Board of Governors

First Term - Appointed until December 12, 2022

Bridget Hennigar has life-long roots in the Peace Country. Graduating from Sexsmith High School, Bridget began her post secondary studies at Grande Prairie Regional College and completed her Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction from the University of Alberta, followed by her Chartered Accountant designation. Bridget has completed the Directors Education Program and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Bridget practised Public Accounting for over 30 years and is a former Regional Managing Partner of MNP, a national accounting and business advisory firm. Bridget’s leadership experience taught her that a collaborative approach generates synergy. After retiring for one year, Bridget is now the Chief Operating Officer of a start-up business, CLHbid.com, an online sales platform to sell farm land in Western Canada.

She believes in community involvement and has served as President of the Grande Prairie Regional Agricultural and Exhibition Society, President of the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce, Executive Council of Centre 2000 Building Committee, Co-Chair of the GPRC Vital Campaign, Board Member of the Swan City Rotary and Council Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta.

In recognition of her accomplishments and her service to the community, Bridget has received the Fellow of Chartered Professional Accountants, the GPRC Distinguished Alumni Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Bridget is passionate about the pursuit of excellence in post secondary education in our community.

First Term - Appointed until August 2022

Brent grew up in Beaverlodge and attended primary and secondary school in Beaverlodge and Hythe, giving him long established roots within the communities of the west county. Following high school graduation, he attended Grande Prairie Regional College for two years in the university transfer program. Brent went on to obtain a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Calgary and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 2003.

Brent is a lawyer at Carter Lock & Horrigan, practising primarily corporate and commercial law, advising clients on all aspects of business transactions including mergers and acquisitions, dispositions and reorganizations. He has extensive experience advising on corporate agreements pertaining to the development and ongoing operation of a business. Prior to returning to Grande Prairie in 2015, Brent practiced law in Calgary for 10 years in the areas of securities and corporate finance. He completed his articles with a top tier national law firm and then went on to practice as an associate with a securities boutique and as a partner with a full-service business law firm. Brent has represented both publicly listed corporations and small to mid-sized companies, providing counsel on such matters as private placements, initial public offerings, securities regulation, corporate governance, and general corporate and commercial law.

Brent places a high value on education and understands the importance of GPRC to the region. He is excited to be a part of the college as it transitions to a degree-granting institution.

First Term - Appointed until April 2023

Roy was raised on a small farm in the Worsley area of the North Peace region, and has lived in Fairview for the past 28 years.

After graduating, Roy started working in the seismic business, spending over 25 years in the trade. In 1993 Roy and his family ventured into the purebred Angus business, and he has been active in the cattle industry since that time.

Over the years Roy has been involved with numerous organizations where he has worn many hats. He was a councillor for the MD of Fairview, board member for the Peace Country Beef and Forage Association, and one of the founders of the Peace Country Beef Congress. Roy has also been very involved with local sports, as President of Fairview Minor Hockey and on the board for GPAC for three terms. Roy is a member of the Alberta Métis Association and is involved in the Fairview Local.

Roy is excited to serve on the GPRC Board of Governors. He realizes the importance of having a strong post-secondary institution in the Peace Region, and looks forward to contributing to the future successes of GPRC.

First Term - Appointed until February 2022

Heather has lived near Fairview for most of her life and therefore has the small town atmosphere in her heart and soul. After graduating from Fairview High School, she married a local farmer and settled down on the family farm to raise their four children. During this time, she started a home-based business, which she moved into town and operated for a number of years, and it is still operating in Fairview under new ownership.

In 1982, Heather and her husband John also started a seed cleaning business called Golden Acre Seeds, which they continue to operate today, complementing their expanding fourth-generation family farm.

Over the years, Heather has been involved in numerous organizations, and taken on many different roles, including coaching high school sports for many years. She has more than 25 years of leadership experience with agricultural organizations, most recently with Organic Alberta, and had served eight years on the board of Forage Seed Canada, including three years as the Chair.

Heather and John spent many years traveling with their children during their sports careers, including many trips with Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves club and college sports programs.

Quality education has always been extremely important to Heather, and she is excited to have the opportunity to serve on the GPRC Board of Governors and hopes to contribute to the success of the entire GPRC institution.

Second Term - Appointed until April 2022

Connie completed her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Alberta in 2000. Her recent academic research interests have been concentrated on scientific literacy, specifically how readers' analyses of media reports of scientific findings affect personal decision making. Since arriving in Grande Prairie in 2001, she has also engaged in numerous community-driven studies designed to facilitate evidence-based best practice. Over her academic career, Connie has received several teaching and research awards, most recently from the Canada Council on Learning and from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. As the principal investigator of the GP-Police and Crisis Team project, she is grateful for the support provided by the research partners and is optimistic that the research findings will have a significant positive impact on services provided to those who experience mental health crises. She is also excited about the number of research opportunities that the GP-PACT project will afford to GPRC students.

