Community Futures Central Island recognizes the importance of small to medium sized business in our regional economy. Get small business help from Community Futures Central Island’s Entrepreneur in Residence Program.
- Have you recently started a new business and now need some guidance or help with things that have you scratching your head?
- Are you already in business and wonder how to increase your sales or profit margins?
- Are you looking to expand or grow your business but are unsure if it is the right time?
If so, you are a perfect candidate for the Entrepreneur in Residence Program. The purpose of the Entrepreneur in Residence program is to allow prospective entrepreneurs and current business owners in the Central Vancouver Island region access to invaluable advice from a successful entrepreneur. The Entrepreneur in Residence will provide counsel, offer advice and discuss business best practices. And, best of all, they will work with you on your schedule with mutually agreed upon appointments. Work on your business; get small business help. The perfect solution, now!
Our goal is to provide you with practical tools, resources and strategies to help your business become more resilient and successful.
Despite its rewards, running a business can be hard at the best of times. Our current economy has introduced challenges and complexities that businesses aren’t expecting or prepared for. Many businesses either don’t have the time or expertise to figure it all out and develop their own plan to resiliency and diversification.
Who is eligible?
Small and medium sized businesses, social enterprises and not for profit organizations who are located in the Central Island area (Ladysmith to Bowser), who are interested in personalized coaching to help them increase their business know-how.
What can I expect?
Our Entrepreneur In Residence Coaches (EIR) will work one on one with entrepreneurs to help them stabilize and increase, as well as if required, identify and diversify revenues streams. Our experience has informed us that often entrepreneurs do not know how to properly prepare for solicitation to banks and funders. We believe that for some entrepreneur’s debt restructuring will also be required. Our advisors will be able to assist companies to prepare for presentations to financial institutions.
Gaining traction in unstable times requires a nimble business model. We also want to assist businesses to reconsider and tweak their current business models and how they may shift or pivot their current model to serve both them and their customers.
Our Coaches will support owner/operators in navigating the measures, determine what meets their needs and then assist them to complete applications if necessary.
How and by Whom?
Our Entrepreneur In Residence Coaches (EIR) will work one-on-one with existing businesses. Their activities will be to advise and coach business owners to determine their specific needs and align their efforts with programming, grants, subsidies and initiatives that are being offered. If assistance is required, to aid in the application process, the coach can help or be a conduit to individuals who have sector/industry specific knowledge and expertise.
Many businesses are realizing that an objective, independent advisor can provide them with fresh new perspectives, improve their general business effectiveness and expand market reach. Coaching encourages highly engaged business owners and entrepreneurs to bridge the gap to resiliency and gives these leaders the opportunity to strengthen specific business, communication, leadership or managerial skills. We’re with you every step of the way, supporting you in your business’ progression to greater success and growth.
Cost?
Phase 1
6 sessions $175
12 sessions $300
Phase 2
6 sessions $225
12 sessions $400
- 1 hour initial interview
- Expert sounding board to your ideas
- Structured conversation identifying checks & balances
- Coaching is task oriented focusing on concrete issues; performance driven to improve business acumen and conducted immediately on any topic
- Community Futures is committed to the success of small and medium sized business and subsidizes this program so more can participate
- Payment is due at time of application submission but monies will be refunded if, after 1st interview, it is agreed that EIR is not a good fit
- Session are 1 hour in length but can be combined into fewer meetings, are mutually set up between coach and applicant, and must be completed within a 6 month period.
Meet our Business Coaches
Katharine Chernyak
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With over 27 years of experience in Operations Management, Human Resources and Change Management, both as a business owner and employee, Katharine has a strong understanding of the key challenges that many businesses face. Whether it’s optimizing customer satisfaction, hiring, developing and retaining skilled and committed teams, growing revenues, or expanding market footprint. Throughout her career, she has helped businesses across diverse industry sectors build more resilient management teams and organizational cultures.
What Katharine finds most rewarding is helping entrepreneurs and leaders make people feel safe and secure during the change process, while building effective organizational frameworks to transition from current state to future state. In particular, resiliency – the ability to bounce forward in times of change and adversity and to see opportunities for growth – is a critical component needed in today’s times.
Brady Calancie
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Having founded businesses in robotics manufacturing, food processing, and consulting, Brady is well-versed in problem-solving and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, he has successfully guided numerous entrepreneurs, aiding them in achieving success across various business domains.
Brady’s true zeal lies in assisting small businesses in embracing innovation amidst an ever-evolving business landscape. Whether it involves expanding their market domestically/internationally, enhancing operational efficiency, or embarking on a fresh entrepreneurial journey, Brady is dedicated to crafting effective strategies and instilling the confidence necessary for success.
