Staff
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Senior
Partner
Don Ference is President of Ference Weicker
& Company, with primary responsibility for marketing and brand
development. Under his
leadership, Ference Weicker & Company has developed from a small
management consulting firm to one of the leading independent
management consulting firms in
Western Canada
. For
his efforts, Don Ference was awarded the "Entrepreneur of the Year"
Award by the
Institute
of
Certified Management
Consultants
of BC.
Don
has a Masters of Business Administration degree and is a
Professional Engineer.
He is also a Certified Management Consultant and is past
President of the
Institute
of
Management
Consultants
of BC,
which was established to ensure and maintain a high degree of
professionalism in the industry. Don Ference has over 30
years of consulting experience. Prior to establishing the
firm in 1979, Don Ference was a Senior Consultant with Ernst &
Young in
Vancouver
. In his practice, Don has
specialized in the area of feasibility studies, development of
alternative service delivery models, government divestitures,
business process improvement, financial analysis, business
valuations, market research, and business
planning.
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Senior Partner
Ted Weicker, a Senior Partner of Ference Weicker & Company, maintains primary responsibility for implementation of the wide range of assignments undertaken by the firm. He oversees the development of detailed work plans, implementation of research programs, and preparation of project reports. He is also responsible for staffing, including the evaluation and development of the professional consulting staff.
Since graduating very near the top of his MBA class from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in the early 1980s, Ted Weicker has established a prominent career as one of the leading management consultants in Canada across a variety of practice areas. More specifically, he has established himself as a leading authority in the area of program evaluation, where he has led evaluations of a broad range of programs including social, economic development, arts, cultural, energy, health, and crime reduction programs for federal, provincial, regional and local government clients as well as utilities and non-profit organizations.
In the area of small business development, he has undertaken extensive research projects that directly impacted on the design and delivery of leading small business development programs and initiatives at all levels of government. He designed and developed a number of ground breaking software products, including the award-winning Interactive Business Planner, the Small Business Checkup, and the Interactive Exporter. He has been involved in the sale of these products to organizations in the United States and Europe.
He is a leader in the area of science & technology, where he has conducted cluster studies and prepared industry development strategies as well as marketing and strategic plans for high tech companies. He has worked across a wide variety of sectors including fuel cells, life sciences, biotechnology, functional foods, alternative energies, environmental technologies, ICT, new media and oceans as well as in more traditional sectors including tourism, agri-food, wood products, education, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution. He has prepared regional economic development, labour market development strategies and investment attraction strategies as well as strategic plans for industry associations and development organizations.
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Principal
Fataneh Zarinpoush (BA, MA, PhD) is a Principal with Ference Weicker & Company. She is an educational psychologist with over fifteen years’ research and evaluation experience in a wide variety of topics. She has led many national and provincial evaluation projects, managed qualitative and quantitative research projects, and coordinated large-scale national surveys. Prior to joining Ference Weicker, Fataneh has had extensive research, evaluation, and consulting experience through working with a wide variety of community-based organizations, businesses and governments. This includes her experience as a research manager at R.A. Malatest & Associates, a senior research associate at Imagine Canada, a research associate at the Institute for Work & Health, a research analyst at Brock University, and a research associate at the University of Toronto.
Fataneh is the author of a variety of information resources and training materials including tip sheets, frameworks and guides. A significant achievement of her publications is the development of the "Project Evaluation Guide for Nonprofit Organizations." This guide is referred to as "an excellent primer for developing an evaluation for a project - including the choice of technique and how to deliver your analysis" (http://www.smithmartinpartnership.com/evaluation.html). Most of her publications are available in English and French and are accessible here.
Dr. Zarinpoush also held a series of evaluation workshops across Canada. She is a past board member of the Canadian Evaluation Society, Ontario Chapter. She obtained her PhD from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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Principal
Bryan
Kingsfield is a Principal with Ference Weicker & Company and the
Manager of our
Victoria
office. He has a Masters
of Public Administration (First Class) Degree from the
University
of
Victoria
and is
one of the best-known members of the economic development community
in BC.
Bryan
’s
primary focus is economic development, investment attraction, and
feasibility studies. Ference Weicker & Company recruited
Bryan
from the
Government of BC, where he served as a Director with the Science
Council of BC and, prior to that, in a variety of economic
development portfolios.