Connie is a long-standing member of the Sunrise Rotary Club in Grande Prairie, volunteers for Odyssey House, and has served on a number of boards, currently for PACE and the Suicide Prevention and Resource Centre. She has a black belt in Shotokan Karate and hopes to continue training to a second-degree level. During her free time, Connie travels extensively; she hopes to visit every country on her bucket list before she retires.

First Term - Appointed until January 2024

Shawna Miller is an entrepreneur and business‐woman with two decades of experience. As head of a family-based business, Shawna owns and operates Subway Restaurants across Northwestern Alberta, an oilfield service company, and a property investment company.

Shawna began her education at GPRC before transferring to the University of Alberta to complete her degree in Economics. Upon graduation, Shawna returned to her home community of Grande Prairie to pursue her dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

Shawna is a strong community supporter and has volunteered her time on many not‐for‐profit boards including those of the Grande Prairie United Way, Tiny Hands of Hope, Business Link and Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation. She served on the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors for eight years, including five years on the Executive Committee and two years as Chair. Shawna is currently the Board Chair of The Alberta Chamber of Commerce and has recently completed her term as a director on the Canadian Chamber board.

In recognition of her many accomplishments, she has received the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce 2017 Above and Beyond Award and GPRC 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award.

First Term - Appointed until June 2022

Nneka Nwaigwe moved from Calgary to Grande Prairie in 2016. She previously enrolled into the Power Engineering program in GPRC, Fairview campus and graduated in 2018. She however decided to change career courses in order to achieve more fulfilment hence the switch to Nursing program. Currently, Nneka is a 3rd year Nursing student in GPRC. She has served as a student ambassador for 2 years in a row, volunteering in various activities.

Nneka also serves as the Vice President of Circle of Indigenous Students (CIS). She resides in Grande Prairie with her family and spends her free time talking walks and riding bikes with her kids.

Nneka is dedicated to encouraging students to rise above their challenges and obstacles and to achieve whatever goals they set for themselves.

Second Term - Appointed until June 2022

Lorne Radbourne is a born and raised Grande Prairian who chose to stay in the city and marry, raise his family and pursue his work career goals. He is proud of Grande Prairie and the Peace Region and our potential as a growing, vibrant and resourceful community.

Following high school, Lorne enrolled at Grande Prairie Regional College with the goal of becoming a teacher. At that time GPRC was a one-year learning institution, so he completed his Bachelor of Education at the University of Alberta. He also completed his Diploma and Masters of Educational Administration at the UofA a number of years later.

Lorne spent his entire 35-year career as an educator with the Grande Prairie Public School District, in various roles including teacher, school administrator and district administrator. Lorne served as Superintendent of Schools for the GPPSD for 11 years, and is described as an effective and accomplished educator and leader.

Following his retirement as an educator, Lorne moved on to his second career as a dedicated and influential Grande Prairie City Councillor. He was very popular during the three terms he served on Council, noted especially for asking the right questions, understanding community issues, listening with an open mind, building relationships, doing his homework, and being fiscally responsible.

Lorne’s service to community extends to his current volunteer involvements as a member of the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie, Board member of the GPPSD Education Foundation, Board member of the Hockey Alberta Foundation and as a Trustee of St. Paul’s United Church.

Lorne is both excited and pleased to continue his service to community as a public member of the GPRC Board of Governors.

First Term - Appointed until January 2024

Kevin Szakacs is a long-time Grande Prairie resident and entrepreneur. He has been the owner and operator of Hi-Tech Business Systems in Grande Prairie since 1987, and has played a role in numerous other local businesses, including President of Signature Land Corp.

Kevin has strong ties to the local business community and credits much of his success to lessons he learned from the city’s founding business leaders. He believes in a solid education and a passion for learning, which has led him to his role on the GPRC Board of Governors. Kevin loves the sense of community Grande Prairie is known for and wants to do his part to ensure our youth can get a quality education, right here at home.

Kevin moved to Grande Prairie in the early 1980’s and soon after met his wife Wendy. They have been married for over 35-years and have three adult children. Together the couple has established the Szakacs Family Fund through the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta. This fund is a Community Impact Fund and serves to support the current areas of need within the community.

