Carmen Andrew
Carmen is the Director of Rural Programming with Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development. The Alberta Agricultural Societies Program is one of the main projects in her portfolio, in addition to the Ag-Info Centre, Agri-News and other key agricultural recognition programs like the Century Farm and Ranch Award and Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Carmen is based out of the Stettler office, resides in the central Alberta village of Delburne and is active with her community and family.
Tannis Baker
Tannis brings her knowledge and experience of over 15 years working in beverage-alcohol to the culinary tourism industry at Food Tourism Strategies (FTS), an Alberta-based consulting firm with a passion for growing and sharing the local food scene. Tannis was appointed Executive Director of the Alberta Culinary Tourism Alliance in 2014 as a result of her leadership and deep experience in food marketing, wine and spirits, sales and education fields.
In 2015, Tannis was named 50 Most Influential Albertans by Alberta Venture Magazine. Previous to this, Tannis was project lead of market research on Food Marketing & Policy at the University of Calgary, and was Brown-Forman’s Director of Business Development for Western Canada. She is a sessional instructor for the hospitality program at Olds College, and sits on the Advisory Committee for the program. Alongside her FTS partner Rheannon Green, their programs have been nominated for and won several awards, including an Alto Award for Collaborative Marketing, and a Canadian Tourism Award for Best Culinary Experience.
Colin Gosselin
Colin Gosselin is the Sr. Project Coordinator for the Rural Programming Section at Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation. Colin has been focused on the agricultural societies program for the last several years, and has been involved with rural affairs more broadly for over 15 years.
He “keeps it rural” with his wife and two children in Lac Ste. Anne County, and is based out of the Department’s Stony Plain field office
Cameo Hanlon
Cameo is an honors graduate of the Alberta School of Business, as well as a former varsity basketball player for the University of Alberta Pandas. Cameo founded Best Marketing Co. in 2022, and since then has been working with organizations globally to elevate their marketing presences and present them to the world in the best possible light.
She currently lives in Edmonton, but spends much of her winters in Arizona escaping the cold & working on her golf game.
Ian Hill
Humanitarian, Business Leader, Award Winning Social Innovator, Professional Development Pioneer, and World Record Breaker; these are some of the words often used when referring to Ian Hill.
Today, Ian is CEO of the National Grassroots Media Corporation and its family of networks. These Digital TV networks reach into 87% households across Canada and the US, as well 4.1 billion mobile devices around the world.
Currently, Ian is attempting to set his 2nd world record by becoming the oldest man to play NCAA Division 1 college football in the US. This effort is to bring light to the alarming suicide rates in our communities. He just finished playing at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster California where he was the starting Longsnapper.
Ian is also known for his humanitarian effort, “Let Them Be Kids”, of which he is the founder and volunteer CEO. This initiative built 168 playgrounds, skate parks and fitness parks across Canada and the World Leisure Congress named the Let Them Be Kids program one of the foremost innovative social leisure programs in the world.
The National Council for Community and Justice and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, recognized Ian for his commitment to positive change, by naming Ian Humanitarian of the Year. Canadian Business legend, Harry Rosen, presented Ian with the Alder Business Leaders award, and he was nominated for the Prime Minister's “Social Innovator of the Year Award.
Eileen Kotowich
Farmers’ Market Specialist, Food Science & Development Section
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation - Government of Alberta
Eileen Kotowich is the provincial farmers’ market specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation and has worked with farmers’ markets since 2004. She works closely with the market managers, boards, sponsors and vendors to help clarify the Guidelines, and provide coaching on conflict resolution, market rules, bylaws and regulations. She sits on the Alberta Farmers’ Market Association board of directors as a non-voting ex officio advisor, helping them to achieve their goals as the voice of Alberta farmers’ markets. When not on a boat fishing in the summer, she can often be found visiting our approved markets throughout the province.
Monika Warring
I would like to introduce myself. My name is Monika Warring and I have been with the Government of Alberta for a little over 8 years. About 3 years ago I joined the Rural Policy and Programming Section as Grant Program Support. I process the Agricultural Societies Annual Grant and Annual Return applications and assist with the review of Bylaws.
Those are just a few of the many ways I am available to assist agricultural societies. I can be found in the Stony Plain Office of Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development. An original Eastern transplant I have lived in Alberta for over 30 years and currently live in the Lac Ste Anne County.
Brittany Miller
Brittany Miller is a dynamic social media & marketing consultant, speaker, and educator who empowers businesses and personal brands to navigate the complexities of social media with simplified, actionable strategies.
