Community Futures Wood Buffalo is a community driven, non-profit organization that is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Board is made up of local business people who bring extensive knowledge and experience of the area’s economy. Our Board members represent our region’s population and main economic sectors. The role of the Board is to establish our organization’s priorities, monitor our performance, and be accountable to key stakeholders, such as local, provincial and federal governments.
BOARD CRITERIA
Authority
The Board of Directors is the legal authority for Community Futures Wood Buffalo. As a member of the Board, a Director acts in a position of trust and is responsible to provide governance for Community Futures Wood Buffalo.
Responsibility
The Board of Directors acts of behalf of the citizens of the community. They have the principal responsibility for establishing the mission and goals of Community Futures Wood Buffalo, to provide leadership in accordance with the mandate of the Community Futures program. The Board of Directors governs through policy making. They delegate the authority to carry out the mission and goals to the Executive Director.
Responsibilities of the Board Director:
- Understand and demonstrate commitment to achieve goals
- Contribute of yourself, participate and ask questions
- Keep informed, prepare for and attend all meetings
- Participate in board development activities
- Be informed and support Community Futures Wood Buffalo’s effort and activities
- Represent Community Futures Wood Buffalo at various events and functions
- Understand and monitor the finances
- Monitor legal and regulation aspects
- Exercise good faith and uphold board decisions
Requirements
Directors are required to:
- Be committed to the work of Community Futures Wood Buffalo
- Be eighteen years of age or older
- Reside in the region
- Have knowledge and/or experience in one or more of the following areas: education, industry, small business, government, labour, nonprofit organizations or involvement in the community
- Report and declare any real or perceived conflict of interest
Duties of the Board of Directors
- Promoting the objects of the Corporation
- Hiring an Executive Director to operate the Corporation
- Maintaining, monitoring and protecting the Corporation’s assets and property
- Approving an annual budget for the Corporation
- Investing the funds of the Corporation
- Oversee the financing of the operations of the Corporation and borrowing or raising monies
- Making policies for managing and operating the Corporation
- Approving all contracts for the Corporation
- Ensuring maintenance of all accounts and financial records of the Corporation
- Appointing auditors, accountants or legal counsel as necessary
- Selling, disposing of, or mortgaging any or all the property of the Corporation
- Investment Review
If you are nterested in becoming a board member or committee volunteer, click here. Please contact us and we’ll be happy to answer any questions.
Jason Vargo
Board Chair
Jason has lived in Fort McMurray since 1974. He graduated from SAIT in Calgary with a diploma in Aviation in 1995, and joined the family car dealership business where he worked for over 20 years. Since they sold the family business in 2015, he began working as a local residential and commercial Mortgage Broker, in addition to being a commercially rated pilot. A past member of the Rotary Club and the Fort McMurray Flying Club, he enjoys helping out with many school activities and his daughters’ competitive dance team.
Elizabeth La
Board Member
Bill MacLennan
Treasurer
Shellene Dirk
Vice Chair
Dan Rorke
Board Member
Senay Yemane
Board Member
Lisa Sweet
Board Member
Lisa Sweet
Director, Business & Investment Attraction
Wood Buffalo Economic Development Corporation
Lisa Sweet has spent almost a decade promoting economic growth and sustainability in Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo region. As the Director of Business & Investment Attraction for the Wood Buffalo Economic Development Corporation, it is her responsibility to promote the region’s opportunities to new investors.
Cori Flett
Board Member
Corie Flett, has lived in the community of Fort McMurray since 1995. She graduated law school from the University of Alberta and began practising law in the RMWB in 2010. She is a Partner and owner of the law firm Muessle Flett Law. She has volunteered previously with the Northern Lights Health Foundation and Fort McMurray Airport Authority and is serving her first term as a Bencher with the Law Society of Alberta.
Matt Pate
Board Member
Matt Pate CFP, RRC, B.Mgmt
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT, IG WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Matt Pate has lived in Fort McMurray since 2008 after graduating from the University of Alberta with a Business Management Degree. He began his business with IG Wealth Management in 2010 and earned his Certified Financial Planning Designation in 2014 and continues to develop and service his clientele. He has been involved with the local Rotary clubs in a variety of facets and is currently in the role of Area Governor providing support to the local clubs, linking them to district resources.
