Our Staff
Sashko brings a decade of experience in the clean technology, healthcare and resource sectors. He held posts within several investment houses in the IB capacity, as well as on the operational side as upper management or a director of select companies. He is a strategic thinker with a proven sales, finance and international business track record. Sashko has a solid knowledge of the systems governing Canadian and US Stock Exchanges and public company management. He also published a number of peer reviewed manuscripts in various medical and science journals.
Sashko is a UFV and UBC (Jack Bell Research Centre) science graduate, currently completing a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He sits on the boards of a number of non-profit organizations, serves as an advisor to several private and public companies, and was induced, post-graduation, into the Golden Key Society of Canada as an honourary member. Sashko is a competitive cyclist and splits his time between British Columbia and Quebec.
Kathie has over twenty years experience in the resource sector, specializing in the forestry industry. She is a founding member of FORREX, sits on several boards and technical committees, and in addition presents at speaking engagements in the sector. As the Manager of Knowledge exchange, Kathie supports the work of the staff in the development of innovative client focused products and services. She has the ability to lead, plan and manage change well which helps her team of professionals work effectively with its diverse clients. Along with her organization and management skills Kathie is also well published with 25 manuscripts to date.
Kathie has offices in both Vernon and Kelowna, BC and is registered with the Association of BC Professional Foresters. She also holds an Honours BSc degree in Forestry from Lakehead University and a graduate designation from the University of British Columbia. She also holds a certificate in Management Skills for Supervisors from Okanagan College and has attended a variety of conflict and mediation courses from the Justice Institute of British Columbia. Kathie enjoys martial arts and is working towards her club level black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Suzan holds a MSc degree in Environmental Science and a PhD in Geography. Her research focuses on the pre-instrumental and the future hydroclimatic variability of western North America and has published in the sector. Before joining the FORREX team, she taught at the University of Lethbridge and was involved in various water quantity and water quality projects throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan, including the Oil Sands and southern agricultural region. Suzan was also involved in a collaborative research project between Chilean and Canadian research institutions, assessing the future climate scenarios and their potential impact to the vulnerabilities identified by local stakeholders. She continues to donate her time and expertise internationally, most recently in Nepal. Suzan is based in Kelowna, BC and is a competitive cyclist.
Rob Scherer is a Registered Forest Professional and Registered Professional Engineer in BC and has twenty years of experience working in the watershed management, hydrology and forestry. His background includes forest engineering, forest management and watershed assessments. Currently, Rob splits his time between FORREX ‘s Watershed Management Extension Projects and holding a teaching post as aof a professor in the Civil Engineering Technology Program at Okanagan College, Kelowna campus.
Alan is based in Prince George, BC and has been with FORREX for over a decade He has a graduate degree in Silviculture from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, ON and is a Registered Professional Forester in both ON and BC. His recent focus revolves around mountain pine beetle (MPB) infestation and the resulting information management issues it generated. Using various information management techniques such as synthesis products, web portals and conferences Al created opportunities for clients to have information at their finger tips .. Al also uses this same expertise when addressing questions related to silvicultural systems, growth and yield, and vegetation management. Among Alan’s other interests are ecosystem management concepts and application, remote sensing technology, and literature database development and management. When he is away from the world of literature and databases, Al is involved with the local theatre and is an avid golfer.
Don Gayton is based in Summerland BC and is an industry veteran whose career spans three decades of work with long-term vegetation monitoring, fire ecology, range management, and conservation biology. He has been with FORREX since 1999.
Don received an undergraduate degree in Agronomy from Washington State University, and completed graduate studies in Plant Ecology from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a member of the BC Institute of Agrologists. He is also recognized as an accomplished writer, winning the Canadian Science Writing Award and twice being shortlisted for the BC Book Awards. He was also the recipient of the Roberts-Pichette Award for excellence in ecological monitoring and research. Don was previously the Regional Range Agrologist for the Ministry of Forests in Nelson and prior to that was a Range Management Specialist for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. Don is the Editor in Chief for JEM, one of FORREX’s peer reviewed journals.
Maria is the office manager for FORREX and is based out of Kamloops, BC. Maria graduated from BCIT in Administrative Management and brings 14 years experience in both Marketing and Accounting. Maria was born in Portugal and moved to the lower mainland at a young age. She has been living in Kamloops for 5 years with her family and is actively involved in Kamloops Minor Hockey.
Matt's primary role is to maintain the public website and internal infrastructure as well provide general IT Support to all FORREX staff and plan for future technology requirements. Matt has over 10 years experience in Customer Service, IT Technical Support and Website Development. Along with his passion for technology and gadgets, Matt enjoys spending time with friends and family, snowboarding, hiking and mountain biking.
