Jen Schmidt, VP, President
Jen Schmidt is a Project Lead and Health Care Consultant who brings OD values and processes to her work with primary care providers and community members working to improve health care in Kootenay Boundary. Making space for dialog and a discernment for themes enables Jen to help groups of people collaborate and make progress. She believes there is always a better way to do things and an OD approach is the most effective way to create desired change.
Jen has a Masters Certificate in Organization Development and Change from York University, a BBA in HR and Innovation from SFU, and a Certificate in Management Excellence from UBC. Jen is also a certified Lean practitioner.
The BCODN has been a catalyst for Jen’s career by growing her network, expanding her toolkit, and providing mentorship support to her volunteer consulting opportunity with the BCO. Her continuing role on the Board of Directors is consistent with her drive to keep growing personally and professionally while giving back whenever possible.As president, Jen is committed to working with the board to determine our path forward. A path that creates a sense of belonging for our members, potential members, and board of directors.
Jim Brosseau, Treasurer & Secretary
Jim is a well-respected speaker, facilitator, educator and thought leader in his field. For over 25 years he has facilitated engaging in-depth workshops, both online and in-person. These focus on the human side of teamwork and collaboration, concepts that are finally being recognized in PM circles. He also provides consulting and coaching on organizational strategy and team engagement.
Jim is passionate about crafting cultures that foster collaboration, inclusion, and creativity. These are the seeds that are sown to generate amazing results in corporate excellence and personal fulfillment.
Jim has volunteered with Crisis Centre of BC and the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby. He is the author of Software Teamwork: Taking Ownership for Success and Jounce!: Crafting a Resilient Life in an Increasingly Chaotic World. For over 20 years he has maintained his PMP designation and is a Certified Facilitator for the Strength Deployment Inventory.
Jim joins the BCODN Board to promote integrating OD and PM practices as a more complete system to drive effective organizations.
Ritika Rana, VP, Community Engagement
Ritika Rana is a Management Analyst and a Financial Accountant who helps startups and SMEs optimize their operational efficiency and accountancy. With over 5 years of experience, she has been developing an expertise in business problem solving, team optimization and client relations.
Leadership, mentorship, and entrepreneurship are three core values that have always intrigued her since childhood as she comes from a family where her parents and siblings have their own independent businesses. Therefore to live her values, she has been highly engaged as a mentor in the International Leadership & Mentorship Program, as Vice President in the Capilano Business & Professional Society and as a Board Member of the Capilano Alumni Association.
Ritika holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a post-baccalaureate diploma in North American Business Management (International Strategy and Entrepreneurship). She is currently working towards Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst Certification.
Early 2022, Ritika co-hosted a virtual webinar on Hidden Dynamics of Family Culture on workplaces in collaboration of Jalapeno Employee Engagement with BCODN. This made her curious to learn more about changing workplace needs and their immediate learning development. Ritika is honored to be a part of BCODN. As VP of Community Engagement at BCODN, she intends not only to expand its network but also connect BCODN members to bring together its vision, mission and strategic objectives to life.
Ritika admires art, nature and people. Therefore she spends her time learning more about different people and perspectives, painting in her house and doing activities in nature.
Imaima Robert, VP Communications
Imaima Robert is an experience design consultant who works closely with organizations using a people-first approach centered in empathy to explore organizational challenges, reinforce their strengths, and create holistic employee experiences. Imaima does this using research & co-creation, which allows her to work with organizations to intentionally shape their culture.
Imaima holds an MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Adler University in Vancouver with her thesis focused on the impacts of psychological safety and psychological capital on employee performance and well-being.
Outside of work, you can find Imaima spending time with friends, playing games, reading, and trying new meals & recipes.
Catherine North, BCO Liaison
Catherine North is passionate about making a difference. Inspired by her own lived experience, Catherine’s professional practice integrates essential competencies to cultivate resilient, high performing leaders and teams.
Honouring her clients’ lived and learned experiences, Catherine blends her appreciation for collaboration, engagement, growth and improvement into her approach as a personal and organizational development coach and consultant.
Catherine has been an active member of BCODN since 2018. In 2019, she participated as a volunteer consultant with BCODN’s Building Community Organization (BCO). Following that experience, Catherine joined the BCO organizing committee, and is delighted to support BCODN and the community as BCO Liaison.
Catherine holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Development and Leadership from Fielding Graduate University, and is an Associate Certified Coach with International Coaching Federation.
Catherine lives with her family in Richmond, BC on the traditional territory of the First Peoples of the Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm language group. In her down time, you’ll find Catherine walking or cycling along Richmond’s many trails with her dog Ollie.
Patience Cox, Member at Large
Patience Cox is a results-focused Leader and Educator with extensive experience working with/within Indigenous communities, developing/facilitating a diverse range of multi-level curriculums and Human Resource Management. Expertise in organizational/community development, change/project/program management, negotiating, coaching/mentoring, relationship building and legislation/policies/procedures.
As an educator, Patience has researched, designed, delivered and advocated for learning that focuses on experiential, relevant learning. She believes that people learn and retain that learning when they have an opportunity to link new learning to something they already know, or apply that learning to their own situation.
Patience lives her philosophy of lifelong learning, with academic learning, M.Ed. (Leadership), B.Ed. (Curriculum & Instruction), B.A (Geography), and an Instructional Design Diploma. She also believes strongly in lived learning, reaching out to Elders, to community members, to students and colleagues for conversation, challenges and stories.
All BCODN Officers and Directors can be reached by email: info@bcodn.org