College Board of Governors announces appointments

College of the Rockies’ Board of Governors welcomes new members (l-r) Jesse Nicholas, Wilda Schab, Cindy Yates, Krys Sikora, and Steen Jorgensen.

Appointed to the College Board through Provincial Order in Council are Steen Jorgensen, Jesse Nicholas, and Cindy Yates of Cranbrook, Krys Sikora of Golden, and Wilda Schab of Invermere.

Now retired, Steen Jorgensen was previously the Publisher and Regional Manager for Cranbrook Daily Townsman and Kimberley Daily Bulletin. Mr. Jorgensen has 40 years of experience in communication including as Advertising Manager, Publisher, Regional Manager and Vice President of Canadian operations for a large media company. He was also Vice President of Marketing for Valley Cable TV in California.

Active in his community, Mr. Jorgensen is the President of Symphony of the Kootenays Association. He was also the Past Chair of Key City Theatre Board of Directors, Former Director of Cranbrook and District Hospital Foundation and Past Director of BC Press Council.

Jesse Nicholas is the Communication Manager for the Ktunaxa Nation Council. He has worked in a variety of positions and roles in the past including Parks Canada and is a former employee of College of the Rockies.

Mr. Nicholas is also a Board member on the First Nations Technology Council and was an elected Councillor in his home community of Akisqnuk First Nation in Windermere from 2006 to 2010. He completed a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Victoria in 2006. He currently resides in Cranbrook with his wife Rachael and son Jacob.

Cindy Yates is currently an Investment Advisor and Certified Financial Planner for RBC Dominion Securities.

Previously, Ms. Yates was employed as an Investment Advisor for Edward Jones. Active in her community, she is a former Board member of United Way and East Kootenay Foundation for Health.

Krys Sikora is currently one of the owners of Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges and Rocky Mountain Cabins. Previously she was the National Sales Manager for WestJet Airlines and Customer Service Manager for Jarvis Travel Ltd.

Ms. Sikora is President of the Golden Golf Club and member of the Columbia Basin Trust Adjudication Committee. She was also a Board member of the Golden and District Community Foundation. Ms. Sikora holds her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary.

Wilda Schab retired as General Manager of Radium Resort Limited Partnership in 2014. Previously she was General Manager at FHS Golf Management, worked as an English professor in Chile and China, held the position of Chief Financial Officer of PBM Service, was an Accountant with a Certified Accounting firm and taught high school.

Ms. Schab served her community as City Councillor in North Battleford, was a Board member of CODE Canada, President of Saskatchewan Ladies Golf and National Director of Rules. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Business) from the University of Regina and a Masters in Communications from Royal Roads University.

“I’m pleased to welcome this talented group of individuals to the College’s Board of Governors,” said COTR President and CEO David Walls. “Their unique skills and experiences will serve the Board well and I look forward to working with them in the years ahead.”

The five new members join Dave Handy (Board Chair), Ken Hoeppner (Vice-Chair), Jim Abbott, Glen Campbell, Rob Ondrik, and Gloria Perry who were previously appointed.

Retiring from the Board after fulfilling their mandate are Orest Federko, Joe Pierre, Richard Reinders and Doris Penner. “I would like to sincerely thank Orest, Joe, Richard and Doris for their many contributions to the Board and their excellent service to the College,” added Walls.