Introducing Shayna

Dear members,

On behalf of the Board and Hiring Committee, we are thrilled to welcome Shayna Hammer to the Yukonstruct family. We are excited by the diversity of her experiences, her passion for creativity and entrepreneurship, her dedication to financial sustainability, and the positive and collaborative energy that she brings. We are confident that she will be a natural fit and contribution to the Yukonstruct culture which we have worked hard to build, and which is very important to staff, users, members, partners, and the Board.

I would also like to take this moment to again thank outgoing ED Lana Selbee for her unparalleled dedication and leadership to Yukonstruct over the past 5 years. Lana has also been instrumental in ensuring we had the best hiring process possible. Thank you, Lana!

Finally, to our amazing staff, users, members, and partners, please join the Board in a warm welcome to Shayna and help us continue to bring the hopes, aspirations, and possibilities of Yukonstruct to life in service of a better and brighter future for Yukoners. Welcome, Shayna!

A message from our new Executive Director, Shayna Hammer

I’ve always gravitated towards people who love to problem solve, who are both dreamers and doers. I grew up in Dawson Creek, BC, more so in an era of farming than major fossil fuel extraction. Similarly to life in the Yukon, if something wasn’t readily available, or maybe didn’t exist yet in just the right form, you’d have to create it yourself. Growing up, I was exposed to all kinds of makers, idea junkies and innovators, and I know that this has inspired me to look at things differently. In my career, I have been lucky enough to experience a variety of different types of people, and diverse work environments, and have specifically enjoyed tackling the unique set of challenges that exist in the North. Inventors and entrepreneurs are needed everywhere, but there is a certain magic to the ideas that grow in such an expansive place.

Before I moved up to the Yukon in 2019, I was the Executive Director for the Calvin Kruk Centre for the Arts in Dawson Creek, a thriving local hub that involved several different community streams coming together. It was an enriching and engaging role and allowed me to invest in a deeper understanding of creativity and innovation, as well as partnership and engagement. I also owned my own small business, and much like many of the Yukon’s entrepreneurs, have recognized the value in having support for a business both in its infancy and for its continued success as it grows.

Since moving to Whitehorse, I’ve worked with several different community organizations such as the Yukon Quest, Inclusion Yukon, the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, and most recently, the Yukon Chamber of Commerce. Through my work, I have developed strong ties with many community members. I am passionate about the experience that people share in working together, and believe that collaboration relates directly to community wellbeing, ingenuity, and economic success. I hope to be able to share my experiences and create further opportunities of evolution for Yukonstruct’s membership.

I would like to extend heartfelt excitement in joining the Yukonstruct Team! To the many members and collaborators, I look forward to getting to know you and supporting you in realizing your dreams. My aim is to continue to maintain Yukonstruct’s vibrant network, to ensure growth and development in a sustainable way, and to ensure that we contribute meaningfully to both the Yukon and broader innovation ecosystem. In continuing to build on the last 10 successful years of the organization, I look forward to understanding what is important to each of you, and how we can continue to serve our diverse community.

Shayna Hammer