Since founding her consultancy and speaking business, Brittany has partnered with diverse industries—including healthcare, finance, travel, hospitality, non-profits, municipalities, and personal branding—guiding them through their digital marketing journeys. With over a decade of experience, she has transformed the online presence of more than 100+ clients worldwide, helping them shift from scattered and inconsistent to cohesive, memorable, and engaging—driving significant growth in visibility and audience engagement.
In her high-energy keynotes and training sessions, she combines storytelling, firsthand experiences, and impactful visuals to create clear roadmaps for standing out online. She also pulls from the latest trends and insights in the marketing world to help businesses & industries understand what works and where to adjust for maximum impact.
As a prolific content creator, Brittany shares insights on effective social media strategies and personal branding, consistently delivering value to business owners and service providers. Known for her engaging teaching style, she equips audiences with tools and practical strategies that yield measurable results, leaving them inspired and ready to elevate their online presence.
Karen Bergland
Karen says she has horticulture in her DNA. Growing up on Vancouver Island, her whole family gardened together. Karen is an Olds College grad, with a Diploma in Vegetable Production. For more than 30 years Karen’s community of Stony Plain has benefited from her horticultural skills- running a horticulture maintenance business, volunteering with the Stony Plain Horticultural Society, teaching a comprehensive school horticulture program, and exhibiting at local fairs. Karen also has a passion for photography. She takes photos at every fair she visits.
In 2016 Karen became an accredited horticulture judge through the Alberta Horticultural Association. As a board member, she took on the responsibility for coordinating the AHA Judging Program in 2019. Working with bench show convenors, Karen has enjoyed meeting amazing volunteers, travelling throughout Alberta, sharing experiences with fellow judges, and hearing many people’s gardening experiences and challenges. Karen is keen to share with you what she has learned.
Crystal Beland
Crystal Beland is an Information Specialist for the GAIN team at AGLC. She has an extensive background in the gaming industry, a certificate in Adult Education and a passion for training.
Crystal has been with AGLC for 13 years.
Dr. Jody Carrington
Renowned Psychologist | Human Connection Expert | Bestselling Author
Dr. Jody Carrington is a renowned psychologist and a charismatic keynote speaker celebrated for her profound expertise in human connections. As a leading authority in addressing complex, human-centered challenges, Dr. Carrington excels in guiding individuals and organizations through the intricacies of re-establishing relationships in today's increasingly disconnected society. She boldly believes that all humans have the capacity for good; however, so many of us these days, because of isolation and burnout, have lost access to that good.
Through her insightful analysis, Dr. Carrington explores how societal detachment occurs and outlines practical, meaningful solutions for reconnection. Her approach combines a deeper understanding of how necessary acknowledgment has become and she underscores how this need is so much bigger than recognition. Her dynamic and heartfelt presentations, infused with humor and honesty, captivate and energize audiences worldwide. She is the Founder and Principal Psychologist at Carrington & Company, she has served as a civilian member of Canada's national police force, the RCMP, and practiced with the most complex cases on a psychiatric inpatient unit. Dr. Jody's balance as a devoted practitioner and brilliant communicator result in an ability to authentically connect through impactful presentations that has set a new bar in talking about the shifting landscape of mental health. Dr. Jody has authored three best-selling books including Feeling Seen (Harper Collins, 2022) and hosts the widely celebrated podcast, "Everyone Comes from Somewhere." From major theatres and convention halls of 5,000 attendees, to boardrooms of 20 senior leaders, she revels in connecting and delighting an audience of any size, championing the profound need for genuine human connection in an era often dominated by digital communication.
Her work is trusted by many of the world's Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, education and healthcare leaders all working to solve similar core challenges in creating a new set of rules to support and motivate their teams. She is a mom to three, a wife to her (very lucky) husband, a hockey coach, a daughter, and a sister, navigating this world, alongside everyone she has the privilege to learn from and serve.
Camille Chorney
Camille Chorney is an Information Specialist for the GAIN team at AGLC. Her background includes a BSc. as well as an Adult Education Certificate.
Camille brings years of knowledge to the team as she has been with AGLC for 20 years.
Winston Gamache
Winston joins AWES with expertise in horticulture, agroecology, and agroforestry. He has a passion for all things gardening especially perennial crops and tree fruit crops. He loves exploring the ways trees and human systems interact and planning resilient systems.
With a background in biochemistry and biology, years of experience in horticulture, and perspective from being raised on a farm, Winston helps to support our shelter belt and agroforestry projects as well as our extension work.
