ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wayne is a proud Ojibway from Wikwemikong, Ontario, a father of three, and grandfather of two. His life journey has been one of prioritizing social and economic enterprises. As a seasoned entrepreneur, his experience spans various sectors including technology, banking, clothing, beverage, and sports industries. His legacy of community enrichment has significantly and positively impacted Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities globally, including incubating new Aboriginal businesses, creating opportunities for youth, leadership development through sports, and being a strong advocate of embracing First Nation language as a tool for cultural memory and learning. For Wayne, his passion for progressive community and industry development is values-based. It combines the collaborative spirit of moving forward with developing strong partnerships with local governments, non-profit business support organizations, and industry associations. His openness to share his experiences and learnings has led him to include being a published author and a seasoned internal speaker to his list of accomplishments. He has recently completed his MBA at Thompson Rivers University/Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in British Columbia. The achievements of Wayne’s career journey to date are vast, long-lasting, and legacy-enriching. It is these accomplishments and his strategic vision that have led to him being sought after for senior leadership roles in organizations. Wayne is currently on the Board of Directors at ETSI-BC, the former Chair and Advisory Council member for the Centre of Training Excellence in Mining, and the former President of the Board of Directors at Conayt Native Friendship Centre. He has also been President of the Longlac Chamber of Commerce; an instructor, coach, and mentor for several youth hockey programs, and extensively active in the hockey and lacrosse associations in Ontario and British Columbia. He has founded several companies and is currently developing a social-impact company