Board of Directors
Jaime Harpe is the President TJs Clearing Ltd, which her husband founded in 2000. Jaime, a member of the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, grew up in the community and is fluent in the Dene Language. She sees in a strong and growing NAABA the opportunity to strengthen our communities and to help all community members achieve success. Jaime has been a board member of the Sekweha Youth Centre and of the Fort McMurray Native Youth Hockey. She envisions a strong and growing organization, one that gives opportunities to strengthen our communities and helps all community members achieve success. Jaime, along with her husband and their five children, believe in the importance of keeping Aboriginal traditions and culture alive.
Mike’s family is from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mike is a first-generation business owner. His drive and initiative has built Derantech into a major force, providing mechanical services in a 100,000-square-foot facility in Nisku. He also runs an innovative and successful apprenticeship development program that has been adopted by companies as far away as Mongolia. Mike has served on numerous boards, including three years on the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum Board of Directors where he promoted Indigenous youth in trades across Canada. He is also the recipient of two awards from RARA as well as from Keyano College and, in 2016, from Alberta Industry Training as Top Employer of Indigenous people. Among other work on behalf of the Indigenous community in Canada and the U.S., Mike founded the Pathways Gathering, an Indigenous Youth for Trades Conference held in Edmonton to bring together local Indigenous companies, government bodies, educators and most importantly, Indigenous youth from across Canada.
Mitch Mercredi is member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) and the Business Development Manager of Acden, a multidisciplinary corporation owned by the ACFN. Born and raised in Fort Chipewyan, he now calls Fort McMurray home along with his beautiful and talented wife Crystal and three children. He proudly represents the 19 companies and over 2,000 employees who share a dedication to the land, people and traditions, and through consultation with industry and government strive for a sustainable, ethical and prosperous future. Mitch was on the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association Board as Director and past President from 2011 to 2015 and is happy to be back to serve its members. His Aboriginal culture is very important to him, learning both Dene and Cree traditional ways of life. He volunteers his time in the Aboriginal Entrepreneur Program at Father Patrick Mercredi High School, Wood Buffalo Native Youth Hockey Club and the Fort McMurray Minor Hockey Association. He is passionate about promoting the beauty of the Aboriginal culture and promoting Aboriginal businesses and entrepreneurs within our Region.
Travis Drew is a proud member of Miawpukek First Nation at Conne River. During his youth Travis was heavily involved in sports including basketball, volleyball and badminton, transforming into a love of squash and golf. Travis’ childhood experiences are the source of his deep passion for helping others and improving the world around him. Relocating to Fort McMurray in 2004, Travis soon became a Quality Assurance Specialist, acting in various inspection, advisory, and management roles. Throughout his career Travis has been intimately involved with dozens of complex projects, delivering innovative solutions to increase efficiency, profitability, and overall quality. Leveraging this diverse skill-set, in 2018 Travis joined Wright Quality Services as President and CEO, a company specializing in non-destructive testing, nurturing it from just 6 employees to over 100 by 2021. Travis is also Chairman of the Weaving Root Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to enhancing Indigenous wellness throughout Canada. In their personal time Travis and his wife love to cheer on their children at a multitude of sporting events across Alberta.
Leona was born and raised in Fort Chipewyan. She is a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation. She attended and graduated from Bishop Piche School in Fort Chipewyan. She also completed her Early Childhood Development Certificate and Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Certificate at the same time obtaining a Personal Achievement award on both. Leona worked with the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) producing a local newspaper. She worked with Seniors as a Coordinator, with both FCSS and her band, Mikisew Cree First Nation. She also worked with children at Chip Child Development, as a Bus driver, Instructor and Director. For 23 years she submitted local community reports to CBC Radio in Yellowknife. While working her regular daytime jobs, she also started a janitorial company working with various companies in Fort Chipewyan including: Alberta Forestry, Canada Post, RCMP, MWB and the Northern.