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Senior Consultant
Slavica has MA in Social Science with specialization in Immigration and Settlement Studies from University of Ryerson, Toronto. Slavica brings to the company international experience and knowledge of the non-profit sector. Prior to joining Ference Weicker & Co, Slavica conducted a review of the educational pilot project for adult learners for Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities in Toronto. She specializes in government policy, and program evaluation & analysis in the areas of immigration, settlement and education. |
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Consultant
Eyyub Hajiyev has Master of Social Science degree from Columbia University in New York and MBA degree from Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. Eyyub brings to Ference, Weicker & Company an extensive, international and diversified work experience that he has earned in business administration and social studies. He has been involved in a wide range of research, evaluation, and consulting projects through organizations such as Oxfam-GB, United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), World Vision, Ethics Research Centre and Canadian Outcomes Research Institute. At UNDP, as an international expert, he led groundbreaking regional Corporate Social Responsibility study involving five Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro & Serbia). The study investigated the existing CSR situation in Western Balkans and developed recommendations for regional CSR engagement. Eyyub was a key research analyst in developing the Ethics Research Centre’s National Workplace Ethics Survey- 2007, which was the national benchmark on organizational ethics and the most rigorous evaluation of trends in workplace ethics in the USA. At Canadian Outcomes Research Institute (CORI), Eyyub was supporting numerous social service providers, community organizations, and funders to build capacity to evaluate socio-economic programs and services. Prior moving to Canada Eyyub led Oxfam-GB’s program and policy initiatives in Azerbaijan and worked for United Nations Programme on Youth in New York City. Eyyub’s interests are evaluations and research in social, economic, development, and health care related programs and services. He specializes in strategic development, needs assessment, policy and program design and development, and outcome and impact assessment.
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Consultant
Yuli is a consultant and an assignment coordinator at Ference Weicker. She brings to the company her analytical and project management skills acquired through her studies and international work experience. Prior to joining Ference Weicker she worked as a materials analyst in the global supply management team at Apple Inc in Shanghai, China, where she utilized her knowledge and skills in monitoring daily operations of various mechanical enclosure parts, balancing supply and demand for multiple product lines, as well as compiling and summarizing data for management reviews. She also worked as a research assistant at Simon Fraser University where she performed academic research and conducted data analysis. Graduated from Simon Fraser University, Yuli holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and specializes in marketing and management science. Yuli has been involved in various labour force studies and impact assessment projects since joining Ference Weicker.
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Consultant
Prior to joining Ference Weicker, Rachana was the Manager of the Research and Analysis at the Vancouver Economic Development Commission where she conducted economic competitiveness analyses for the City of Vancouver focusing on the City’s business climate and regional innovation systems. Rachana’s expertise in research particularly in the technology innovation sector was built up by her experience as the former Research Manager at Leading Edge British Columbia and her former position as a VP Research and Content at Geomarkets in San Francisco. She has a PhD in International Business from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing from the University of Windsor, Ontario.
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Consultant
Sharon Hope has over 30 years experience in research and holds a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia . Sharon has specializes in market research and has worked with Ference Weicker & Company on a wide range of assignments during the past five years including market studies, program evaluations, marketing studies, and industry surveys. Prior to her consulting career, Sharon worked for the Research Branch of the BC Ministry of Forests for 14 years. |
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Researcher
Elise holds an MA in International Development, with a Private Sector focus, from Dalhousie University. In addition, Elise has a BA in Political Science and BMGT in Business Management. Elise specializes in strategic/operations management, sustainable business development, and political economy. Elise brings work experience in the public, private and the non-profit sectors. Most recently Elise worked as a business development manager for a gallery in Vancouver. Prior to this she worked as a marketing and recruitment team lead for a Canadian non-profit. The organization is developing free project-management and online tools for the non-profit community. While studying for her MA, Elise conducted field research on small and medium business (SME) development in South Africa, looking at the efficiency of private-sector (non-bank) funding for sustainable small business growth and longevity. Elise has also worked in private sector marketing and communications. In addition, Elise has worked in business development and acquisition for Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) in Calgary, and as a United Nations program assistant with The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in Ottawa. Since joining Ference and Weicker, Elise has worked on economic impact assessments, and internal evaluation reporting of federal government agencies. |
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Researcher
Beth Garner is a researcher with Ference Weicker & Company Ltd. She specializes in national and regional economic development issues, as well as financing mechanisms for development and trade. She has completed extensive surveys, interviews, market research and regulatory analysis, evaluating government programs in Mexico, Europe, Eastern Caribbean, Asia, and Atlantic Canada. Prior to working at Ference Weicker, Ms. Garner worked for an Ottawa-based consulting firm which provided advice to government-owned financing agencies from around the world in the area of program and policy evaluation. Ms. Garner also completed a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)-sponsored internship at the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Tunisia, contributing to the launch of an initiative to promote UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa for cultural and eco-tourism. Ms. Garner has a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Economics from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. |
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Researcher
Henry has a Bachelors of Science in Engineering in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University and recently completed the Diploma in Accounting Program at the University of British Columbia. Prior to joining Ference Weicker, Henry worked as an intern at Accenture in Hong Kong where he was the key analyst on an internal project in communications and high technology, and as a research assistant in orthopedic engineering laboratories at Duke and UBC. Since joining Ference Weicker, Henry has been involved in several human resources and impact assessment studies in agriculture, construction, and various sectors across Canada.
