Staff

Shayna Hammer
Shayna has always been drawn to problem solvers and people who love to match creativity with action. Growing up in Dawson Creek, BC, she was exposed to all kinds of makers, idea junkies, and innovators. With experience in managing non-profits, and as a business owner, Shayna values support for ventures and organizational evolution. Now part of the Yukonstruct Team, Shayna fosters collaboration, sustainable growth, and meaningful contributions to the Yukon community and innovation ecosystem.

Rick Yorgason
Rick spent ten years as a programmer, designer, and project manager at an indie game studio, working with a small team of artists and programmers on an engine built from scratch using nothing but C++, DirectX, and passion. His other passions include traditional woodworking, electronics, leather working, and chocolate making.

Ratan Singh
Ratan joins the team as a recent graduate of Yukon University’s Multimedia Communications program, where he served as President of the Student Union. He is passionate about animation and gaming; and is excited to put his design skills and knowledge of computer hardware to work in his new capacity at Yukonstruct. Ratan plans to become a full time game designer in the future. Outside of work, Ratan loves playing Badminton and Basketball, and enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing.

Kealy Sweet
Kealy is the brains behind Yukonstuct’s communications! If you find her in the wild, she’s probably trail running, mountain biking, or playing soccer. She has a passion for creativity and a love for the outdoors.

Erin Scott
Erin is passionate about helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals and navigate the complexities of the startup landscape. Helping businesses develop and execute their business plans, build their teams, find product market fit, and market their business. She’s eager to dive into her role and begin collaborating with local entrepreneurs and ecosystem members to gain insights into the programs and resources that are needed to better support the entrepreneurial community throughout the Yukon. She can’t wait to contribute to the growth and success of Yukon’s vibrant entrepreneurial community, and she looks forward to helping entrepreneurs both aspiring and current achieve their goals.

Cedrick Vinoya
Cedrick is a proud Filipino community-builder who landed in Whitehorse after finishing his Business Administration degree in the Philippines and studying Liberal Arts at Yukon University. He’s all about connecting people, telling meaningful stories, and making everyone feel at home. At Yukonstruct, he brings his mix of marketing brain, customer service roots, and big community energy to everything he does. Outside of work, he leads the Beyond Borders Youth Network, supporting immigrant and refugee youth in finding connection, confidence, and a sense of belonging in the Yukon.

Orlan Lumantao
Orlan arrived in Canada in August 2022 to study Business Administration at Yukon University. Living in an opposite country is a mix of excitement, nervousness, fun, and lots of first. He felt very amazed seeing the snow for the first time as he thought he would never get a chance to see it in person. He is also happy with what’s going on in his life including being part of the team as an Operations Assistant. He looks forward to meeting new people, getting in touch with them, learning their stories, and helping them to the best of his ability.
PS: He might have a poker or intimidating face but he can assure you that he can make you smile, LOL!

Simon Kishchuk
Simon first joined the Yukonstruct ecosystem in 2025 when he took advantage of the Pathfinding Services and the Entrepreneurial Fundamentals program as he got his business up and running. Now as someone who offers these services, he’s keen to help other entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground. Simon is a retired ski bum and former public servant who spends his spare time snowboarding, playing soccer, hiking, cycling and (slowly) learning to play the ukulele.

Bec Weldon
Bec joined Yukonstruct in 2026 as Makespace Program Coordinator, bringing a background in live arts, museums, and digital production, along with a deep love of creative community. Guided by curiosity and a willingness to learn any skill someone will teach, she enjoys everything from embroidery and costume-making to upcycled DIY projects and immersive storytelling. She’s passionate about helping others build confidence through making. Outside the makerspace, Bec performs circus and cabaret, practices fire arts and aerials, and pursues delightfully unconventional creative projects.

Donna Onumara
Donna brings her love for storytelling, creative communication, and people-centered connection to the Yukonstruct team. With nearly a decade as a Creative Director and digital storyteller, she has created content for brands across hospitality, food, beauty, wellness, corporate, and lifestyle spaces. She leads social media and drives engagement for workshops and events, capturing the everyday moments, conversations, and wins that make Yukonstruct’s community feel alive. She brings both creative vision and strategic structure, with an MBA and over a decade in administration and marketing. Outside of Yukonstruct, she runs her own digital practice and volunteers at Whitehorse General Hospital. She loves traveling, collecting memories, and healthy living, and is excited to share the creativity happening across the Yukon.

Maitri Vyas
Maitri is a curious soul who likes to explore and experience different opportunities in life. She has dedicated bunch of her time in volunteering at NGO’s back in India particularly in supporting under privileged kids and in realm of rural education. She likes to support and give back to the community whenever she gets the opportunity. A passionate baker and artist, she loves to express her creativity on canvas and by baking delicious treats. Apart from her passion she loves spending time with nature and doing outdoor activities such hiking and paddle boarding!

