Aboriginal Capacity Builders Ltd

THE ACB TEAM

GEOFF GREENWELL | Strategic Planning

The CEO of 2G Group has been working globally as a facilitator and strategic planner for over 25 years. Geoff came to Canada in 1992 and since that time has worked extensively for Governments, Aboriginal Groups, NGO's and Private Sector organizations as a business advisor, negotiator and facilitator. He was also a two-term municipal councillor in the District of Lake Country (British Columbia) and chaired the district's affordable housing and economic development committees from 2006 - 2012.

Prior to coming to Canada, Geoff worked for twelve years in the Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and South America as a senior negotiator for multinational energy companies.

Geoff formed 2G Group in 2001 and works collaboratively with a team of expert associates who offer a variety of services to government, Aboriginal and corporate clients. The team's areas of expertise include: economic development/business training, facilitation, strategic planning, corporate visioning, marketing, business planning, events management, negotiating and mediation, project management, raising financing and land use planning.

Geoff has accomplished many unique things in his life and is renowned as a true business visionary for his record of success with projects he has led. Geoff specializes in taking projects 'from the drawing board' and bringing them to life. His development of Aboriginal Marketplace magazine and the NABOC conference series are ongoing examples of unique ideas that he has turned into successful business ventures. He is the consummate networker, always looking to connect people and ideas, and his enthusiasm for creating equitable business partnerships between Aboriginal and private sector business groups rubs off on everyone who meets him.

Since the inception of the 2G Group in 2001, Geoff has helped structure numerous joint ventures and partnerships between private sector and Aboriginal groups. The 2G Group offers their services globally and some recent notable clients include:

Governments of New Brunswick, NWT and Nunavut, Northern Savings and Credit Union, Jardine Lloyd Thompson, Lloyd & Partners (UK) PLC, Atla Energy Group, Alterna Energy, Syntaris Power, Nigaani Air of Ontario, Okanagan Nation Alliance, Osoyoos Indian Band, Metlakatla Governing Council, Scuka Enterprises, Aboriginal Business Quest and Pacific Northwest LNG.

Geoff and the entire 2G team have assisted these clients and many others with their respective goals and helped them make informed decisions and achieve critical milestones within theirorganizations.

Recent Project History

Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut – worked with the community of Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut as a consultant to develop the first large scale, environmentally friendly clam harvesting business in the Canadian Arctic. Developed training programs, a lobbying strategy to raise $2million, created a business plan and a marketing strategy for the community and implemented the plan over a four-year period.

Niigaani Air, Ontario – developed a business plan for an airline in response to a Community Futures RFP calling for the provision of a scheduled air service between several remote communities in northern Ontario to assist their economic development prospects. Facilitated workshops and stakeholders meetings. The plan was chosen by CFDC as the "best option" for the communities.

Northern Savings and Credit Union – worked with NSCU to train their staff about the Indian Act and lending to First Nations communities as well as how to develop a specific First Nations marketing plan.

Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre, Ontario – developed a business plan and raised capital to open a chain of gift stores and food outlets in casinos in Ontario as a means of raising revenues for the Friendship Centre.

Endaa-aang Tourism, Ontario – developed a business plan for an eco-tourism development on Manitoulin Island consisting of cabins, tipis, wilderness adventures and cultural offerings. The plan was implemented in phases by the Sucker Creek Band.

Spallumcheen Indian Band – created the business plan for the Quilakwa RV Park and lobbied for funds which were successfully granted by Aboriginal Business Canada. Also developed a marketing strategy for the operation.

Kitkatla First Nation – worked with the community of Kitkatla on the lobbying strategy and acquisition of a decommissioned DFO Marine Base to convert it into an incubator for small businesses in Prince Rupert.

Gitxaala Treaty Society – worked with the table of hereditary chiefs on a variety of economic development projects including the Prince Rupert Port Authority expansion, the Forest and Range Agreement and purchase of a floating eco-tourism lodge.

Westbank First Nation – Developed a restructuring plan for the Sensisyusten community school. Evaluated the Grizzly Wood business plan and offered suggestions to mitigate losses from the operation.

Okanagan Nation Alliance (Tribal Council of the 7 Okanagan Bands) – Created a "Business Development Unit" which was responsible to develop feasibility studies, raise government funding, marketing and communication policies, manage projects and develop reports to funding organizations. Represented the ONA at various business meetings. Organized conferences and events to showcase the nation's economic development potential.

Okanagan Training and Development Council – Organized and facilitated the "Workforce Connects" Aboriginal Human Resource conference in Kelowna. The conference was very well attended and heralded as a huge success by the sponsors – Service Canada, INAC and BCAWS.

