Director:  Bruce Rutley PhD PAg

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: Robert Hall

With over twenty years experience with the Alberta Government in business counseling and industry development, Bob was part of the initial team to bring forward innovation services to northwest Alberta.  He continues to demonstrate a passion for helping clients advance their ideas.  In addition to innovation, Bob has special interests in developing and undertaking projects on entrepreneurship, productivity and competitiveness.

Prior to business counseling, Bob was a town planner & subdivision designer in both the public and private sectors with skills in project management.    

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 - Patent Lawyer:  Doug Thompson

Douglas B. Thompson has filed patents, designs, and trademarks throughout the world on behalf of Canadian inventors and, has filed patents, designs, and trademarks in Canada on behalf of inventors from throughout the world.

He has extensive patent experience in protecting mechanical inventions. He represents clients involved in such industry sectors as oil and gas, agriculture, forestry, mining, medical devices, computers, lasers, construction, metal fabrication, and plastics.

Doug was called to the Alberta bar in 1976 and the British Columbia bar in 1979. He has been a registered Trademark Agent since 1979 and a registered Patent Agent since 1988. His legal practice at Thompson and Associates was general in nature for approximately ten years, prior to specializing in Intellectual Property.

Administrative Assistant:  Leann Kleininger

Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Leann arrived in the Peace Country in 2007 via Yellowknife, NWT. With over 27 years of administrative experience, she has worked for the likes of government, universities, school boards, and a global potash company.

Project Coordinator: Lloyd Sherk B Mech Eng, MBA

Lloyd Sherk, with his years of proven project management skills, was contracted by the CRI in 2009 to gauge the response to a Peace Region Unmanned Vehicle System (UVS).

Unmanned vehicles are very sophisticated robots with specialized sensors and controls that enable them to maneuver and work in environments that are too dull, dirty or dangerous for humans. Most commonly associated with aerial surveillance drones, unmanned vehicles can be used for surveying forested areas for mountain pine beetle, spotting forest fires and examining gas pipelines, drilling sites and farm fields.

The potential for their use appears to be quite high and Lloyd, in affiliation with PREDA and the CRI, will be gauging this response and if appropriate, encouraging industry development along with training and applied research.

Lloyd’s second project is to establish the Peace Region Manufacturers Association (PeRMA).  Open to rural manufacturers with less than 500 employees, PeRMA’s vision is to create a network of manufacturers/ fabricators in the Alberta Peace Region. The members will be encouraged to communicate and collaborate on jobs with the net result being an improved bottom-line for the businesses and improved economic situation for the local communities.

Administrative Assistant - Innovation Services: Heather Mathieson  

Heather hails from Tea Hill, Prince Edward Island . . . although having lived in Alberta for the past thirty-five years she happily considers herself a "true Albertan." Heather arrived in the Peace Country in the spring of 2010, and joined the CRI team that fall. Her administrative career has spanned over thirty years, twenty of which were dedicated solely to the health care field. Heather looks forward to helping our clients with the direction needed to achieve their innovative endeavors.