We are small business specialists who take the time to really understand your business ideas, and roll up our sleeves to help you make them happen. Community Futures West Yellowhead staff provide a wide range of small business services, including business loans and business grant advice, business and financial planning, skills development and training, and strategic marketing and networking – and are available to work one-on-one to connect you with the right programs and services. Call or email us today to get your business dreams moving forward.
We also have in-depth knowledge of the unique characteristics of our local and regional economies, and actively work to develop rural diversification strategies in partnership with business and community leaders, local government, educational institutions, other business lenders and not-for-profits.
Nancy Robbins
General Manager
T: 780-865-1224
Nancy moved to Jasper in 1997 for a summer job and has been living in Alberta ever since. With a background in economic development in fisheries and women’s issues from growing up in Newfoundland, she loves the West Yellowhead region for its diversity in people, communities and geography. She has been manager of CFWY since 2012 and worked for the CF program prior to that time with Leadership West Yellowhead. Her passions include writing, reading, knitting, hiking, travelling, and of course, following her two children and husband around northern Alberta in a quest to see every hockey rink north of highway 16.
Tim Shain
Business Analyst
T: 780-865-1224, ext 23
Born and raised in Alberta. Tim has lived in many different Albertan cities, both big and small, before settling down in Hinton 20 years ago to raise a family. He loves the outdoors, mountain biking, cross country skiing, and fly fishing. Tim has been at CFWY for nine years and enjoys helping new entrepreneurs and all things business. For more information, check out his LinkedIn profile.
Veronica Santafe
Small Business Coach
T: 780-865-1224
Veronica is originally from the Andes of Ecuador, and she describes herself as an entrepreneur, learner, and creative person. In 2015, Veronica moved to Canada to enroll in a Ph.D. program in Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan. During the last ten years, she has researched several topics in tourism and contributed to many large and small scale development projects. Veronica moved to Hinton in 2019 and fell in love with the area. She looks forward to helping people from all backgrounds find ways to grow their business, increase their sustainability, and positively impact the communities in the West Yellowhead region.
Nathalie Hahn
Office Manager/SMARTstart Coordinator
T: 780-865-1224
Nathalie moved to Alberta in 2017 after spending 24 years in the Yukon. She’s been in Hinton since 2018 and loves the people, community-spirit and mountains. She enjoys travelling to warmer climates as time and money permit! Nathalie also enjoys helping people and keeping busy!
Jax Delisle
Community Liaison
T: 780-865-1224
Jax grew up in Yellowhead County in the cozy hamlet of Brule, Alberta. She moved back to Hinton 15 years ago, and has called it home ever since. Jax is passionate about community, and when she's not at work, it's common to find her volunteering for projects that she cares deeply about.
Deanne Fabrick
Health & Safety Business Advisor/Youth Coordinator
T: 780-865-1224
Deanne was born and raised in rural Saskatchewan and made Alberta home in 1999. Deanne has spent the majority of her career in oil and gas and joined Community Futures three years ago. Her health and safety workshops have helped fill a gap in our training and coaching programs and her experience and wit bring a new twist to a tough subject. Deanne is passionate about her community and its growth. She sees the spark in our youth and is excited to help them become our business leaders of tomorrow. When she's not at work, you can find Deanne outside - skiing, hiking, camping, and spending time with her family and chickens. Go Riders!
Michelle MacNeil
EDP Coordinator
T: 780-865-1224
Michelle was born and raised in northern BC, and moved to Hinton in 2016. Michelle joined the CFWY team as an Office and Special Projects Coordinator and quickly developed a passion for the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program. In addition to the EDP program, she will also be working with Project Gazelle, a women’s entrepreneurship program and bringing exciting new programming and a business incubator to Hinton. When she’s not working, Michelle and her family can be (not so easily) found out fishing, camping, golfing or exploring.
Jessica Hearsey
Accountant
T: 780-865-1224
Jessica has been in the accounting field for over a decade. She has worked in public practice preparing financial statements and taxes, as well as in industry doing full cycle accounting and managing the day-to-day operations of a corporation. Jessica has always been an entrepreneur, she started several businesses as a child and ran her own painting company in University. She enjoys working with small businesses and helping people understand the numbers. Jessica and her husband are real estate investors in their home town of Hinton, AB. They enjoy golfing, travelling and spending time outdoors with their two Labradors.
