FSA
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Peter Fenrich
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President
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After starting my career with teaching in Nigeria for two years and then returning to find that the provincial government had laid off all teachers with less than five years of experience, I could not find a job and enrolled as a student in BCIT’s Computer Systems Technology program. This started my commitment to BCIT. Following graduation in 1985, I was hired by BCIT to work in the newly-created Computer Based Training department. When the department joined the Technology Centre, I worked in Applied Research as an Intermediate Systems Analyst and later as a Project Leader. In 2008, I joined the Learning and Teaching Centre (LTC) where I now work as an Instructional Development Consultant (IDC). During these years at BCIT, I have authored and published three textbooks on instructional design, written numerous papers and presented them at conferences, won awards for my work, wrote an exercise workbook for a math class that I have been teaching in Part-time Studies since 1986, completed a Master of Science degree, and recently earned my PhD in Education.
In my IDC role, I worked on a variety of projects that ranged from supporting the design and development of course materials, curriculum reviews, program proposals, and program reviews, as well as facilitating faculty and staff professional development through Instructional Skills Workshops and other PD initiatives.
What’s your favourite thing about working at BCIT?
Working with so many people who genuinely care about the work they do, which ultimately helps our students.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
When I started in post-secondary, I thought that it would be great to have a career of being a professional student in that I could continuously learn about anything of interest. However, I did know that it would be a financial disaster and one needs to contribute to society. So, when I retire, I would take courses on or research topics of interest, such as anthropology, cultural differences, and astronomy.
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Silvia Raschke
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Director
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Silvia Raschke is past Vice President of the BCIT FSA, after having served two terms, prior to which she sat on the FSA executive for three years. She is a founding member of CARAS – the FSA Caucus for Applied Research and Applied Studies and was a member of the past two bargaining teams. She has had a varied career at BCIT, starting as an Assistant Instructor in the Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) Department, where a part of her work included carrying out research in CAD/CAM applications for Orthotics. Taking a PD Leave from BCIT in the mid-1990s she earned her PhD from the University of Strathclyde before returning to BCIT. She subsequently served as a Teaching Faculty Member and as Program Head for the Prosthetics and Orthotics program, while continuing to do research in the field of Rehabilitation Engineering. She is currently a Non-teaching Faculty member at the Technology Centre, where she is the Principle Investigator for the Centre for Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology that Enables (CREATE), collaborating with the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department and the Forensics Department.
What’s your favourite thing about working at BCIT?
The flexibility to be able to make a meaningful contribution and have a great career; having been able to take on new opportunities and grow without having to jump from one institution to another.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
How to fall asleep instantly on an airplane.
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Terry Gordon
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Treasurer
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Terry has been an instructor in the Financial Management Department of BCIT’s School of Business since 1998. He is currently one of the first year program heads for the Accounting, Finance and Financial Planning diploma programs, and teaches various accounting and finance related courses. Terry’s involvement with the FSA dates back to 2006 when he was first elected to the FSA Board of Directors. After serving as FSA Treasurer for two years, Terry was elected as Vice President and was Acting President for 10 months while Amy Fell was on maternity leave. Terry has served on the FSA Collective Agreement and Bargaining Committees for the past several rounds of collective bargaining. He has a BA in Political Science from the University of Florida and a Diploma of Technology in Financial Management from BCIT. Terry is a CPA, CA, and a Chartered Business Valuator.
What is your favourite thing about working at BCIT?
My students! They keep me focused on what matters most at BCIT – helping young people launch meaningful and rewarding careers.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
Take my guitar playing to the next level so that I can fulfill my destiny of rock stardom.
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Karl Hildebrandt
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Director
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After graduating from BCIT in 1986 I’ve enjoyed a 20+ year career in the Telecommunications and IT industry before coming back to BCIT seven years ago. During that time I have worked in small startups and large multinational companies. I am now using that experience in the IT department here at BCIT Outside of work I’ve helped start a non-profit from the ground up to bring food to the homeless in Vancouver and later transitioned it to full charity status.
What’s your favourite thing about working at BCIT?
Helping to build BCIT to be ready to meet that future and help our student to excel.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I’d love to learn to do a spacewalk outside the International Space Station.
