In early 2015 Cathie joined FNTI in the Marketing Department. After initiating outreach efforts to all First Nation communities in Ontario and Canada, establishing an online presence, FNTI’s visibility and brand recognition reached prominence within Indigenous communities, with stakeholders and allies, leading to increased enrollment and institutional growth.

Cathie then moved into the position of Government Relations & Communication, working with the leadership team to advance FNTI’s key priorities, including establishing and sustaining relationships. Since that time, FNTI’s visibility and stakeholder relationships have continued to grow, along with funding support from project-specific applications and philanthropic outreach.

Prior to joining FNTI, Cathie served for a decade with an agency of Employment Ontario, building employer and employee networks and positively affecting employment and skills training outcomes, economic development, Indigenous particpation and career opportunities in Hastings, Lennox and Addington and Prince Edward County.

Cathie has travelled to the Andes of Ecuador with an International Baccalaureate group to work on continuing community development in areas of computer and technical upgrading for young learners, development of eco-tourism programming, installation of garden sites at various community locations in the Andes, to help promote food sustainability, and food innovation and Indigenous inter-cultural relationships.

Having served on committees and boards related to homelessness, civic engagement, city business improvement, economic and social development, street level art projects, Cathie brings valuable experience, insight and energy to the conversation.

Cathie brings a background in marketing, communication, business innovation and entrepreneurship, economic development, food innovation and branding, volunteerism and community development, plus a strong background in film and advertising media, Indigenous community development, Indigenous food sustainability and government relations.