About Us

Helping Businesses Diversify and Grow in the Lethbridge Region

Community Futures Lethbridge Region is a non-profit organization that gives local small and rural businesses the helping hand they need to thrive.

Ran by a team of regionally driven business professionals, consultants, and volunteers, Community Futures Lethbridge Region offers a variety of small business loans, including business improvement loans, along with expert guidance and management tools to help entrepreneurs expand, start, or sell their business.

In addition to offering financial support, Community Futures Lethbridge Region offers specialized business programs and educational courses aimed to improve business practices with the goal of encouraging further rural economic growth and help all companies in all industries develop a strong place in the community.

Furthermore, Community Futures Lethbridge Region works alongside community leaders and stakeholders to create strategic plans and implement projects that support value-added activity and expansion into new sectors. They also provide guidance on business retention and succession planning strategies to help businesses thrive in the long term.

With rural economic diversification at the core of what Community Futures Lethbridge Region does, and with their extensive experience supporting small, regional businesses since 1986, you can trust that you will receive the guidance and resources you need to take your business to the next level. No matter where you are on your business journey, Community Futures Lethbridge Region is here to help.


Meet Your Team

Troy Grainger

Executive Director
(780) 307-7997
(587) 800-8431
tgrainger@albertacf.com

Kate Ingram

Business Advisor
(587) 425-6978
(403) 320-6044
kingram@albertacf.com

Wanda Steinborn

Loans Coordinator
(587) 800-8427
w.steinborn@albertacf.com

Board of Directors

Jordan Sailer

Director, Town Of Coaldale

Jordan was born and raised in Lethbridge. He is a 2003 graduate of Lethbridge Collegiate Institute and earned a diploma in Business Administration from the Lethbridge College. Jordan and his wife are the proud parents of a two-year-old daughter.

Jordan has had a life-long passion for physical fitness and mental well-being and knowing the benefits that they have on a person’s life, wanted to bring that to his community. Shortly after starting Twisted Steel and spending so much time in Coaldale, Jordan knew he had to move here. He fell in love with the community and knew it was where he wanted to raise his family.

Jordan has been named one of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce’s “Top 40 Under 40” and Twisted Steel won the Coaldale Chamber of Commerce Customer Service Award for 2020. He is a member of the Coaldale Healthy Communities Committee and is a proud supporter of Coaldale’s local sports teams and other local events

Corné Mans

Director, Town Of Nobleford

Born and raised in the farming community of Southern Alberta, Corné shares ownership in the food distribution company Galimax Trading Inc. Located in Nobleford.

Corné spent six months working in New Zealand before finding his roots back in Southern Alberta where he attended Lethbridge College to achieve his business management diploma in April 2013.

He was elected to the office of the council for the Town of Nobleford in 2019 and he was appointed to represent Community Futures Lethbridge in the fall of 2019. 

From day-to-day business activities to time spending with family and friends, he always spreads a positive glow of energy.

John Kuerbis

Chair, Lethbridge County

John Kuerbis joined the Board in November 2021, as the Division 4 Lethbridge County Councilor. Division 4 is the region just west of Lethbridge and encompasses the area around Coalhurst and north to Diamond City. John has spent the last five years in Lethbridge, having moved from Fort McMurray. He grew up in the Athabasca area. 

John is an insurance adjuster and has run his own firm for the last 15 years, he is also a certified fire cause and origin investigator, he previously owned and operated a Real Estate/Property management firm.

John has sat on several boards over the last 30 years including:

Athabasca Chamber of Commerce-President and vice president, Director of Athabasca Little league, Perryvale Community association-Director and president, Athabasca River Runners snowmobile club-Treasurer, Fort McMurray Composite athletics association-Director and president, Fort McMurray Composite Parents association-Director, McMurray Dirt Riders Motocross track-Director, Vice President, president.

He is the father of 4 children and 3 grandchildren, and enjoys woodworking and classic cars. He is always happy to drop everything to help anyone in need.

Gary Bikman

Director, Village Of Stirling

Gary Bikman joined the Board in November 2021, as an elected Councilor for the village of Stirling. Gary has served his community since the mid-1970s having been the former Mayor of Stirling and serving as a Councilor in four previous terms.  Gary 

Gary owned and operated oilfield services company Speedy Heavy Hauling, as well as fast food Chinese restaurant ChopStix. Gary was also a sessional instructor at the University of Lethbridge, teaching Management Skills Development, in addition to teaching life skills and employability to trades students at the Lethbridge College.