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Colin Jones
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Director and Chief Negotiator
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Colin has served on the FSA’s bargaining team for the last two rounds, and has previously been an FSA Board Director and was elected back onto the board in the by-election in November 2019. He has also sat on a variety of committees on behalf of FSA. For the duration of the negotiations, Colin will be released from his position in Information Technology Services (ITS) at BCIT. The FSA’s Chief Negotiator is a key role on the FSA’s Collective Agreement Committee and Bargaining Team. The Chief Negotiator is the lead voice at the bargaining table, along with the other members of the bargaining team that includes FSA members, board members, and staff. Colin brings immense experience and knowledge to this role. With more than two decades of solutions-based work, Colin’s background in process improvement, strategic analysis, and project management is extremely valuable. Colin enjoys finding innovatively simple ways to solve thorny problems and frustrations. We are thrilled that he is taking on this leadership role with our organization at this critical time.
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604.456.8020
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colin_jones@bcit.ca
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Shannon Kelly
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Director
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Shannon joined BCIT in 2002 as an instructor in Communication and became a Program Head for PTS in 2004. Shannon has experience working in industry as well as a doctorate from the University of Waterloo, specializing in technical communication.
Shannon's first love is teaching and she specifically chose BCIT due to its polytechnic nature. Her passion for teaching is matched by her interest in research. Shannon's areas of research include teaching excellence, technology in the classroom, Humanities in the professions, and Sustainability.
Shannon is an FSA Co-Tech Rep for her department and has been informally involved with the FSA on many issues over the years. Shannon's focus is for the FSA to keep the priorities and wellbeing of all our members in the forefront at all times and to support our members as effectively and strategically as possible.
What’s your favourite thing about working at BCIT?
BCIT students are amazing: their passion and work ethic and intelligence never cease to inspire me (my fellow faculty and colleagues at BCIT are great too).
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I speak “ok” Italian, but I would love to be more fluent – ah, for some more time to practice, preferably in Roma.
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Paul Mills
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Director, Associate Members
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Paul holds a Masters degree and a teaching degree. He has worked at BCIT since January 2001 dedicating the bulk of his time creating and teaching Part-Time courses for the School of Computing and Academic Studies as well the HTP specialty programs. He maintains a very busy schedule teaching throughout the week at both the Burnaby and Vancouver campuses. This exposure has afforded Paul the opportunity to meet many fellow PTS instructors, and he continually seeks to form new relationships among them. He is proud to be counted among the growing number of PTS instructors who consider their work at BCIT their primary source of income.
Paul's time at BCIT has made him aware of the the many positive things about working for the college. First among these is meeting the wonderful group of people who dedicate so much of the time to share their knowledge and experience with their students. His main focus as an FSA Board Member is to promote fair compensation for hours worked, greater support from both BCIT and the FSA, and real job security for PTS members. He continues to call upon all PTS members to come together in a united voice in order to foster change for the better.
What’s your favourite thing about working at BCIT?
Coming soon!
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
Coming soon!
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Holly Munn
- Holly Munn has spent her career helping world-class public, private and government organizations communicate and tell their stories.
Holly believes knowledge and expertise deserve to be shared and is passionate about helping her students succeed. In addition to her role as a part-time studies instructor in the Technical Writing program, Holly is a partner in a professional communications firm. She also serves on a number of non-profit boards bringing communications and board governance expertise.
Holly was elected to the FSA board in 2019. She is eager to ensure BCIT provides a safe and fair learning environment for all students and instructors at BCIT, particularly those in part-time studies.
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Maria Angerilli
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Operations Director
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Maria joined the FSA in October 2011. She works closely with the FSA Board of Directors, the President and Executive Director assisting them with the overall operations of the FSA office. Maria has experience supporting senior level executive teams in both the commercial real estate and retail industries
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604.432.8356
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mangerilli@bcit.ca
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Kyla Epstein
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Member Engagement Officer
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Kyla joined the FSA in 2013 in the newly created position of Member Engagement Officer. Building on her degree in Political Science and International Development Kyla has worked for social justice in both Canada and Guatemala. With almost two decades of experience in non-profit administration, governance, fundraising, engagement and communications, Kyla is an active volunteer having served on many boards and most recently was a Director with the BC Library Trustees Association (BCLTA), and the Chair of Vancouver Public Library. Kyla currently serves on the Vancouver Writers Festival board of directors, the City of Vancouver Civic Asset Naming Committee, is an active member of the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) of her child's school, and in 2017 Kyla was selected to attend the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference.
