Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background?

A: I have worked in local government since late 2003. Before that, I did a short stint working in Provincial Government in Alberta before moving to BC in 1994. Once in BC, I worked at Silver Star Mountain, working primarily with ski groups/clubs as well as marketing the mountain in the ‘off-season’ at ski shows primarily in Seattle and Portland as well as Minneapolis. Following my time in the ski industry, I moved on to beer! Okanagan Spring Brewery/Sleeman Breweries, to be exact, where I worked as the Exec. Assistant to the Managing Director of Western Canada for 6.5 years. When John Sleeman retired, my Director moved into the role of President and relocated to Guelph, and though he invited me along to continue working with him, I was firmly rooted in BC. It was after he moved on that I found my way into local government, and I’ve never wanted to leave!

Q: Can you describe your role and title?

A: I am the CAO for Coldstream, and my responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring services are delivered effectively to residents. I provide guidance and recommendations to Council on various issues, helping them make informed decisions and keeping them briefed on key matters. I support the long-term, strategic planning processes with Council to deliver services to the community that balance expectations with fiscal constraints. I am also responsible for leading and coaching our team to ensure we execute the policies and direction of Council and make sure our operations align with Council’s directives. I foster professional development and growth of our team to meet the demands and challenges of their roles, ensuring they are supported to be successful.

Q: How long have you been an LGMA member?

A: I have been a member since 2004.

Q: What are some key milestones in your professional journey?

A: Well, I worked my way up. I started in local government as an executive assistant first to a GM of Community Services, then as the EA to the CAO and Mayor. I accepted a position as a municipal clerk, moving up to the Director of Corporate Administration and eventually Deputy CAO and now CAO. Along the way, I took courses at Capilano University, Thompson Rivers University, and the University of Victoria to achieve various certificates and obtained 3 of the 4 Board of Examiners certifications.

Q: How has being an LGMA member benefited your professional development?

A: Throughout my career, I have had access to high-quality educational and professional development opportunities specific to our Local Government work in BC. Elections, FOIPPA, and Privacy, as well as MATI programs, to name a few. In addition, the annual and chapter conferences and the CAO and Corporate Officers forums have provided essential connections to peers and colleagues to forge support systems and stay up to date on best practices. The LGMA is a large part of the reason I’m where I am today in the role of CAO. 

Q: During your time on the Board, what are you most proud of?

A: I’m really proud of the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. Together with input from the LGMA staff, Board and membership, we have developed a forward-looking plan to chart the future of LGMA and serve our membership by delivering our mission, which is to empower local government professionals with practical training, resources and connections to lead with excellence at every career stage. 

Q: What have you learned from your experiences that you believe would benefit others in your field?

A: I’ve learned that growth comes from continuous learning, whether through formal education, professional development, or just connecting with peers to share ideas. I’ve learned that some of the best ideas and solutions have come from being curious and willing to consider different approaches outside of my comfort zone. Collaboration often yields surprising, creative results, and being successful together is as rewarding as personal achievement. I’ve also learned that a network of colleagues is a critical resource and leaning into them will help avoid some real pitfalls and ensure success.

Q: What advice would you give those considering running on the LGMA Board?

A: Without hesitation, my advice would be to go for it! It is deeply rewarding to be able to give back to an organization and membership that has supported me throughout my career. Board renewal always brings fresh perspectives and ideas that contribute to evolving our practices, resources, and educational offerings to meet the needs of our members today and in the future. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun to work with people who are passionate about excellence in local government. I’d be remiss if I didn’t put a plug in here for the extraordinarily talented LGMA team. The work they do to support the board means we can make efficient use of our time to tackle our tasks and do our best work without adding pressure to our day-to-day workload.

Personal Rapid-fire Questions:

Q: Coffee or tea?

A: Coffee.

Q: Morning person or night owl?

A: Both actually. Depends on the day.

Q: Dogs or cats?

A: Cats live with me (or rather, I live with them), but I love all animals.

Q: Favourite season?

A: Fall.

Q: Favourite place to travel? 

QA: Anywhere and everywhere. Most recently, I’ve been loving traveling in BC and discovering towns I’ve long heard of but never been to. 

Q: If you could instantly master one new skill, what would it be?

A: Photographic memory.

Q: What is one fun fact about yourself that you would like to share with our members?

A: When I worked at Okanagan Spring Brewery, I was a trained beer taste tester! While this sounds like great fun, you are most often tasting "off" beer to determine what is wrong with the flavour profile. Tasting also requires "fresh" taste buds, so morning hours were preferred by the lab. Unlike wine, you don’t swirl beer in your mouth and spit it out. Perhaps not the best way to start the workday!