STAFF BIOS
Championing trades and technology as a career choice for Canadians
Championing trades and technology as a career choice for Canadians
Cory Robertson, Program Manager
Cory is a Registered Forest Technologist with over 20 years of experience in natural resource management. He is an experienced facilitator, presenter, and mentor with a proven ability to empathize with clients and motivate them towards achieving their goals. Cory has recently enjoyed a successful career change into employment case management and is able to use his strong interpersonal skills to effectively assist a variety of clients with their needs assessments, return to work action plans, funding applications, and job search objectives.
Gerry Deane, Trades Consultant
Gerry received his Millwright Red Seal certification in 1981 where he was indentured as an apprentice with the Institute of Ocean Sciences on Vancouver Island. Since that time he has worked in a variety of industries including mining, forestry, oil and gas and several commercial institutions. In 2010 he received his Provincial Instructor Diploma from Vancouver Community College and hopes to eventually work as a millwright instructor. While working for CITAC he has continued his education and is now a certified Essential Skills Practioner and is in the application stage of becoming a Certified Career Development Practioner. These newly acquired skills along with his knowledge of industry, trades and the apprenticeship system enables him to help our clients make their best career choice. Helping people reach their goals and begin a career in the trades is where Gerry and the CITAC team find their reward.
Norman Humphrey, Trades Consultant - Older Worker Initiative
Norm Humphrey has been with CITAC since it's inception in March of 2008, administering the Targeted Initiative Older Worker Program (TIOW) before the rest of the CITAC crew came on board. Norm is an Auto Mechanic, certified in Europe and Canada. Norm was previously employed with the Apprenticeship Commission, guiding apprentices through to trade certification and assisting trades people through the process to challenge trade certification exams. Norm brings more than 30 years experience working in the trades.
Wesley Francois, Trades Consultant
Wes is a proud member of the Secwepemc Nation and specifically hails from Skwlax or Little Shuswap Indian Band. As a member of Chief and Council for 12 years from 1996-2008, he has acquired the skills that are required to be a trades consultant with the Central Interior Trades & Apprenticeship Centre. The portfolios that he held during his tenure as councilor for the Little Shuswap Indian Band were education, housing and economic development which influenced his current skill set today. Early in his tenure he advocated for the trades to take place for community members while his community built many homes for the members. The members had an excellent opportunity to participate in a career stream through the trades while building homes for members of the Little Shuswap Indian Band.
Helen Poss, Trades Consultant- Older Worker Initiative
Helen Poss is very excited to be working with CITAC as a Trades Consultant with the Older Worker Initiative. Helen has a BSc in Agriculture specializing in Rural Sociology and has recently completed the Career Facilitator Program at Okanagan College. Helen lived and worked in Asia for 12 years and taught English as a Second Langauge and immersion kindergarten. Helen has worked in Employment Services for more than 3 years since her return to Canada. Helen loves working with people and providing them with relevant information to help them make informed decisions about future employment opportunities.
Jody Nuttall, Resource Centre Coordinator
Jody is a BC certified Career Development Practitioner with ten years of experience helping others make effective career decisions. Her role at CITAC is to assist clients and staff in locating information and understanding the labour market.
Aurora Paz-Manongdo, Administrative Assistant
Aurora assists the Program Manager, Trades Consultants and Resource Centre Coordinator making sure everything runs smoothly. She ensures that all the accounting that affects CITAC participants and vendors is done in a timely fashion. Her education is in business and marketing. Aurora believes in diversity and inclusion and she has a passion for helping and advocating for people to meet their goals. She enjoys working with the staff and clients of CITAC.