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604.432.8569
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kepstein@bcit.ca
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George Talbott
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Senior Labour Relations Representative
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George earned a law degree from the University of Alberta, receiving the Alberta Labour Relations Board prize, and was called to the bar of Ontario. Previously, he earned a B.Sc. (Hons.) in physics from the same university.
While articling for a boutique labour and employment law firm, George was an activist with the Council of Canadian’s Ottawa chapter, and later became the Council’s head of human resources. In the past, George has written freelance articles, mostly in the area of labour law and labour relations, for publishers such as Canada Law Book, Lancaster House, and Workforce magazine. As a result of his experiences, he became a founding member of the C.E.P.’s Canadian Freelance Union, now part of Unifor.
Advising organizations in the non-profit, private, and public sectors, George’s repertoire includes collective agreement interpretation, conflict resolution, training, collective bargaining, legal drafting and research. He is a member of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources, BC & Yukon and of the Law Society of Ontario.
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604-432-8568
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gtalbott@bcit.ca
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Kristie Starr
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Labour Relations Representative
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Kristie was born and raised in southern Colorado and graduated with a B.A. in history and russian studies from Colorado College. She spent the next ten years at Yale University, pursuing a graduate education in history and learning valuable lessons in social justice activism. While enrolled in a Ph.D. program, she joined the effort to organize the first teaching assistants union at a private university in the U.S., partnering with the other unions on campus and in the city of New Haven. This experience inspired her to become a union representative and organizer in cities across Connecticut, California, Florida, Colorado, and, finally, brought her to work with a local in B.C. Her passion for social justice then led her to work in Vancouver’s non-profit community, in the roles of outreach or operations coordinator at Megaphone Magazine, Green Jobs for BC, Next Up, and Organize BC. With sixteen years of experience in the labour movement, Kristie has developed expertise in servicing union contracts, member engagement, and grassroots organizing. In her spare time, you can find her delving into a good historical fiction novel, knitting yet another toque, or marveling at the beauty of this province on its many woodland and seaside trails.
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604.451.7161
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kstarr3@bcit.ca
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Michael Thompson
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Labour Relations Representative
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Michael Thompson’s interest in labour activism began at the age of seven when he joined his dad on the picket line. That early experience of his father’s union taking a stand for workers’ rights forged his passion for social justice. He went on to study Economics and Business at SFU, rounding out his skillset to service the membership. His formal work with unions began in the early nineties where he served at the local level, holding various elected and appointed committee positions. During this time Michael also volunteered for several years with the Vancouver Police department. There, he received training in conflict resolution and gained other valuable experiences that greatly enhanced his ability to help members in need. In 2006 he was elected as a full-time Business Agent and went on to become the National Secretary-Treasurer of his union, responsible for staff and seven offices from Burnaby to Montreal. Michael most recently worked as a representative for an interprovincial construction union prior to arriving at the FSA. His experience includes collective agreement interpretation, membership training, legal research and pension plans.
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604.432.8349
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mthompson117@bcit.ca
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Pierre Cassidy
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Information Officer
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Pierre Cassidy has extensive experience in the post-secondary sector, notably on matters of policy, process, and privacy, as well as managing, processing, and securing corporate records. He teaches a variety of courses on ethics and critical thinking, reading, and writing. He has volunteered in the labour movement as an executive committee member, bargaining committee member, and as a shop steward. This experience is supported by robust and broad educational foundation in the liberal arts, business analytics, database administration and design, business process mapping and improvement, and personal information protection.
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604.432.8859
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pcassidy4@bcit.ca
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Debbie Kinequon
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Operations Assistant
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Debbie joined the FSA in October 2017. Debbie has 13 years of experience working in high level administrative roles from which she acquired a very diverse set of office skills. Debbie’s past experience and knowledge will be an asset as she assists with the day to day operations in the FSA office.
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604.412.7408
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dkinequon1@bcit.ca
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Meet The Team
bcitfsaRT @UNBCFA: Rise and shine for a strong Friday on the line! Wishing all the best to @UNBCFA @CUPE3799 @CUPE2278 and @UniteHere40 members st…Fri Nov 15 17:23:50 +0000 2019
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#bcpse t.co/JZYCnsV6BvTue Nov 12 21:25:49 +0000 2019
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We couldn't be more proud to have presented the annual FSA Distinguished Alumni Award to one of our fantastic membe… t.co/hQtGvRQOPUWed Oct 30 22:41:18 +0000 2019