Piinaakoyim-“Seen From Afar” Tailfeathers - is a proud member of the Blood Tribe, belonging to the Siksikaitsitapiiksi of the Blackfoot Confederacy. He has a unique position, as he is both a business advisor with Tecconnect/EDL and a Business Strategist for Business Link Alberta and is also a valuable member of the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA). He has worked closely with hundreds of entrepreneurs across the province helping to build, grow and expand their businesses. . Piinaakoyim has established a strong network in Alberta and feels very fortunate to be able to access quality resources across multiple organizations to best serve his clients. Piinaakoyim earned his Bachelors degree from the Dhillon School of Business and also attained a post-graduate certificate from Harvard Business School specializing in Sustainable Business Strategies. Piinaakoyim has also earned a certificate in Emerging technologies, encompassing blockchain, data science, and machine learning.

Eyren brings 10 years of Project Management and planning experience with a focus on education, government funded programs and benevolence based NPOs to his role as Entrepreneur Program Manager at Tecconnect. As our intake advisor and client case manager, he also excels at Operations Management, Design & Creative Media, Business Development, Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, and Proposal Writing. Eyren's Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on Marketing & Management and his 4 years working with Small Business BC, a provincial resource centre in the Canada Business Network as well as time with the National Advertising Benevolence Society, provides his broad scope of knowledge and capabilities in various disciplines and industries.

Suzanne Ebelher, CMC, CPHR, MBA, is the Principal and Managing Director of Mission Ignite Management Consulting. Suzanne has over 20 years of experience assisting business owners on a variety of topics such as strategic planning, change management, financing, business planning, team facilitation, project management, everything HR and business process improvement. She has a strong understanding of supports available for Alberta entrepreneurs and loves to dive deep to source strategic solutions for clients. Suzanne works collaboratively with her clients to help facilitate decision making and business improvements by providing the necessary support documentation, policies, processes, tools and plans in order to achieve their desired goals and vision of success. Before her career in management consulting, Suzanne grew up in Medicine Hat, AB, spending many summers at the family farm in SK. In her spare time she volunteers with Cochrane Humane Society and CPHR Alberta, she loves to garden, golf and is a newbie bee-keeper.

Wendy Muise, MBA(c), CITP(c), is the Head Of Strategy of Ground Floor Labs. Wendy has always been an entrepreneur and loves the ability to spend time helping others with their businesses. With a background in tech and innovation start-ups, Wendy has been apart of a team that took a product from an idea to IPO and a $121 million market valuation. Spending the last ten years focusing on strategic practices in entrepreneurship, Wendy has worked in communities during disaster recovery supporting existing and new entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. Wendy believes the best way to learn is through a supportive environment and will give you guidance and the tools you need to help with your next steps. As someone who has been working to support rural communities across the country, Wendy takes the time to ensure you’re plan matches your resources to ensure you achieve the goals set out. Wendy has worked in the entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development spaces across Canada. Most notably working with entrepreneurs in Wood Buffalo during the Wildfire Economic Recovery and winning an Impact Award in Nova Scotia, in recognition of her efforts to create change and innovative economic impact in the community where she grew up.

Allyson Cikor, BFA, is the co-founder of the VR game and application studio Simulacrum Interactive and an instructor in the Lethbridge College’s Virtual & Augmented Reality and Multimedia Production programs. As an independent studio lead Allyson has experience with all parts of the pipeline from pre-production to release, having co-developed, produced, and published their first title Etherian in 2018. Though her background is primarily in game development, she is also works with local clients on projects utilizing VR and game industry technologies for enterprise applications. Working directly with cutting-edge technology and industry partners, Allyson’s research at the Lethbridge College is focused on developing and implementing technology-based solutions across multiple industries and creating new opportunities in the VR/AR space in Alberta. She is also a passionate community builder, annually hosting the Lethbridge sites of the Alberta Game Jam and Global Game Jam, a board member of Interactive Arts Alberta, and is currently working towards formalizing the Lethbridge Game Developer’s Guild.

Kris Fleckenstein has managed companies through twenty-plus acquisitions, restructuring, forbearance, and all sorts of scenarios entrepreneurs often find themselves in. After over fifteen years in industry, Kris moved back to Southern Alberta to focus his efforts on teaching, research, and consulting. Kris now teaches at the University of Lethbridge at the Dhillon School of Business while pursuing his doctorate in entrepreneurship. When he’s not teaching, Kris is taking part in a journey with one of his clients in whatever business challenge that is going on that day. Whether the business is challenged by cashflow management, getting products to market, or setting up overseas, Kris likely has the experience that may help. At the very least, Kris can help the client discover what is necessary to move forward. Kris has a Bachelor of Management, Masters in Business Administration, and Project Management Professional designation.

Roy Pogorzelski is Metis from Northern Saskatchewan with his families coming from the communities of Meadow Lake and Green Lake. Roy has a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous studies and a Bachelor of Human Justice from the University of Regina (U of R). He also holds a Masters of Science from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium and has started his PHD at the University of Lethbridge. Roy has vast work experience as an Inclusion Consultant for the City of Lethbridge, as a Director for the U of L and as an Instructor for the U of R, U of L and Selkirk College. Roy also is a co-owner of Good Times Comedy club and Pogo Bros Inc. and owns and operates RWP Consulting. Roy has vast expertise in Indigenous relations, community development, marketing, facilitation, leadership and working with not-for profit. Roy is an avid volunteer sitting on many boards and committees nationally, provincially and locally and has also facilitated sessions internationally, nationally, provincially and locally.

Tim Rempel is a serial entrepreneur who is particularly well versed in the Lethbridge and Southern Alberta ecosystem. With 30 years of business experience behind him, Tim has a broad range of skills and expertise. He has owned and managed a number of operations including Total Communications, a Rogers Wireless dealership that had 6 different locations in both Lethbridge and Calgary; Lethbridge Living magazine and its associated publishing house that saw the publication of approximately 25 projects/year; and multiple Booster Juice franchises for the past 13 years. Tim has been providing consulting services for the past 10 years, and sharing his experience in business analysis and continuity, change management, franchising, leadership, marketing and promotions, with entrepreneurs throughout our area. Tim grew up in Vauxhall and moved to Lethbridge to undertake studies at Lethbridge College 32 years ago. When he isn’t working on his businesses he is actively involved as the President of the Canadian Association of Rocketry, and can often be found hiking or camping in our nearby Rocky Mountains.

Leslie Warren, has a BSc, major in Food and Nutrition, University of Alberta, and a Certificate in Economic Development and numerous related courses from the University of Waterloo. With a very keen interest in Community and Economic Development, and being a bit of a job/career nomad, Leslie has developed many skills, including project management, research, partnership development, business support, rural development and grant writing. Leslie has worked as an Economic Development Officer/Specialist in rural Alberta, assisted non-profit organizations, provided tourism research and contract work to post secondary institutions, and provided guidance to social enterprises. As a Business Advisor at Tecconnect, Leslie is very interested in assisting small businesses in their establishment, growth and success, resulting in a strengthened business landscape. Leslie lives on a farm and continues to be the chief bookkeeper for the company.