Amir Tabatabaei
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Entrepreneurial business professional with a demonstrated history of working at regional, national and international levels across a variety of industries. With an excess of 23 years of positive and successful business experiences to call upon, always building long term mutually beneficial relationships. Skilled in Marketing, Business Development, Operations, Negotiations, Sales, Corporate Communications, Account Management, Team Management, Procurement and analysis of Business Intelligence, CRM trainer, collaborator, leader, husband and father. Since I moved to the Island in 2019 I have been fortunate in being able to set up numerous businesses, I have also worked for several corporations, as well as most recently running the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce. These experiences mean I am very well positioned to advise on business on the Island, not only in the local Central Island region, but the wider Island, including Victoria and the North Island.
Rob Regner
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After growing up in a small southern Alberta town, my career kicked off in Calgary in 1997 working with an amazing family-owned business where I was given the invaluable opportunity to be a part of the management team of a successful start-up company. Like in most start-ups, each of us wore multiple hats. I was able to be actively involved with every business function including HR, finance & accounting, legal matters, manufacturing, operations, sales & marketing, and logistics & distribution. It was here that I developed my passion for business and laid the foundation for the next chapters of my career journey.
I spent the next decade working with the world’s second largest oilfield service company leading teams and businesses at the national, regional, and global levels with job assignments based in Saudi Arabia, Texas, Colorado and the United Kingdom. Our family relocated to Vancouver Island in 2017 where I was provided with the rewarding opportunity of changing industries at the executive level as I joined a major forestry company as vice president of operations. In 2020, I made the decision to become a full time executive coach as well as to support a small business that I remain a co-owner and director of.
As a Certified Executive Coach (CEC), I bring a diverse, global business experience combined with my approach to leading organizations and building high performance teams to support entrepreneurs, leaders, and owners of businesses ranging from start-ups to multinationals and from public and private to non-profit organizations. My leadership style is known for a coach-like approach, constructively and respectfully challenging the status quo with the hard questions, and being a strategic thinker with my eyes always on the desired results and towards achieving what is just on this side of impossible.
One of my favourite quotes is by Henry Ford, “whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!” Business can be tough, challenging, exciting, and full of opportunity – often all at the same time. This quote highlights that success is a mindset and starts with the right attitude. That’s what I love most about coaching relationships – they can not only explore what better looks like but can develop the belief and plans to get there!
Colleen Janssen Hood
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Entrepreneur in Residence – Marketing & Communications
Colleen Janssen Hood is a seasoned communications professional and community-builder with over 20 years of experience helping organizations tell their stories and connect with purpose. Her career spans corporate leadership, nonprofit governance, post-secondary education, and entrepreneurship.
She began in radio as Promotions Director at QR77 Calgary before moving into corporate communications, ultimately serving as Assistant Vice President of Communications and Community Investment at First Calgary Credit Union (now ConnectFirst). Colleen holds an MBA from Royal Roads University and is an accredited member of the Canadian Public Relations Society.
In addition to running her own consulting practice, she has taught over 1,200 students across institutions like Mount Royal University, University of Calgary, and Vancouver Island University, where she recently redesigned the MBA work-integrated learning curriculum.
Colleen is also an active volunteer and performer, lending her marketing and storytelling expertise to local organizations and appearing in community theatre productions on Vancouver Island. She is passionate about supporting local entrepreneurs in building clear, creative, and compelling marketing and communication strategies.
Gerard Janssen
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Gerard Janssen is a veteran finance executive and board director with over three decades of leadership in the energy and financial services sectors. As the founding partner and CFO of Response Energy Corporation, he has guided the company from inception to a thriving enterprise with over $22 million in annual revenue and $80 million in assets. Gerard is known for his strategic foresight, operational excellence, and innovative financial structuring.
He currently serves on the boards of Olympia Financial Group Inc. and Olympia Trust Corporation, where he chairs the Audit and Investment Committees and contributes to governance, compliance, and risk management.
Beyond the boardroom, Gerard is passionate about the outdoors and competitive squash. “There’s something about the rhythm of a bike ride or the focus of a squash match that sharpens the mind and restores the spirit,” he says—a philosophy that mirrors his approach to leadership and innovation.
Gerard holds an MBA in Finance, a CPA-CMA designation, and advanced degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from Delft University of Technology.
Adrien Stewart
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Adrien Stewart, CPA
Adrien Stewart is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over a decade of diverse experience in financial management, strategic planning, and business advisory roles. As a serial entrepreneur, he serves as the Founder and CEO of Tideline CPA Inc., a public accounting practice, and Redwood Business Strategies, a consultancy dedicated to revolutionizing business growth. Adrien is passionate about leveraging this expertise to support organizations in achieving their strategic goals through tailored financial solutions and actionable insights.
His leadership extends deeply into the community, where he currently serves as a Director at Large for Freestyle Canada and a Treasurer for Wheelchair Rugby Canada and acts as a Strategic Advisor to the Pacific Seaweed Industry Association.
Adrien’s approach to business strategy is holistic, grounded in a deep understanding of the challenges companies face. He is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs with the clarity and confidence needed to drive sustainable growth and innovation.