Dennis Athron
Dennis tends to take two forms: Yukonstruct operations assistant during the day, and the creative visual artist, Vionysus, at night. When he’s not helping people navigate the makespace; he’s neck deep in cables and colors, working on his next live performance for the growing local electronic dance scene. He’s still learning the ropes when it comes to some of the makerspace tools, but Dennis is all in—ready to grow his skills, lend a hand, and share what he knows with anyone curious enough to ask. Whether he’s behind the front desk or behind a projection screen, he’s all about improving the experience for everyone. And while he doesn’t always take himself too seriously, you can count on him to show up with genuine warmth and welcome vibes every time.

Tanya Van Valkenburg
Not just our bookkeeper, Tanya also shares her in-depth knowledge of not-for-profit administration and management. Before becoming a self-employed bookkeeper, she was General Manager of Whitehorse’s Nakai Theatre. She is a maker too; she’s been designing and making jewellery for over 20 years.
Board of Directors

John Glynn-Morris
John has been involved with Yukonstruct in various roles since its inception. He has witnessed and helped bring the organization from start-up to maturity. John has already served on the Board twice, with two breaks, and is keen to serve members in a Board capacity again. John is particularly interested in financial sustainability, talent recruitment and retention, member and community relevance, as well as strategic partnership development. As a facilitator, John hopes to bring constructive and relationship-building elements to the Board.

Chris O’Brien
Chris is a Whitehorse-based management consultant working out of Yukonstruct’s Cospace, where he helps organizations grow through business modelling, financial analysis, strategic management, and research. A returning Board member, Chris previously served on the Executive during the pivotal transition to the 2nd Avenue facility. With a deep-rooted belief in supporting his community, he’s passionate about advancing Yukonstruct’s evolution and long-term financial resilience.

Tarek Bos-Jabbar
Tarek is an experienced entrepreneur with expertise in business scaling, grant writing, financial system restructuring, business accountability, and sales. Tarek is the former CEO of ColdAcre Food Systems.
Tarek has participated in programs such as Incubate North, the Trade Accelerator Program in Edmonton, and the Launchspace Bootcamp.
In 2020, Tarek was inducted into Yukonstruct’s Hall of Innovators and received the Notable Innovators Award. His work with ColdAcre is currently on display at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum.

Norman McIntyre
Norman is an Accountant and Partner with Crowe Mackay LLP, a Western Canadian accounting firm. Norman’s background is in First Nation Government fiscal relations and the taxation of family-owned businesses. Norman has also been involved in small northern businesses as a shareholder. Norman joined the Yukonstruct board with a keen interest in encouraging entrepreneurship.

Norah Paton
As a user of both the Cospace and Makespace, Norah sees the value of what Yukonstruct brings to the community. She’s interested in seeing how this organization can adapt to the community’s ongoing changes and needs.
Norah is interested in finding ways to contribute meaningfully to the Yukonstruct community. Despite (or because of) her background in the arts, she’s particularly motivated to find opportunities where her skillset is useful, but which are not in the same circles where she works.

Jeff Wong
Jeff moved to the Yukon at the end of 2019 for his new job with Transport Canada as a Civil Aviation Safety Inspector. His role there is to ensure enterprises that perform aircraft maintenance are doing so in accordance to the Civil Aviation Regulations using a risk-based approach. He has extensive experience in risk analysis, safety management system, and aircraft maintenance. He enjoys working with his hands and making new things, tinkering with gadgets, and troubleshooting problems, which is why he always looks forward to volunteering at the Repair Café!

Steve Sorochan
Steve has been involved in Yukonstruct since its inception, initially as part of his job as the Director of Technology and Telecommunications at Government of Yukon’s Economic Development Department, and now as a business owner with the company he co-founded, Digital Engine Technology, which is head quartered in Cospace.
He’s looking forward to serving on the board of Yukonstruct to generate some excitement in the space, and is particularly passionate about the Yukon being a great place to start businesses and wants to focus on initiatives that increase Yukonstruct’s capacity and reputation in this area.
Emily Caddell
Emily moved to Whitehorse in September 2022, after initially coming up in the summer of 2017 to conduct interviews for her master’s thesis research on the Peel Watershed land use planning process. As a member of Yukonstruct, Emily sees the tremendous value the organization provides to the Whitehorse and broader Yukon community. As a management consultant, she has skills and experience in facilitation, project management, strategic planning, and organizational governance and is excited to bring those to the Yukonstruct board!

Michael Thessel
I’ve been a member of the Makerspace and Cospace for almost 8 years now. A lot of the community I have built here started with people I met at Yukonstruct. A lot of my business is based out of Yukonstruct. I reaped a lot of benefits from this place and I would like to give back to the organization and the community by volunteering to run the organization.

Candice Gottschal
Candice is particularly interested in serving on the Yukonstruct Board as she sees opportunities for growth and evolution. As the organization continues to pivot and adapt to new challenges, she believes her background in project management and event planning, along with her experience in marketing and community engagement, can offer valuable perspectives.

Jaime Mellott
Jaime is excited to be a part of Yukonstruct’s Board of Directors and to support the organization’s many important projects. She is passionate about access to justice, particularly in streamlining processes and thoughtfully deploying tech to meet all citizens’ needs. Jaime loves language – she hosts a local storytelling night and dabbles in fiction.


































