Meet the Administrative Team

Since 1991 John has worked at Okanagan College in the Motor Vehicle Trades Department where he instructed Automotive Service Technician apprentices and served as Chairperson for the department. In addition, as a Program Coordinator, John was responsible for the design and implementation of many industry partnership and contract training programs for the Faculty.

Prior to joining OC, John's career path was exclusively in Automotive Dealership businesses (General Motors, Honda and Acura) where he worked as an apprentice, technician, partsperson and extensively as a manager in the Parts and Service Departments. John was instrumental in setting up one of the first and most successful Acura Dealership Parts and Service Departments in Western Canada.

E-mail: jhaller@okanagan.bc.ca

Prior to becoming the Associate Dean, Randy worked as a Program Coordinator and taught in the Provincial Carpentry Apprenticeship and Entry Level Training Carpentry/Joinery programs in the Construction Trades Department at OC.

Prior to joining OC, Randy owned and operated a residential construction company, and a steep roofing company where he attained the level of Certified Residential Builder and "A" level with the New Home Warranty Program of BC.

E-mail: rwerger@okanagan.bc.ca

As of March 2003, the college became responsible to solely manage the apprenticeship schedule and promote and recruit apprentices for various levels of apprenticeship training.

Pat joined our team in March 2003 and was responsible to open and manage our first Apprenticeship Office.

Pat's background includes 24 years of dedicated experience managing various apprenticeship and trades programs for the public sector.  Pat offers demonstrated leadership in new program development along with extensive experience in consultation with employers and apprenticeship clients.

Pat's knowledge of the regions industries, demographics, economy and labour markets was instrumental in identifying new opportunities which have significantly increased our apprenticeship program offerings at Okanagan College.

E-mail: pdandeneau@okanagan.bc.ca

Nancy Ankerstein, comes to Okanagan College with an extensive background in Administration working for organizations such as the University of Alberta, Province of BC and Kootenay Lake District Hospital. The last 15 years prior to starting at OC Nancy worked in the Employment field where she instructed and coordinated various job seeking programs one of which was in the area of retail/hospitality for youth. She received her Provincial Instructor’s Diploma in 1995 and obtained her designation as a Certified Program Planner in 2008. 

Nancy has been with the Okanagan College, Trades and Apprenticeship, since December 2005. During this time, she was instrumental in designing and administrating such programs as the Gateway to the Building Trades for Women, Aboriginal Gateway to the Building Trades, Residential Construction and the 6 month Saudi Arabia instructor training program with Canadian Bureau for International Education.

E-mail:  nankerstein@okanagan.bc.ca 

With 7 years University completed and 10 years experience in program design and development, Nancy brings a wealth of experience to Okanagan College. A seasoned local entrepreneur, Nancy has taught business and entrepreneurship privately to individuals and groups for the past 7 years in the BC Interior. Nancy has worked exclusively in the field of adult education for 12 years.

After moving from Calgary in 1999, Nancy worked as a Community Economic Development Project Manager for the Central Okanagan region. In 2005 Nancy became the Campus Director for a Private Post-Secondary Institution. In this role, Nancy was responsible for all aspects of operations of a satellite campus. 

In 2006 Nancy made the shift from private to public post-secondary education and joined Okanagan College as the Programs Administrator for Trades and Apprenticeship. Nancy currently works in the South Okanagan Similkameen region.

E-mail:  ndarling@okanagan.bc.ca

Dianne started with OC in April of 2004 and joined the Trades & Apprenticeship Team in 2006.  Dianne coordinates and promotes Trades Events, maintains the Trades website and provides  administrative, marketing and secretarial support to the department along with the Trades Program Advisory Committees.    

She has a background in Telecommunications, Customer Service, Office Administration, Computer Technologies and Training.  

E-mail:  dholm@okanagan.bc.ca