Lloyd is President and co-owner of A.P.E. Maintenance Ltd., a 100% Aboriginal-owned local company that supplies oilfield construction, maintenance and transport services. Originally from Fort Chipewyan, Lloyd worked for Syncrude for 16 years prior to starting A.P.E. Maintenance in 2008. A Full Member of NAABA since 2008, Lloyd is enthusiastic in his support of the association’s goals, initiatives, and future endeavours. An avid outdoorsman, Lloyd enjoys boating, fishing, snowmobiling, and spending time with his wife and two children at their cabin on the Athabasca River.
Robyn Villebrun is a local First Nation Female Entrepreneur of Treaty 8. She is the President of Medika North Inc. – a Northern Alberta Indigenous Health Service Company. The company was built on passion for Health and the care of the dynamic workforce here in Northern Alberta. Medika North’s services range from: supporting employers in occupational health testing, customized health projects such as Emergency Services, Pandemic Planning, Medical Clinic builds and Medical Staffing Solutions.
Robyn Villebrun an Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Member and local to the RMWB is a Baccalaureate Degree Registered Nurse from the University of Alberta, and a Certified Occupational Health Nurse from MacEwan University. Robyn is from the communities of Fort Smith NWT & Fort Chipewyan, Alberta – currently residing in Fort McMurray Alberta. She is raising her two children – a 14-year-old daughter who is excelling in school and has been an honor roll student since elementary, and a 7-year-old son who is an avid hockey player.
Robyn is currently on the board with the Northern Lights Health Foundation, and a huge community supporter in supporting Fort McMurray’s only hospital – with yearly donations. She volunteers within the community and is a huge promoter for Indigenous education – her company recently donated $20,000.00 to Post-Secondary Education for local Indigenous Students.
Raised traditionally by her grandparents, Robyn comes with traditional values and aligning them with western values – she states this brings a sense of balance of who she is and how her company operates successfully.
Robyn Villebrun an Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Member and local to the RMWB is a Baccalaureate Degree Registered Nurse from the University of Alberta, and a Certified Occupational Health Nurse from MacEwan University. Robyn is from the communities of Fort Smith NWT & Fort Chipewyan, Alberta – currently residing in Fort McMurray Alberta. She is raising her two children – a 14-year-old daughter who is excelling in school and has been an honor roll student since elementary, and a 7-year-old son who is an avid hockey player.
Robyn is currently on the board with the Northern Lights Health Foundation, and a huge community supporter in supporting Fort McMurray’s only hospital – with yearly donations. She volunteers within the community and is a huge promoter for Indigenous education – her company recently donated $20,000.00 to Post-Secondary Education for local Indigenous Students.
Raised traditionally by her grandparents, Robyn comes with traditional values and aligning them with western values – she states this brings a sense of balance of who she is and how her company operates successfully.
Anthony Punko was born in Fort Smith, NWT and has lived most of his years there alongside various small Indigenous communities in Northern Alberta. Anthony currently works as a firefighter and primary care paramedic with one of the oilsands companies for over 21 years. Anthony began his career pursuing work in the trades as a journeyman HET. He then left the trades to become an office manager with the FMFN; he then returned to the trades with Syncrude Canada Ltd. before becoming a full-time firefighter and PCP now with over 21 years of experience. Anthony has volunteered with numerous organizations such as minor hockey, minor baseball, Fort McMurray Army Cadets, the Winter and the Summer games, and as an Auxiliary with the RCMP. Most recently, he founded and continues to grow his company, Emergency Decon Solutions Ltd. Anthony strives to help new business owners overcome challenges in starting and growing their business, as well as helping current business in the region work together.
Board Advisors
Robert Stone, CPA, CA, is a Partner and Business Advisor in MNP’s Fort McMurray office. Drawing on more than 16 years of experience, Robert delivers a full suite of assurance and accounting services to help owner-managers achieve their goals. A trusted advisor, Robert assists clients with tax planning and compliance and financial statement forecasting and consults on all aspects of operating a business. He is experienced with numerous industries, including the real estate, oilfield service, auto dealership, electrical, surveying and professional services sectors. Robert gets to know clients so he can deliver customized solutions designed to help them advance their businesses to the next level of success. Robert received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Acadia University in 2000 and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in 2004. He has served as director and treasurer for the Local HERO Foundation and the Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and as director and finance committee member for the Northern Lights Health Foundation.