Melody Garner-Skiba
Melody Garner-Skiba has spent her life with one foot in agriculture and one foot in industry. Raised at Rocking Heart Ranch she spent her childhood on the back of a horse and working alongside her dad as his “hired man” and working in Waterton Lakes National Park. Graduating from the U of L with a Bachelor of Management, she has spent the last 20+ years in various senior and executive leadership positions in a variety of industries including non-profit, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. She switched her focus to be full time back at home in 2023 leading the family ranch which includes an equine breeding operation, agri-tourism/education, and selling aggregate while starting her consulting firm called “Garnering Results."
Her consulting firm led her to the position of being the Executive Director with the Intensive Livestock Working Group. She is a wife, mother, and a recipient of the 2023 AFSC Women in Ag Award as well as Rocking Heart Ranch was named the 2023 Canadian Quarter Horse Association Ranch Breeder of the year under her direction. She is the Past President of the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association and was the President of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce in 2015-2016. Her passion is building community and people to ensure the ag industry is strong and growing!
Larry Golby
Larry was born and raised on a farm in Coronation, Alberta and after high school he attended the University of Lethbridge where he majored in Physical Education and Psychology. He then returned to his hometown and was the Recreation Director for 25 years. He was as a Recreation Facility Consultant for the Government of Alberta for 5 years and 6 years as the Executive Director for the Recreation Facility Personnel.
Larry has installed ice in a number of unique places, such a large shopping mall in Doha, Qatar, Honolulu, Hawaii, Orlando, Florida, Glasgow, Scotland, numerous communities in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut as well as all over Western Canada and the northern United States. Larry has been a Senior instructor for the recreation facility personnel for over 20 years.
Andrew Jones
Andrew is the Client Service Representative with the Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel. He has been employed in recreation for the past 12 years holding a variety of roles in aquatics, arena, parks and recreation management.
He is currently the Manager of Parks, Recreation & Facilities for the Town of Ponoka and have held this role for the past 4 years. He also comes with 20 years of competitive curling experience at the local, provincial, national and worlds level.
Julie Matthews
Julie Matthews was an Investigative TV reporter for 19 years including 10 years as Global TV Edmonton’s Troubleshooter where she solved problems for many Albertans. She then traded her microphone for a badge, becoming a peace officer and senior investigator with the Government of Alberta’s Consumer Investigations Unit.
She now has her own consulting business touring around Alberta educating seniors, businesses and community groups about how to spot the latest frauds and scams. This consumer protection expert is passionate about fraud prevention especially in rural areas.
She is a certified fraud examiner and co-chair of the Alberta Fraud Prevention Month committee. She has a weekly segment on CFCW radio called “Scam Alert” which airs every Thursday. A self proclaimed “Fraud Nerd” you can also find her sharing her latest scam stories and fraud prevention videos across social media.
She has been recognized with numerous awards for her efforts to protect Albertans including the Alberta Consumer Champion Award and Solicitor General and Public Security Crime Prevention Award.
Chris McKenna
Chris is the Executive Director for the Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel. He has been instructing Ice Making Course for the past 35 years.
He was the Operations Manager for the Edmonton Oilers and a Consultant for the Phoenix Coyotes for 5 years. He has also taught courses throughout Canada and consulted with a number of Associations in the United States.
Eric Moland
With 40 years in the insurance business Eric has seen the good, the bad and the ugly of how insurance responds when claims happen. As a Senior Commercial Insurance Broker Eric has seen many changes over the years in the insurance industry, but his focus has always remained the same: focus on the needs of the customer!
Previously with the largest insurance brokerage in Canada, Eric joined All Insurance Ltd. 3 years ago as he found this family owned brokerage had a much stronger focus on their client’s needs rather than their bottom line. Licensed across Canada Eric specializes in rural based operations, as well as tourism and faith-based organizations (churches, schools & non-profits). Living in Drayton Valley he also, of course, insures anything oil patch related.
Jason Roy
Jason combines a friendly approach to technology with a deep understanding of what community groups need. With over two decades in the tech world, he has been creating tools that are simple to use and really make a difference.
At FrontDoor”, which he co-founded, Jason’s passion is to make event organizing a breeze, especially for volunteers and agricultural societies. He is dedicated to providing solutions that help your events run smoothly, ensuring that technology feels like a helpful neighbor, not a hurdle. His Mission – to make every interaction with tech as straightforward and rewarding as possible.