in writing over 250 RFP documents over the past 15 years with public sector organizations), Coaching, Training, Facilitation. Ken has developed over 40 Business Cases over the past 25 years. His consulting focus is aimed at assisting organizations improve performance, achieve business objectives, and manage opportunities and risk with an overarching goal of value creation.

 

Ken has the following education:

• Fellow Certified Management Consultant (FCMC) – Since 2015

• Certified Management Consultant (CMC) – Since March 1997

• Challenge Dialogue certificate with a methodology to support complex projects in 2020 

• Business/Technology diploma – Since January 1990

• University of Manitoba – Managerial Accounting diploma (1982-1983)

• University of Alberta Faculty of Extension – Project Management courses (1995 – 1996)

 

Kevin McNultry - Sub-contract Consultant 

 

Kevin McNulty’s diverse background includes software solutions, training programs, project safety, ISO standards, mining, software architecture, digital media and on-line training. Kevin founded Coole Immersive, a simulation-based learning developer that significantly improved the safety outcomes for our clients. He is a Co-founder of the Canadian Institute for International Trade, whose focus is to support new technology companies with business development and export readiness. CIIT provides services to organizations who require grants, funding and incentives to support their innovative research projects and to provide training for their people. Kevin has over 39 years’ experience in the fields of engineering, software design, project management, training and instructional design and business development as an entrepreneur.

 

Ryan Kane - Sub-contract Consultant 

 

An Information Technology professional with 15 years ofProject management, writing Procurement RFP’s, responding to RFP’s with Ken Hein on public procurement, experience in business sectors including public sector Organizations., . A visionary leader and business support person with solid experience managing all levels of multiple projects including leading Steering Committees, budgeting and vendor management.

 

Led global project implementation teams, developed and executed business transformation initiatives and supporting technology strategies.  Implemented system data migration projects. Developed and implemented data transformation strategies and interface initiatives.

 

An exemplary track record of Program and Project delivery, strong track record successfully building Application Solution Services teams. Expert at building interpersonal relationships, negotiating contracts and leading complex multi-project programs.

Other Skills from Ken Hein, Kevin McNulty, and Ryan Kane Include

 

• Business Analyst work including market scans, business process development, business process re-engineering, and business requirements, etc.

• Management Consulting work including:

  • Procurement documents (RFI, PQR, RFC and RFP)

  • Strategy

  • Governance

  • Stakeholder engagement

  • Project management