Lori Camire

Director and General Manager
Lori Camire is a Director and the General Manager of Venture Connect. She is also the Executive Director of a Community Futures Office. Lori has managed a division of Community Futures since September 1997. Before this, she held supervisory and management positions with the Federal Government for close to 20 years. She has held the position of Island Coastal Community Futures Manager Representative, for 5 years.

In addition, Lori has also been involved with family business operations. She has an intimate knowledge of what goes into the planning and execution of a business transition plan.

Jaclyn Buttle

Executive Assistant

Jaclyn is an experienced Administrative Professional. She started her career in the Health and Safety industry in 2009 working in Northern Alberta. In 2017, she identified a gap in the market so started her own business. In addition, she is currently the Business Administrator for the NP-Alberta Mine Safety Association.

She joined Venture Connect in 2018 where she is responsible for Venture Connect’s website, accounting, customer inquiries, marketing material and day to day operation.

With her experience with non-profits and administration Jaclyn also joined Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot as their Executive Assistant.

Darrell Goertzen

Business Advisor
After 25 years in a business career as an entrepreneur, business owner, and corporate manager, Darrell joined the Venture Connect team in 2012. Since then he has worked with hundreds of business owners throughout BC, helping them prepare their business for a sale.

As a Business Advisor he provides guidance, market understanding, peace of mind and better outcomes to business sellers and buyers. In addition to his work with Venture Connect Darrell is the Business Advisor for the BC Business Match.

Arnold Harasymchuk

Business Advisor
Arnold Harasymchuk is a Director of BMC Business Management Consultants Ltd. Prior to retirement he worked 27 years in economic development at various positions in all three levels of government. In his career as a public servant, his focus had been to assist businesses and communities with economic development and community development related initiatives. Arnold managed numerous development and strategic projects on behalf of the Province and has facilitated a variety of workshops.

Prior to government, he worked fifteen years at the management level in banking. Arnold is a current Director of Community Futures Strathcona and past Director of Vancouver Island Economic Alliance.He presently works as a business consultant with an international immigration firm where he assists clients accessing the Immigrant Entrepreneur component of the Provincial Nominee Program. Personal entrepreneurial experience includes tourism, farming and foreign investment.

Florie Varga

Chair
Community Futures Cowichan

Florie has more than 25 years' professional consulting and entrepreneurial experience. She openly offers her knowledge, skills, and tools to both clients and the organizations she supports.

Florie believes that what makes a creative life, business or career thrive is the passion that drives it - and aligning that passion with your unique style of personal leadership.

Allison Boulanger

Executive Director
Community Futures Powell River

Cathy Robertson

General Manager
Community Futures Cowichan

Cathy Robertson’s career experience spans many aspects of business. Since 2008 Cathy has been the General Manager of a division of Community Futures. In this role she oversees a range of community-based economic development projects and the small business lending program in addition to the day-to-day management of the organization.

Cathy has also been an associate in Cowichan Valley marketing firm and managed a wide variety of marketing programs for a number of diverse clients. For nearly 5 years Cathy was the Operations and Marketing Manager for both Cherry Point Vineyards and the Quw'utsun Cultural and Conference Centre, each owned by the Cowichan Tribes.

Lisa Daniels

Chair
Community Futures Powell River

Lisa Daniels has proven to be an enthusiastic and positive board member.  She enriches our board with her insightful knowledge to the agricultural community.

Lisa is an active member of our community, who is passionate about small business and sustainable agriculture. Lisa is the co-owner of Windfall Farm, a small family-run mixed farm located in Wildwood that produces the best certified organic garlic, poultry, range-reared pork and beef.

Lisa worked over 20 years for inclusion Powell River with Employment Services and the Better at Home program for seniors. In addition to volunteering with Community Futures, she is a Director for the Powell River Farmers’ Agricultural Institute and is a member of PR Women in Business.

Her commitment to growing a healthy community is evident as Lisa goes above and beyond to attend all local small business workshops, seminars, and networking events where she is a strong advocate for Community Futures.

Angela Smith

Chair
Community Futures Mt. Waddington

Angela Smith joined the Community Futures Mt. Waddington Board in July 2015. She was the Board Secretary before becoming Chair in 2017. Angela also sits on CFMW’s Loans Review Committee and the Self-Employment Program Committee. Angela’s experience and knowledge of Vancouver Island North is highly valued and useful within our organizational governance and planning. She owns and operates a small business which offers online and print marketing services to small businesses. Angela is currently working on her Bachelor of Professional Communication at Royal Roads University.

Riley Zimmerman

Executive Director
Community Futures Mount Waddington

Riley Zimmerman was born and raised on the north end of Vancouver Island (Port Hardy), and only left for a few years to get his Bachelor of Business Degree at Vancouver Island University. 

Riley has been a part of the Community Futures Mt. Waddington team since 2015. For his first six years with the organization Riley acted as a Business Analyst helping many clients start and expand their businesses. In 2021 Riley became the Executive Director Community Futures Mt. Waddington.