Board of Governors

Members

Lance Kayfish (Chair)  is a risk management expert employed by the City of Kelowna, with a background in post-secondary education management. He's worked with the City since 2003 as Risk Manager and before that worked with the University of Calgary as Manager of Safety Services.  Previous board experience includes a three-year term on the Alberta Student Finance Board (responsible for oversight of Alberta's student loan system, provincial scholarships and bursaries).  He has also served on the University of Calgary's Senate and General Faculties Council.


Term: May 27. 2010 to September 30, 2013

Michael Conlin is an associate professor from Business. From 1995-2004 he was the CEO and Dean of the Australian International Hotel School in Canberra, Australia. From 1984 to 1995 Michael was the CEO and Dean of the Faculty of Hotel and Business Administration, Bermuda College, Bermuda.

Memberships include the Law Society of Upper Canada – Barrister and Solicitor, Province of Ontario (1981); LL.B, University of Western Ontario (1979); MBA, University of Western Ontario (1974); Hon BA, University of Western Ontario (1972).


Term: August 1, 2009 to July 31, 2012

Bill Cooke has an extensive resume in the financial services arena. From 2000 until his retirement in 2006, he was President and CEO of MD Private Trust Company, which is a discretionary investment management and trust firm providing services to physicians in the Canadian Medical Association.  He was a Vice-President of the Royal Bank Financial Group from 1985 to 1999, and before that worked for the Government of Saskatchewan in senior managerial roles.


Term: May 27, 2010 to September 30, 2013

Rick Gee has taught in the Computer Science department since 1985, serving as the department chair for much of that time. He is based in Kelowna. He is a former Okanagan University College Education Council member, and served as chair of its PPDC subcommittee. He has published one textbook and is working on a second. In his spare time Rick is the snowshoe director for the Nordic Cross-Country Ski Club, the hiking director for the Central Okanagan Naturalists' Club, and finds time for photography.

Ex officio (Education Council Chair)

Douglas Manning is a self employed Educational Consultant. Previously, he was the Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of Bridges.com, North America's leading provider of career and educational planning solutions. In addition, he spent 20 years in the education sector as a high school teacher, counsellor and district administrator of career programs. He designed and implemented an award-winning career program for students in grades 7-12 district-wide and wrote several career guidance curricula used throughout Canada. In 1995, he was chosen Kelowna's community leader of the year and he is the recipient of the 2001 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the e-business category, Pacific region. Mr. Manning is a member of the UBC Okanagan Advisory board, a former member of the Premier¿s Technology Council, and a former Director of the Career Education Society. Mr. Manning has a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in Psychological Foundations from the University of Victoria.



Term: August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2014

Michael Marino is a 4th year business student at Okanagan College with strong interests in international trade and sustainable development.  Upon completion of his degree, Michael is looking to attain employment in sales and marketing.  His tong-term career goals are to play an integral role in delivering sustainable ways of living and operating businesses via the integration of conservation minded technologies.

On campus, Michael's goals are to identify emerging trends within the student body and bring them to the attention of the Board of Governors.  He also wants to ensure that students who raise valid issues have an avenue through which they can be adequately addressed.

Recently, Michael contributed to the local community by developing a marketing strategy for a local summer camp known as Camp Owaissi, has competed in the Queen's Inter-Collegiate Business Competition on business policy and strategy, and is currently a part-time student researcher for the Okanagan College.

Term: November 1, 2011 to October 31, 2012

Sunddip Nahal is an online Teacher with School District 83 in Salmon Arm and a Human Resources and educational and business Consultant through her company Generation: Outreach. Previously, she held a leadership role at the Len Wood Middle School, DynaQuest Consulting, and A.L. Fortune High School. Active in her community, Dr. Nahal is a frequent Radio Talk Show Host of RJ 1200 Radio Station and television talk show host on Joy TV as an expert on education. She is a member of University of British Columbia Girlz, British Columbia Teachers Federation, and is the President of Vernon Punjabi Heritage Society. Dr. Nahal holds her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Simon Fraser University, her Bachelor of Education in Secondary School Education from the University of British Columbia, and her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and her Doctor of Education in Leadership and Administration from the University of Phoenix


Term: August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2014

Yvonne Pinder   is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and a Fellow of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada. She holds a MBA from the University of Saskatchewan. She has extensive experience as a senior financial executive for organizations in the Health and Education sectors including Okanagan College, the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, and Parkridge Centre for long term care (Saskatoon). She has served on several community and foundation boards in Saskatchewan and on several professional committees for CMA Canada at both a provincial and national level.


Term: September 30, 2011 to July 31, 2014

Lianne Rozniak  has worked for 20+ years in the Office of the Registrar. She started as a clerk at the front counter dealing with students on a day to day basis, assisting them reaching their educational goals. Five years ago she became the Coordinator of Records & Registration with a staff of seven people and in this position she provides training and supervision to all support staff in Records & Registration in Kelowna and the outlying campuses. She assists in the provision of computerized registration and records functions for all programs at all OC Centres. In 2007, Lianne  had the opportunity to be on Educational Council. This experience helped her become more aware of the workings of the institution at a higher level.

Lianne sees being on the Board as another experience of the upmost importance. The success of the institution lies first with student success and in order to have this she feels we must build on Okanagan College’s values of being a learning centre.

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Term: August 1, 2009 to July 31, 2012

Ross Saunders is a second year Criminal and Social Justice student at Okanagan College.  He ran for student representative on the Board of Governors because students need a strong voice in this position and he believes he is a strong voice.  He is progessively valued and understands student issues and student needs and will make sure their voice is heard at the table.


Term: November 1, 2011 to October 31, 2012

Tom Styffe (Vice Chair) is semi-retired after a career in construction project management that spanned more than three decades. His work included projects ranging from the $25-million New Westminster campus of Douglas College to schools, hospitals, commercial projects and more than 1,000 units of residential construction.

He’s serving his second term as an Alternate Director for the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and has been active in municipal and provincial politics, including serving as a councillor for Logan Lake.

He is a graduate of the Construction Management program at Douglas College and has taken courses at Vancouver Community College and BCIT. He’s an active member in the Southern Interior Local Government Association, the Union of BC Municipalities, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Term: December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2012

Loretta Swite-Ghostkeeper is a member of the Westbank First Nation; she sits as a councillor for the Chief and Council.  Loretta graduated from Okanagan Collge's Civil Engineering Technology Program in 2001.  She is Chair of the School District #23's Aboriginal Education Committee.




Term: September 30, 2011 to July 31, 2014