Our Team

Owner and operator of a consulting practice for 12 years, she works with the Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Interior First Nations in Kamloops, providing business recovery and financial literacy support to entrepreneurs. For the past decade, she has also worked with the First Nations Market Housing Fund, a federal housing initiative to support and enhance individual homeownership throughout On Reserve lands across Canada. For the past two years, Gail has supported Indigenous tourism businesses throughout BC as project manager of various non-repayable grants delivered by ITBC. She is now the Capacity Building and Resilience Manager, with a focus on the development and implementation of capacity building programs, tools, and resources to support recovery for the Indigenous tourism sector.

Jordie Johnson | Sxoxomic is of Secwepemc decent, born and raised in Esk’etemc First Nation.  He has more than ten years experience working in corporate communications and community engagement.  Jordie has a great appreciation for Indigenous languages and protocols throughout the province and beyond.

Jordie holds a BA in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University, and a diploma in Sports Management from Thompson Rivers University.

Jordie worked more than eight years with the First Nations Health Authority, developing provincial wellness initiatives and supporting corporate communications.

Sally was born in Hong Kong and has resided in Greater Vancouver since 1993. Sally is dedicated to financial accounting, with four years of work experience in the public practice and over twelve years of accounting experience in the hospitality industry. Sally supports the protection and promotion of Indigenous cultures.

Jessie Penner is of Onyota’a:ka (Oneida) and European descent and was born and raised in Ontario on traditional Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lunaapeewak and Attawandaron Lands. She has eight years of experience working in Indigenous and education strategy, with a focus on capacity and relationship building. Jessie holds a BA in Social Development Studies from University of Waterloo, specializing in Cultural Diversity, and a Master of Library and Information Science from University of British Columbia.

Caroline comes from the Ahousaht Nation and Katzie Nation, Caroline has immersed herself in the realm of Indigenous tourism management and operation since 2009. With a fervent dedication to fostering collaboration between indigenous artists and entrepreneurs, she channels her passion through various platforms. Caroline is a pivotal figure in Canoe Cultures, Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, and the Four Fires Festival, including her involvement in the International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards

Kerry is a graduate of the School of Communication and Culture at Royal Roads University (BAPC). She teaches Communication and Digital Marketing as part of the Foundations in Innovation and Technology Certificate Program for Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, BC’s Indigenous public post-secondary institute. At Indigenous Tourism BC, she looks to share stories that contribute to Indigenous personal, social, and economic development.

Leah Kerekes is of Six Nations Mohawk (Turtle Clan) and Lenape heritage. With seven years of experience in digital marketing for small businesses and five years of experience in small business management, she lends her  knowledge to support other Indigenous entrepreneurs as a digital marketing consultant. A-graduate of Jelly Academy’s Digital Marketing program,  Leah also studied Strategic Online Marketing at BCIT.

(Kristina) Monica Guerra is a communications professional with over a decade of experience in public relations, communications strategy, marketing, and business development in the Philippines and Singapore.

She previously supported the Immigrant Employment Council of BC and Totem Media, a Vancouver-based digital marketing agency, doing client management, content development, and social media management. Monica holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Communications from the University of the Philippines and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management from BCIT. Her writing work has been featured in several magazines in the Philippines as a published writer.

As a proud member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, Wendy has spent two decades in the food and beverage industry, with ten years in managerial roles where she focused on the professional development of her team. Her dedication to creating supportive and inclusive environments has been instrumental in her past successes, and we are confident that she will bring the same level of commitment and excellence to our team.

In her new role, Wendy will work closely with Indigenous communities, cultural leaders, and tourism businesses to develop and promote unique and authentic Indigenous tourism experiences. Her extensive background in team building, customer relations, and operational excellence makes her a valuable addition to our team.

Dana’s involvement Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) began in 2005 when she first managed the development of the Stakeholder marketing program through Blue Ice Communications. Dana is the ITBC marketing lead and collaborates with Stakeholders and the marketing team to promote Indigenous tourism experiences.

London was born in Winnipeg and grew up in Vancouver. She has experience developing small businesses, relationship-based sales and educational outreach. She has built professional networks with post-secondary schools and trade organizations in the residential homebuilding industry, focused on removing barriers for underrepresented groups to receive training opportunities. Her creative background as an artist and creator brings a storytelling focus to her work. You’ll find her hiking, dancing and painting in her free time.

Darnell Stager is an Urban Indigenous man, born and raised in Vancouver. He proudly identifies as Ts’msyen from Kitsumkalum and S’tat’imc from Lil’Wat First Nation. Darnell is committed to promoting and sharing Indigenous culture with others and believes a vibrant experience awaits every curious visitor.

With a strong passion for facilitating meaningful encounters, Darnell has made it his mission to support Indigenous Stakeholders and their goals to create captivating Indigenous experiences. His approach, founded in a solution-based mindset, has developed over 15 years of experience in the restaurant industry, including his role as the General Manager of Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro.

Darnell’s unique blend of Indigenous heritage, extensive restaurant industry knowledge, and dedication to sharing Indigenous culture makes him a valuable resource for Indigenous tourism operators interested in creating authentic cultural experiences for visitors.

Chatman Shaw was born and raised in Prince Rupert, BC, and is a member of the Nisga’a Nation community of Gitlaxt’aamiks. Chatman moved to Vancouver in 2005 to earn his degree in Business Administration, focusing on strategic management. With 15 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, Chatman brings a dynamic skillset with a wealth of experience in digital innovation, customer experience, and project management to ITBC.

Deanna is a graduate of Royal Roads University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management. With a depth of experience in business operations and strategy, and a knack for making the world of social media accessible (and enjoyable!), Deanna supports ITBC Stakeholders to max­i­mize their business’s online pres­ence and impact, helping them grow their brand awareness and dri­ve sales. As Social Media Manager, she leads the charge in digital storytelling about the province’s rich Indigenous past and present, creating a future of empowered Indigenous economies and informed tourists who feel more connected to the roots of the province as they experience it through travel. 

Jamie worked for a wealth management company for two decades before entering the tourism industry in 2020. A graduate of the Tourism and Professional Development program at Okanagan College, Jamie joined the ITBC team in early 2021, contributing to the team as Indigenous Coordinator, Training and Development, and as Indigenous Tourism Resiliency Program Advisor. 

Jamie works to assist Indigenous communities in the Thompson Okanagan region to support Indigenous individuals and businesses develop the skills, abilities, and tools to offer market-ready tourism products, programs, and services. She supports Indigenous organizations and communities through information–marketing business skills and training programs in Indigenous economic and business development efforts in order to promote Indigenous culture, products, and services. · Jamie believes that Indigenous-led cultural tourism can balance socio-economic development for Indigenous people and communities.

As a Corporate Services Coordinator at ITBC, Paisley plays a key role in supporting the organization’s operations and strategic initiatives, specifically the Indigenous Tourism Training Initiative.

Henry holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Simon Fraser University and is a graduate of the accounting program at University of British Columbia. Henry began his career with a Chartered Accounting firm and has served Tourism British Columbia as Controller for British Columbia Magazine and Aboriginal Tourism Development. In his current role as the Chief Financial Officer for ITBC, Henry draws on his experience as a Chartered Professional Accountant, (CPA), Certified General Accountant (CGA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) to provide strategic leadership for finance and corporate services.