Director:  Bruce Rutley, PhD

Having drunk the waters of the Peace River soon after he first arrived in 1976 with his BSc (Agr), Bruce was naturally predisposed to return to the Peace.

He left the Peace Country In 1978 for the family farm and then his MSc from McGill University. In 1985, he returned to the Peace where he spent the next 20 years raising his family and working at Peace Country colleges. He started as the Coordinator for the Agriculture Program at Northern Lights College. During that time he obtained his PhD in Renewable Resources - energetics of plains bison - from the University of Alberta and then contributed to the research & development of the diversified livestock industry (bison and reindeer).  He then worked as Dean, Agricultural Technologies at Fairview College before becoming involved in the development of The Innovation Network for PREDA.

He left the Peace in 2005 for Victoria where he created a new R&D practice on Vancouver Island with his son. Back in the Peace Country for the third time in September 2008, he is currently the Director of the Centre for Research & Innovation - a GPRC - PREDA Partnership.

Manager – Innovation Services:  Richard Beeson BSc, MBA

Adjunct Staff CRI:  Jim Smith PEng

A registered professional engineer experienced in leadership, management, manufacturing and consulting roles. He has extensive background in as a senior manager with skills in organization development, business mentoring, strategic planning and project management.

During his career with Procter & Gamble and Weyerhaeuser he held leadership roles in engineering, manufacturing, project management, business, capital and technology management, strategic planning and customer relations.

Since 2003 he has provided consulting, management and training services to companies engaged in innovation and optimization. He was a leader in the development of the partnership model for regional innovation services model and for its implementation
 

Adjunct Staff CRI:  Gary Christopherson MPA BA

As the founder of seven start-up businesses, four of which involved substantial innovation in the areas of communications, aviation, manufacturing and consulting, Gary Christopherson is no stranger to entrepreneurial risk.

Along with a BA (Honours) History with International Relations, from the University of British Columbia and an MPA from Queens University at Kingston, Ontario, Gary brings to the CRI a broad field of knowledge and extensive experience with what it takes to do business in the North.

Adjunct Staff CRI:  Jim Letersky BA BSW

(Picture and biography to follow.)

Adjunct Staff CRI – Patent Lawyer:  Doug Thompson

(Picture and biography to follow.)

Adjunct Staff CRI – Peace River Office:  Berry T. Heinen

(Picture and bio to come)

Administrative Assistant:  Leann Kleininger

Office Assistant:  Jenn Vos

Born and raised in Millbrook, ON, Jenn received her diploma in Office Administration – Executive from Durham College in Oshawa, ON. After working for three and a half years as an Operations Assistant in Property Management, Jenn moved to Grande Prairie in February 2009 and began her position as Office Assistant at the CRI in the spring of that same year.

Awareness Coordinator:  Bernice Ouellette