First Term

John grew up in Grande Prairie with a large family, spending most of his time on the ice or outdoors. He is currently finishing the Business Administration Diploma with a Financial Services Major, after which he will transfer to the University of Lethbridge to finish his Finance Degree, with aspirations of Law School in the future.

John is in his second year of student leadership at GPRC. He is the current President and served as the previous VP External for the Students' Association. John has represented the Students' Association on both Academic Council and Workforce Advisory Council and additionally, he chairs the Students' Council.

John has deep routes in the Peace Region, spending most of his spare time coaching youth hockey or creating resumes for residents seeking employment. He is a strong advocate of youth engagement and opportunities.

John is both honoured and excited to hold membership on the Board of Governors and contribute to the institution's polytechnic transition.

First Term - Appointed until August 2022

Lydell was born and raised in the Grande Prairie area, having lived in either Grande Prairie or La Glace his entire life. After graduating high school Lydell attended GPRC, receiving his Business Administration diploma in 1998 and then his Bachelor of Administration (Management) from Athabasca University, collaborative with GPRC, in December 1999. He began articling with Fletcher Mudryk LLP, Chartered Accountants in January 2000, and achieved his Chartered Accountant designation in January 2003, earning the bronze medal in Alberta on the Uniform Final Examination.

After becoming a partner with Fletcher Mudryk in 2006, Lydell received the Chartered Accountants Early Achievement Award due to his volunteer efforts, particularly the 2004 Royal Bank Cup hosted by the Grande Prairie Storm. This award is given to CAs early in their career who have rendered exceptional service to the profession or whose achievements in their careers or in the community have earned them distinction and brought honour to the profession.

During his time at Fletcher Mudryk, Lydell has championed GPRC through hiring accounting graduates, as well as supporting the College overall. Fletcher Mudryk is currently the title sponsor of the GPRC College Classic, providing both financial support as well as staff volunteers for the event. Lydell is proud to have been a part of this event, one of the College’s largest annual fundraisers, since 2000.

Lydell joined the GPRC Board of Governors in August 2019, in part due to his history there, but also in conjunction with part of Fletcher Mudryk’s overall vision, to strive for excellence for our community. Lydell wants to give back his financial expertise, which is rooted in his initial training at GPRC.

Lydell takes a logical and low risk approach to decision making, wanting to be fully informed prior to taking action while at the same time not being paralyzed by inaction. He believes strongly in empowering administration to do their jobs well, while at the same time establishing firm guard-rails to ensure strong stewardship over the assets and operations of any organization he deals with and it will be no different at GPRC.

Lydell and his wife Trish have three children, Marek, Melayna and Troy. Lydell enjoys playing golf, traveling, cooking and spending time with friends and family.

First Term - Appointed until December 2022

Michelle has been working at Grande Prairie Regional College as the Clinical Placement Coordinator in the Department of Nursing and Health Education since 2017. During this time she has been an active member of the Employees’ Association Executive having held both the position of President and Collective Bargaining Chair. She is an alumna of GPRC and proud of the impact the College makes in our community.

Prior to beginning her career with GPRC, Michelle worked as a Human Resources Consultant and has several years’ experience working in a wide variety of Human Resources related roles in both the private and public sector.

Michelle's post-secondary education includes completion of a Diploma in Business Administration from Grande Prairie Regional College, a Human Resources Diploma (with Distinction) from Grant MacEwan, a Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education from University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations (with Distinction) from Athabasca University. She is currently completing her Masters in Education – Distance Education with a focus in Educational Leadership. She is passionate about lifelong learning and has a strong interest in post-secondary governance.

During her spare time, Michelle enjoys working with mixed medium art and relaxing weekends in the mountains.

First Term - Appointed until August 2022

Ron Wiebe was raised on a farm/ trucking operation near La Crete Alberta, attending school in that community. Ron grew up with a passion for trucking and at the age of 20 he started Wiebe Transport with his father and brothers. Ron has been a lifelong entrepreneur and has been involved in several successful start-up businesses, spending his entire career in the transportation industry.

In 1993 Ron and his wife Mary, along with their three children moved to Grande Prairie to expand their business. Grande Prairie has been a great place to raise their family.

Over the years Ron has served on a number of organizations in roles such as an elected councillor in the MD of Mackenzie, and a board member of the Northwest Corridor Development Corp. In addition to these, he has served on the Grande Prairie Christian School Board, MCC Alberta Board, and WPC Church Board.

Ron is excited to serve on the GPRC Board of Governors, and to work together to ensure GPRC remains a viable institution that continues to offer students an excellent post-secondary education, in line with the needs of our region and beyond.