2G Holdings Ltd – Chief Operations Officer role in the development of residential sub-divisions and commercial property in First Nations communities across Northern BC (ongoing).

New Sky Insurance – Developed a strategic plan for Jardine Lloyd Thompson to create global partnerships in the insurance industry with Indigenous people (ongoing).

Atla Energy Corporation – Developed the partnership model for the First Nations Energy Partnership between member bands of the Okanagan, Shuswap, Ktunaxa and Colville Nations (ongoing).

Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams First Nations – Developed a business model to attract funding to the annual Tsimshian Business Networking Conference.

Osoyoos Indian Band – Developed business strategy to attract government and private sector business to the NK'MIP conference centre.

KELLY SHERMAN | Economic Development

Kelly Sherman is a Registered Professional Forester with over fifteen years of forestry and strategic planning related experience in British Columbia. Kelly is one of BC’s best equipped foresters for advising clients on strategic forest management decisions due to his expertise in the key elements affecting resource management decisions. His expertise includes 10 years experience in spatial modelling, 5 years experience in carbon budget modelling, and he has been certified to carry out vegetation resource inventories (VRI) since 1999.

Kelly has also been trained in the fields of ecology, biometrics, growth, and yield. Kelly applies his experience through projects in carbon optimization, resource analysis, VRI, feasibility studies and ecology. Kelly is proud to have strong professional relationships with clients and colleagues including licensees, first nations and government organizations. His strength is in providing unbiased technical advice and decision support on natural resource matters to a diverse client base. Kelly has had the opportunity to share his ideas and innovative solutions by presenting at many conferences throughout North America over the past several years.

TEWANEE JOSEPH | Communications and Policy Development

Tewanee is a member of the Squamish First Nation, and is half Maori. He served eight years on the Squamish Nation Council, and has a talent for facilitation and coordinating diverse groups to identify and achieve their goals. He has utilized his skills to work on a broad range of initiatives including First Nations federal legislation, First Nations Land Management, Strategic Communications and Governance.

Recently, Tewanee served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Four Host First Nations Secretariat for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Tewanee worked with the Vancouver Organizing Committee and its partners to ensure unprecedented Aboriginal participation in the planning, hosting and staging of the 2010 Games. In this role, he spearheaded the largest re-brand of Aboriginal people in Canadian history, and led the team that overcame countless obstacles and doubt to create a world renowned brand, and a new model for inclusivity.

His goal is to carry on these teachings and share best practices long into the future.

DAVE MEYERS | Information Technology

Dave , a GIS expert, provides leadership and support in information technology and management. His projects provide problem solving and training to users of technology (smart phones, computers, software) plus the design of plans for data acquisition, quality assurance, analysis, and management.

CYNTHIA MITZIMBERG | Retail Marketing Specialist

With over 30 years of direct retail marketing experience, Cynthia specializes in turning around under-performing and failing retail operations. She also assists businesses wishing to open new retail stores with advice on product positioning, store design and layout, as well as the installation of POS systems and staff training.

Cynthia is Tsimshian from the north-coast of British Columbia, and stills calls Terrace, BC her home town today.

CHRIS SHARPLES | Marketing & Business Development

Specializing in branding and entrepreneurship, Chris helps small and mid size organizations grow through the design and implementation of effective, yet simple, marketing and business development plans.

Combining a quirky background in business, science, and art with a unique creativity and enthusiasm, he works with clients to clarify what they sell, who they sell it to, and how they sell it. Chris reduces complexity by providing insightful advice, concise strategies and innovative tactics that make taking action easy to do.

CHRIS GILLEN | Technology Development and Training

Chris, founder of both Dial-A-Geek and Total Support Solutions, works with aboriginal partners across Canada to improve Information Technology in communities and increase their own capacity to deliver onsite and remote local computer and computer management IT services.

Flexible, practical and innovative, he provides high quality IT certification training, final mile internet, and fully managed support solutions designed especially for remote communities and challenging environments.

TREVOR MORRISON | CAPA

Trevor is a member of the Gitxsan Nation in Northern British Columbia. He has over thirty years of knowledge and experience in financial management within the Gitxsan Nation. He has completed his designation as a Certified Aboriginal Professional Administration (CAPA) and continues to pursue his MBA at Cape Breton University.

He has extensive business experience being the Vice President of the Aboriginal Financial Officers of BC, Director of Shackan Indian Band Development Corporation, and a Director for the BC First Nation Gaming Revenue Sharing General Partnership.

Trevor also brings traditional knowledge and values that can help build capacity within First Nations communities, and development corporations by assisting them to create partnerships with industry.