Our Advantage

We're a bank for entrepreneurs. Our entire mission is based on making business owners successful. When compared to banks, studies show that our clients businesses grow faster and last longer. That's because we partner with you. We're not trying to get money out the door. We help you plan your business, coach you along the way, provide flexible financing options and, most importantly, share the risk. Three years down the road when you still have questions we're here for you. In the last five years, we helped 50 local businesses get established and grow.

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Our Roots

Community Futures is part of a national economic development program that has supported small business and community economic development since 1986. There are 269 Community Futures offices in rural communities across the country - 34 in BC. Our Community Futures office is a non-profit development corporation guided by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by local committee members and a staff of business professionals. We work with community partners to grow entrepreneurship and economic development in the North Coast.

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Our Staff

John Farrell

General Manager

John has worked the last 25 years in community development on the North Coast and Haida Gwaii. He is a small business owner and a past-president of the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce. He serves on a number of local and provincial boards including the Prince Rupert Port Authority, the Port Edward Harbour Authority, and chairs the parent support group of Annunciation School. John holds a bachelors degree in political studies and a management certificate from the Sauder School of Business.

Marlene Lindquist

Office Manager

Marlene has more than 16 years' experience handling the day to day operations of non-profit organizations. She serves on the board of North Coast Community Services Society as Board President and has recently started a book-keeping company.

Eli Kelly

Business Development Officer

Eli received his bachelor in Commerce from University of Northern British Columbia. He also spent a year in Japan where he studied language and international business. He joined Community Futures in 2015 and in May 2016 aced the CU Source Business Lending course.

Our Board

Ray Pedersen

Acting Chair

Loans Committee Chair

Entrepreneur

Marci LeBlanc

Director

Entrepreneur

Dave McKeever

Director

Education Sector

Chris Armstrong

Vice-Chair

Sales & Marketing

Mahesh Gautam

Treasurer

Financial Sector

Job Opportunities

Business Development Officer

Full-time

Posted on

June 30, 2022

Learn More

The Business Development Officer is primarily responsible for working with new and existing clients on business development, analysis of business plans, financing proposals, presenting loan applications to Management and the Loans Committee, supervising loan disbursal, and managing the loan and investment portfolio. The position reports to the General Manager and works closely with the Loans Committee.