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.
Jacqueline Moore
Jacqueline was born and raised in Whitehorse and is a member of the Tahltan Nation. She brings to the team strong financial, program, and organizational skills, along with a passion for Youth and Diversity and Inclusion.
Jacqueline joined the Yukon Struct board to be part of a community that contributes to a platform that fosters and creates unique collaborative and artistic experiences. She also looks forward to networking and collaborating with creators, dreamers, and innovators alike.
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.
Lana Welchman
Lana is a community-minded self-starter who has founded innumerable programs and projects including: Yukon Girls Rock Camp, Live Well (an exercise program for people with chronic health conditions), and DawsonPops Community Choir. She is also former treasurer of the Dawson City Music Festival, and Parks and Recreation Manager for the City of Dawson.
She is eager to bring a Dawson perspective to the board, and give a voice to how Yukonstruct can better serve communities outside of Whitehorse.
Antonio Zedda
Returning board member, Antonio Zedda has over 25 years of experience planning, designing, and developing buildings across Canada’s North. He is a partner in the Whitehorse, Yukon-based design and planning firm of Kobayashi + Zedda. He has been the principal in charge of numerous government and private sector-led multi-family residential, educational, cultural, and commercial building projects.
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.Ashley Cummings
Having worked with Yukonstruct in two different job titles and spent time on the board, Ashley has such a soft spot in her heart for Yukonstruct. She loves the people that find themselves here, the community vibe, and of course the space. Ashley is delighted to use her skills to support an organization that she cares for so deeply.
Michelle Eshpeter
Michelle hopes to make a meaningful impact by actively engaging with visionary individuals, collaborating on creative ideas, and shaping the future of the innovation ecosystem. She is excited about the opportunity to be part of a team that is creating the future of entrepreneurship in the Yukon. Michelle is thrilled to be on the board!
Joshua Callahan
Josh first joined Yukonstruct in 2018 during the grand opening week of our 2nd Avenue location. The energy and welcome that he experienced were exceptional, and the sense of community that was present inspired and motivated him to eventually start his own company in 2020. Yukonstruct is a primary stakeholder for OUTFRNT Inc. As members go through similar journeys as Josh, he and his team find themselves supporting transitions post-Yukonstruct as they scale and grow. As such, Josh’s professional work is influenced and impacted by Yukonstruct’s programming and services.
As an active member of Yukonstruct’s board, Josh would like to influence and advise on strategies that create further independence and financial autonomy for the organization, promote the current ESG activities that are happening day to day, position the organization as a leader in the ESG space in the North, and participate in the nomination committee to ensure organizational succession plans are in place. Ultimately, he is looking to express his gratitude to Yukonstruct through impactful governance and oversight.
Hector Garcia
Hector’s primary motivation is to give back to the community. Whether it’s serving on the Yukonstruct Board or any other organization, Hector is inspired by the community-oriented mindset of Whitehorse, which he now calls home.
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.
Fahd Rizwan Fazal
Fahd is originally from Pakistan but has been living in Canada for the past five years. He recently completed his undergrad from the University of British Columbia, Okanagan and moved to Whitehorse in search of new challenges and opportunities. He is super excited to join the Yukonstruct team and is looking forward to helping the community in any way possible. Fahd is passionate about learning and exploring new skills, he loves to cook, and to be outdoors hiking, biking, and many other activities.
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 my 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.
Lisa Preto
You may know Lisa as “the fur pom pom lady”, the “goat milk soap lady”, or remember her from the jazz lounges of Whitehorse. Lisa was a carpenter before moving to Haines Junction to raise 2 daughters with her husband Andy. She loved living in a community, and being part of the network of volunteers there. She started and ran her company Minus 40 Fur in Haines Junction, sewing fur directly from the trapline. In 2020, her family packed up the goats, chickens and trapping/sewing supplies and moved to Whitehorse. Lisa is excited to work at Yukonstruct, and to connect with entrepreneurs from the communities.
Jeramy Mattie
A local entrepreneur and maker, Jeramy is owner and head craftsman at Frozen Forge Alchemy. Jeramy has 15 years experience in industrial construction, is a red seal steamfitter/pipefitter ticket, a third year welder, and CWB welding supervisor. He also has a You Tube U degree in making, with a major in Need a Tool Make a Tool. When not in the Makespace, or his home shop carving jade, you can find him hiking a trail, paddling a river, or playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends.
Cedrick Vinoya
Cedrick moved to Canada from the Philippines, where he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration majoring in Marketing Management. He moved to Whitehorse to study Liberal Arts at Yukon University. Passionate about community engagement, Cedrick volunteered for a group in the Philippines that focused on disaster relief and back-to-school projects! In addition to bringing his enthusiasm for community engagement to Yukonstruct, he looks forward to contributing his years of customer service experience to the Yukonstruct community.
Amy-Rose Kemble
Amy-Rose is a born and raised Yukoner with many passions, including enjoying live music, creating art in many forms, as well as spreading positive vibes! Considering her genuine love of all things organization, planning, and her intense eye for detail, the Booking and Administrative Coordinator position is a perfect fit. She brings an eagerness to help people everywhere she goes! Outside of work, you can find her taking in some music at the WWW Jam, spending time with her amazing friends and family, or reluctantly enjoying the great outdoors.
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.
Aman Bhutani
Aman moved to the Yukon from Northern BC in December, 2021, to enjoy the land of midnight sun and all THE Yukon has to offer. He’s currently finishing his Bachelor’s from Thompson Rivers University, majoring in Psychology. He’s passionate about understanding addictions, forensic psychology and weirdly a lot about investing and trading. He also haa a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Besides work and projects, he loves to be outdoorsy, make new friends, learn new cultures, playing badminton, swimming, spikeball, billiards, and camping.
Esa Suominen
Esa is the designer and maker of his own collectible character named Mawa. When he’s not at his desk sewing his creations, you can find him at the ski hill coaching Yukons snowboard team!
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!
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.