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Researcher
As a Research Analyst at Ference Weicker and Company, Laura brings to the team her experience managing, designing and analysing qualitative and quantitative research projects. Since joining the company, she has contributed to economic impact studies and to external evaluations of public and private programs, policies and services. Subsequent to earning a certificate in international development from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University, Laura evaluated international health delivery programs through a CIDA-funded internship in Guatemala and Berkely, California and evaluated policies and services in the BC Ministry of Education and Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC. Included in her research management experience, at the Youth G8/G20 summit in 2010 Laura held the position of Canadian Minister of International Development leading her ministry to inform the Canadian G8/G20 summit on international financing and policy reform. Currently, Laura lends her grant writing expertise as a Board of Directors for an international and a local non-profit organization.
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Bilingual French Research Interviewer
Andreina has a Masters of Arts in French literature and a Bachelors degree in French literature and Film studies from Simon Fraser University. Prior to joining the Ference Weicker team, she worked as a research assistant in a variety of projects, mainly at Simon Fraser University French Department and the Simon Fraser World Literature Department. Andreina has also worked in many bilingual positions prior to joining Ference Weicker, including working as a French instructor at Simon Fraser University and doing an internship with Canada Revenue Agency. Since joining Ference Weicker, Andreina has been involved with various evaluation studies ranging from justice, investment and trades development, to construction and agriculture sectors.
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Research Interviewer
Nicole has a Bachelor of Arts in Mediterranean Studies from the University of Victoria. She has spent considerable time living and studying abroad, largely in Belgium and Spain, which enabled her to acquire a high level of proficiency in both French and Spanish. Prior to joining Ference Weicker, Nicole worked for the Canada Border Services Agency where she was given the opportunity to develop her research and interviewing skills in both official languages as well as Spanish.
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Research Interviewer
Anna has a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, major in Visual Arts from the University of St. Thomas, Manila, Philippines. Before immigrating to Canada, she worked as a graphic designer designing medical literature, promotional materials and coordinating product launches for international pharmaceutical companies. In Canada, Anna worked for a market research company while studying Mac Multimedia at Vancouver Community College. Since joining Ference Weicker, Anna has been involved in conducting primary research for the Evaluation of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. |
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Intern, Research and Administration
Sandra joined Ference Weicker & Company as a volunteer researcher. She has two university degrees including a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University specialising in international business, information systems and strategy and a Masters of Science degree in International Management from King’s College London. Prior to joining Ference Weicker, Sandra worked as an advertising and sales assistant at an international media broad casting company where she was in charge of planning and scheduling, database management and liaison with sponsors and clients. Sandra is looking forward to joining the Ference Weicker & Company research team in the near future.
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Senior Associate
Robert brings to Ference Weicker & Company over 25 years of program evaluation experience. He was previously employed as a program evaluation manager in the Canada Revenue Agency. Since retiring from the federal public service in 2003, he has undertaken numerous program evaluation assignments for a number of different federal government departments and/or institutions. Robert is fluently bilingual (i.e. highest Government of Canada bilingualism level, Exempt (E), in reading, writing and comprehension). Holding a Masters in Education, specialized in measurement and experimentation, Robert has taught Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods at the University of Ottawa. He has been an Associate with Ference Weicker & Company since November 2009. |
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Associate
With a PhD in Educational Studies, Catherine has a background in applied economics and adult education and extensive research experience in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including ethnographic research, open-ended interviewing, multiple regression analysis, survey design, and follow-up and impact studies. She is also the Program Director of the Research & Evaluation Unit at Simon Fraser University where she utilizes her expertise to help provide research and program evaluation services to clients across the university and within the corporate and public sectors. Catherine is currently involved in a national evaluation on relevance and effectiveness of communicable disease control cluster at Ference Weicker.
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Associate
Doug Boyce contributes high level marketing
expertise to our consulting assignments, assisting in the
development of detailed promotional strategies and serving as a
creative director for specific projects. Earlier in his career,
Doug served as the Associate Director, Sponsorships & Events for
Bell
Canada
, the Director of
Marketing for Radiant Communications, and the Director of Marketing
& Communications for the Knowledge Network. Doug holds a Masters of
Business Administration degree from
Dalhousie
University
and
a Bachelor of Arts degree
(Psychology) from Queen’s University. |
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Associate
Courtney brings over 10 years of Marketing and Project Management experience to Ference Weicker & Co. In his role as part of the Company b Marketing Group, he is also a marketing analyst for Jack Saladow and Associates where he is responsible for coordinating the Canadian office activities and projects as well as participates in the facilitation of the strategic business and marketing direction of the company and clients. At Ference Weicker & Co, Courtney has been involved in various immigration related projects. |
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