Board of Directors

Community Futures organizations are independent non-profit societies, locally-run, and guided by volunteer boards.

They actively support community-based economic development with a range of products and services aimed at creating diverse, sustainable rural communities.

CFSN considers its volunteers one of the organization’s most important resource. Together with skilled staff, board and committee members guide the organization to its locally-created and community-driven goals.

The Board of Directors

The Board defines and delegates rather than reacting and ratifying. The Board must work continually to define the direction and end results that the organization is to achieve, and to develop policy that defines the acceptable boundaries within which it can delegate the achievements of those results. A total of 12 board members can be nominated, and ideally will represent the region’s resident population, its priority economic sectors, and include representation from the large, diverse geographic region.

The Board of Directors Biographies:

Eric Scheffers, Chair

Eric joined CFSN as a director in 2018.

Eric Scheffers is a retired project manager with a proven record of safe, on-time, on-plan performance in project management. He has had more than 25 years in the forest products and metal building industries. Project and construction management has been his career focus before retirement. His experience has allowed him to become a strong people oriented manager in the project and construction environment.

Charles Hutchinson, Director

Charles re-joined CFSN as a director in 2022.

Charles moved to Vanderhoof in May 2012 to practice law. Charles has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University and a law degree from the University of British Columbia. Charles is married with three children and has previously volunteered with Scouts Canada as well as coaching soccer and volleyball. Charles enjoys the outdoors.

Dave Birdi, Director

Dave joined CFSN as a director in 2015.

Dave is passionate for the social and economic growth of our community and region. He works in the financial sector managing loans and investments and is active in the community in his third term as Municipal Councillor, serving as President of Fort St. James TV and Radio Society, President of Stuart Lake Seniors Association, and long time organizer of youth soccer.

A resident of the community since the 1970’s, Dave and his wife Harjit have raised their three children in Fort St. James and they enjoy walks at Stuart Lake.

Jennifer Barg, Director

Jennifer joined CFSN as a director in 2021.

Jennifer is a long-time resident of Vanderhoof and has spent the past 15 years working at the Vanderhoof Public Library, she is currently in the role of Library Director. Jennifer is married to a local business owner, has three grown children and enjoys exploring the outdoors with her two dogs. She became a director in 2021.

Nikki Martens, Director

Nikki joined CFSN as a director in 2021.

Nikki is a life long resident of Vanderhoof, being born and raised in the community of Vanderhoof. When Nikki was at the young age of 19 she went to work on cruise ships. This turned into a great career path for Nikki, as she spent over 8 years working on cruise ships, managing 25-30 staff in the 5 star spas onboard and was quickly promoted to a motivational and “fix-it” manager, going ship to ship with the goal of increasing revenue and team moral. She then moved back to land, and worked as the Recruitment Manager for the Spa Company, based out of London, England. In 2008 Nikki moved back to Vanderhoof, and bought The Country Cupboard. She quickly expanded, adding Studio X Hair Salon and Stylish Stems Flower Shop to The Country Cupboard. Nikki recently just added another business to her busy schedule and bought the Dollar Central. She comes from a life long family of entrepreneurs and business owners, so it’s no surprise the road Nikki has gone down. She is married with 2 children. She enjoys riding her motorcycle and traveling with her family. She tells us life is very busy, but loves every minute of it!

Jon Rempel, Vice Chair

Jon joined CFSN as a director in 2018.

Jon is a longtime resident of rural Fort Fraser, where he lives with his wife Dawn and their little man Aiden. He grew up on a remote cattle ranch near Anahim Lake on the Blackwater River. Dawn and Jon currently operate a small logging business where they practice select- and partial-cut single-grip harvesting where their primary goals are removing dead wood from the mountain pine beetle and reducing the fire risk to our communities while protecting the integrity of the forest. Jon has a background in logging, road construction and maintenance, mineral exploration and mine contracting.

His hobbies include camping, hunting, fishing, rock hounding and politics. He has studied and taken courses in geology, chemistry, meteorology, advanced equipment operation, social media and political science. He supports the working class, small businessfolk and entrepreneurs.

Mike Martens, Secretary/treasurer

Mike joined CFSN as a secretary/treasurer in 2018.

Mike was born and raised in Vanderhoof. He owns and manages a local Auto Body shop, Mike is on the Vanderhoof Volunteer fire department and he thoroughly enjoys restoring muscle cars. His success story can be read here: PJ Collision – Vanderhoof – Community Futures Stuart Nechako

Find out how to volunteer with CFSN. And thank you!