Gary has sat on the Stirling Library board, and served as a Leader of youth groups. He was an early Morning Teacher of grade 11-12 students who voluntarily gave up sleep to learn about ethics, moral behaviour, philosophy, goal setting, interpersonal relationships and community service, integrity etc. 

Allen Tollestrup

Director, Town Of Raymond

Allen Tollestrup joined the Board in November 2021, as a councilor for the Town of Raymond. Allen has lived in the community of Raymond for the past seventeen years. 

He graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Management. Allen works as a CPA and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta. He is  married and is a father to four sons. He enjoys playing golf and spending time with family.

Aaron Zaugg

Director, Town Of Magrath

Aaron Zaugg joined the Board in November 2021, as an elected councilor for the Town of Magrath. Aaron has lived in Magrath since 2008 and has served his community as a volunteer EMR with Magrath Emergency Services from ’08 – ’12. Aaron sits on multiple community boards, including the Magrath Museum Board, Magrath Fire and Emergency Board, and the Wildrose HOA.

Aaron is currently the VP of Broker Distribution West at Surex.com. Prior to working at Surex he was a part owner of a Pest Control Company.

Aaron has completed in several triathlons, with the longest distance he has completed being the half Ironman.

Deborah Florence

Director, Town Of Coalhurst

Deborah joined the Board in January 2022 as an elected councillor for the town of Coalhurst. She was raised on a farm just outside the town, retuning to Coalhurst in 2011 with her husband to raise their two young boys. Deborah has a professional background in human services work; she has worked for the YWCA, run a licensed Day Home in Coalhurst, and is currently running her own home organization business – Simply Organized, as well as working as an administrator for the Fresh Life Church.

Deborah describes herself as a community builder who loves to volunteer. She has spent over a decade volunteering in and around Coalhurst, in a variety of formal and informal roles. It is her belief that each one of us is responsible for creating the kind of community that we want to live in and are proud to be a part of. Some of Deborah’s volunteer roles include Food Security Saturday Coordinator for the Town of Coalhurst, former Board President of the Miner’s Days Historical Association of Coalhurst, coordinator for the Town of Coalhurst Municipal Emergency Management Agency. and organizing events for the YWCA Young Women’s Leadership Council.

Deborah has two young children who are the center of her world. They love spending time together exploring the outdoors. Their current hobbies are biking, gardening and spending as much time as possible by the water.

Stephen Mogdan

Director, Member at Large

Biography to be updated soon.

Jack Van Rijn

Director, Member At Large

Jack Van Rijn was born in Taber, Alberta and his family farmed in the Readymade area until 1966 when they moved to Coaldale. Jack is the youngest of 18 children and the only one born in Canada. Coaldale has been his home all his life and is where his three children were raised: Lindsay, Jessie, and Cam. As ‘Coaldale’s Number 1 Fan’ (self-proclaimed) Jack has been heavily involved as a volunteer through various organizations for over 37 years to make Coaldale an even better place to work, live and play! Jack has always been a firm believer in giving back to the community and making a real difference.

He is the former co-owner of Van Rijn Electric; a business he started and ran with his brother Hank for over 35 years. Jack believes Coaldale is a great place to grow a business and strives to actively promote Coaldale businesses through the local Chamber of Commerce, with which he has been involved for the past 35 years and will continue to do so.

That company grew into Southland Industries, Lethbridge Truck Equipment and Royal Trailers.  After selling his interest in Southland he started Chinook Country Trailers and worked with Southland and Lethbridge County servicing and completing infrastructure for the Broxburn Business Park. 

Rory is currently President of a Commercial Condo Association and manages commercial buildings in Lethbridge and Coaldale.

Clinton Bishop

Director, Village of Barons

Clinton joined the Board in May of 2023 as the newly elected Mayor of the Village of Barons. More bio information to be added soon.


Reports

Performance Reporting:


Interested In Becoming A Board Member Or Committee Volunteer? Get In Touch!

Impact the growth of our community and join our board. We’re always looking for great people to help better our business community here in the Lethbridge region and offer new growth opportunities to Lethbridge region based entrepreneurs.

Click here for more information on Board composition and recruitment