Alumni Advisory Council

Lydell is a lifelong resident of Grande Prairie/La Glace who is proud that NWP's Business Administration diploma program launched his careerpath as a Chartered Accountant. He is a champion of NWP as a long-time supporter of the institution's fundraising events, as well as a promoter of hiring NWP grads by Fletcher Mudryk, of which he is a partner. Lydell strives for excellence in the community and has received many awards including the Chartered Accountants Early Achievement Award due to his volunteer efforts.

Lydell 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. He is very much looking forward to giving his expertise back to NWP.

Gerald Auger is of Woodland Cree descent and a proud graduate of our Business Administration program, specializing in Marketing Management. Following his education, Gerald spent over 20 years working in Hollywood as an award-winning Director and Actor, where he concentrated on advancing the status of his people, while exposing and debunking the stereotypes. He is now a motivational speaker and has been awarded the National Native Role Model from the Governor General of Canada, and the Rotary International Integrity Award.

Gerald walked away from mainstream society in 2009, embarking on a six-year sabbatical in the wilderness which ended with his traditional knowledge keepers, healers and ceremonial Elders. His focus has been on bridging the gap between Indigenous communities and the western world, creating mutual understanding and respect through truth and reconciliation, especiallyl for Indigenous Peoples & industry involved in the energy sector.

John Tiede is the current president of the Students' Association of NWP. He was the previous Vice President External during the 2020-2021 academic year and is enrolled in the Business Administration Diploma program. John comes from a large family and grew up in the Peace Region. He takes pride in the local community and the citizens who make the region a great place to live and study. There are many unique challenges currently facing students and John is proud to advocate for their needs and concerns by serving on several boards and councils, including NWP's Board of Governors, Academic Council, and Workforce Advisory Council. With the exciting transition into a Polytechnic Institution, John is optimistic for the future of NWP and its students.

Dr. Leisa Floreani was born and raised on the west coast of BC, moving to Grande Prairie as a teenager. After graduating high school she attended NWP, studying sciences before being accepted to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She graduated with distinction in 2015 and moved back to Fairview, Alberta to practice in a rural mixed animal clinic. She works on a variety of creatures, ranging from cattle and horses down to dogs and cats (with some exotics from time to time). She has a special place in her heart for small ruminants and is passionate about communication within the veterinary profession.

Brenda was born and raised in the Peace Country where she began her post-secondary education with a Business Administration Diploma at NWP, continuing on to achieve her Bachelor of Administration degree through NWP's collaborative program with Athabasca University.

She has over 20 years' experience in the accounting field as CFO, Controller and Assistant Controller, providing her with a wide range of knowledge that she utilizes in her current role as Chief Financial Officer-Executive Vice President of a local oilfield service company. She is a firm believer in bottom-up management and that teamwork, with strong leadership, is the backbone of any successful business. She values input from all members of the team and thoroughly enjoys mentoring others.

She loves to support her community and has been involved with many local charities and non-profit organizations.

Sheila is a proud alumna of NWP's Office Administration Diploma program. Her passion for NWP knows no bounds and she has helped guide countless students in her various working roles within the institution, most recently as the Outreach Worker at NWP's On-campus Friendship Centre.

Sheila takes great pride in getting involved and volunteering in her community. She has dedicated her time as President of the Building Blocks Daycare Board of Directors, President of the Schlumberger Spouses Association, Board Member of the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre, and an active member with the NWP Employees' Association and the Alberta Awards Association.

Sheila is excited to put her previous experiences with these organizations and her knowledge of NWP toward growing the connection with our alumni.

Peter Sellers is an alumnus of NWP's Harley-Davidson® Technician Certificate program of which he has proudly been an instructor since 2005. He has been involved in strategic planning at the local level through his community volunteer work with Fairview Minor Soccer, Heart of the Peace Recreational Society, and the Fairview Recreational Advisory Committee.

Peter was also instrumental in leading the organizing team of NWP's Fairview Campus 60th anniversary celebrations. He is looking forward to contributing his experience to the Alumni Advisory Council.

Cherene Griffiths joined NWP's Executive in August 2020, adding her 15 years' experience in post-secondary education within Alberta, to the team. She recently served as the Executive Director, Government Relations, at the University of Alberta, where she helped to build and advance the institution's reputation and relationships. Cherene brings leadership experience in stakeholder engagement, issues management, administration, and human resources to the Vice President, External Relations role.

Cherene holds a Bachelor of Commerce, and a Master's of Business Administration from the University of Alberta, as well as a designation as a Chartered Professional in Human Resources. Throughout her career, Cherene has distinguished herself through her commitment to post-secondary education, building relationships, and her dedication to community service.