Brian Sims - Executive Director
Brian Sims joined CFTC on December 1, 2010 as its Executive Director. Brian left the Executive Director position for the Cranbrook and Area Business, Builders & Developers Association to assume the role of ED for CFTC. From 2000 – 2009 he was employed by Glacier Media and Hollinger International Newspapers and 1990 – 2000 as a community events coordinator for Columbia Kootenay Broadcasting. He is the past president of the Cranbrook and Dawson Creek Chamber’s of Commerce. He grew up in Salmon Arm and has family in Kamloops and Salmon Arm. Brian is joined in Kamloops by his wife Janet and beagle Sophie. He is passionate about hockey and his favorite team is the Boston Bruins.
Shelagh Pemberton - Loans Administrator/Assistant Manager
Shelagh Pemberton started her employment with CFTC in May 2004 as the Loans Administrator. Shelagh also acts as the Assistant Manager when the ED is out of the office. Shelagh’s background is in banking, lending, analyzing financial statements through a strong accounting lens. Moreover, she has managed several small businesses over the years. She knows the rigors of being a business manager thus brings that experience and compassion to those who access loan funding from CFTC. In her spare time she is an avid golfer with her husband. Also on her personal radar are two grown children and her little dogs Charlie and Tango.
Shirley Culver - CED Coordinator
Shirley Culver joined CFTC in 1989 as a CED Coordinator. She describes her position as planning and coordinating community and special projects. Projects range in duration and complexity from accessing funding and managing a Job Creation Partnership which may take months, to organizing a press conference for a couple of hours. She also coordinates CFTC’s corporate publications often in concert with a consultant. She is the farmer of the corporation and enjoys growing a garden and cooking. Shirley is a provincial judge for British Columbia’s Communities in Bloom Program.
Cheryl Betker - Controller
Cheryl Betker joined CFTC in May 2011 as its Controller. Cheryl comes from a varying accounting background having worked for Tenisci Piva, CA's and KPMG in Kamloops. Cheryl has also worked with many not-for-profit organizations like the Kamloops Mounted Drill Team, Beattie PAC, Bridge Baptist Church and 1st Hillside Scouts doing various financial duties.
Cheryl is happy to call Kamloops her home as she has lived here all her life and enjoys its many festivities with her husband and four young children. She enjoys spending quality time with her family and horseback riding.
Jennifer Zachary - Self Employment Coordinator
Jennifer Zachary is CFTC’s most well known staff member. During her 16+ years with CFTC, she is passionate about her clients and she has helped hundred’s of them. She supports clients professionally as well as personally purchasing goods and services from many. She has vast entrepreneurial skills along with personal business experience through her own private endeavors. She has volunteered for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Pritchard Community Association, Therapeutic Riding Association among others. She is passionate about horses and animals. She has many on her acreage that she and her husband own, as well as racing stock cars that her family builds.
Tom Gibson - Self Employment Business Analyst
Tom Gibson has been a Self Employment Business Analyst for CFTC since August 2003. Tom shines with his mild mannered approach with his multitude of clients. His expertise is in financial planning and helping clients complete their financial documentation. Tom also has vast expertise in computer software applications, is the in-house computer expert for CFTC and if you are new to CFTC you may meet Tom as he operates the Video Conferencing equipment. Tom’s greatest passion is his girls (wife and 2 daughters) and new grandson and is known to be very competitive in bowling or golfing by keeping an honest score.
Gemma Gowling – SE Contract Facilitator
Gemma has been the contract facilitator for the Business Planning Workshops through the Self-Employment
Program since November 2004. She attained the ACEC Certification and Fundamentals of Counselling Theories through the Open Learning University. She is a lifelong learner with a practical, hands-on approach to helping and relating to others. She has gained a strong knowledge base of the Kamloops Community, having owned and operated Gemco Enterprises Ltd. for over 10 years. Gemma is also the Kamloops Regional Manager for Junior Achievement; coordinating programs from Lillooet to Enderby which inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. When not working Gemma enjoys her family and friends as well as travelling with husband Ron.