Board of Directors Opportunity
Help Support and Shape the Direction of NAABA – Join the Board of Directors
The Opportunity:
NAABA is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board consists of a minimum of (3) and no more than (9) Member Directors, each holding office for a term of three years. At the AGM 2021, (3) Director positions will become available for the Board of Directors for which the organization will begin accepting nominations as of August 1, 2022.
Qualifications/Eligibility
- Any individual seeking election must be present at the Annual General Meeting, scheduled September 27, 2022 at 4:00pm
- To qualify as a Member Director a person shall:
- Have attained 18 years of age
- Be a shareholder, director, officer or employee of a Full Member and
- Be a Member Representative
- “Member Representative” is defined as an Aboriginal person who is a shareholder, director, officer or employee of a Full Member and is appointed by that Full Member to represent the Member for all purposes of NAABA including serving on the Board, voting as a proxy or attending meeting.
- “Full Member” is defined as an Aboriginal Business, carrying on its business in the Wood Buffalo Region which meets the qualifications of membership as set out in the NAABA bylaws at Article 6 and has been approved by the Board as a Full Member
Participation Benefits
- Share your knowledge, skills, and experience in business as a way of giving back to the local Indigenous business community.
- Be a driving force in uniting the voices of Indigenous Business in the Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo Region.
- Level the economic playing field for Indigenous businesses through policy development and implementation
- Contribute to a stronger Indigenous business presence in the region, supporting the capacity building of business, senior leaders, and employees.
- Advocate for reconciliation specifically in the economic activities of our region.
- Leverage your experience, knowledge and connections to grow and strengthen the network of businesses and individuals who support and honor Indigenous business.
Responsibilities
Subject to the provisions of the organization’s bylaws, the Administration, Management, Control of the Affairs, Property, Business and Finds of NAABA are vested in the Board.
Specific responsibilities of individual Board members include the following.
- Participate in and contribute to the decisions of the Board;
- Attend scheduled meetings, workshops, planning sessions and events;
- Be respectful of and actively support the processes and administration of Board meetings;
- Actively listen and bring forward those views and concerns of NAABA Board members and other stakeholders that directly relate to the objectives and goals of NAABA;
- Be familiar with Board policies and procedures, reports and meeting agendas in order to participate fully in Board business;
- Participate in the development and approval of NAABA’s Strategic Plan;
- Provide information to the public that creates a positive profile for NAABA and enables the public to connect with appropriate service areas and resources within NAABA; Communicate NAABA goals, objectives, initiatives, and decisions made by the Board, effectively to internal and external stakeholders with one united Board voice
- Act honestly and in good faith in the best interests of NAABA;
- Keep informed of the work and activities of NAABA and the Board and changes in the environment in which NAABA is operating;
- Understand NAABA’s current strengths and needs by offering constructive advice to address these for both short and long term solutions;
- Monitor and regularly assess NAABA’s performance to ensure that it reflects the vision, mission, values and beliefs of NAABA;
- To participate in Board training to ensure regular education of their roles and responsibilities
- To sit on a least one NAABA Standing Committee during the length of term
Skills/Knowledge/Experience
- A willingness and desire to engage in and participate in regular Board Meetings, Committee Meetings and Governance Discussions
- Governance experience or a desire to learn and understand the role of a Governance Board (Previous Board experience is an asset)
- The ability to collaborate and bring people together
- Problem solving and development of strategic plans to move the mission and vision of the organization forward
- Creativity
- Ability to communicate openly and willingly with staff and fellow Board members
- Experience engaging in the Indigenous Business Community
- Experience working in the Oilsands
- A desire to ask questions and seek out answers/solutions