The governance of Briercrest College and Seminary is vested in the Board of Directors who ensure that operational policies contribute to the guidance, empowerment, growth, and direction of the senior leadership and staff, while ensuring the health and mission of the schools.
Howard Wiens (Board Chair)
Abbotsford, BC
Board Chair
Howard Wiens and his wife Cheri (nee Weinhauer) live in Abbotsford, BC. They have three adult children who are all currently in college in various places. Howard is a lawyer who specializes in land development law. Howard is in his second term of Briercrest board service having previously served for eight years. He's a graduate of Caronport High School and his love for Jesus was strongly rekindled during his two years there in the early 80's. He's been actively involved in his local church as an elder and continues to serve the church in other capacities.
Dave Ericson
Strathmore, AB
Dave Ericson is the president of Hillcrest Financial, a group benefits and retirement consulting practice in Calgary, AB. He serves as Board Chairman of Water School, a non-profit organization that takes clean water technologies to developing countries, and is also on the Board of Strathmore Alliance Church. Dave lives in Strathmore, Alberta with his wife and two children.
Donna Hastings MA(LT), EMT-P, CPCC
Calgary, AB
Donna resides in Calgary and was previously CEO with the Heart & Stroke Foundation in
Western Canada. She is now a Partner with Ideal Consulting providing coaching to boards and leaders. For over thirty-five years she has worked in a leadership capacity with local, national and global organizations. Donna credits her passion for God to her Briercrest alumni parents. Donna joined the Briercrest board in 2017.
Clint Heppell
Surrey, BC
information to follow
Glen Hildebrand BRE, BA, MEd
Abbotsford, BC
Glen Hildebrand is currently using his 28 years of experience as a teacher and administrator by serving as principal in an Abbotsford secondary school. Briercrest benefits from Glen's knowledge of the educational landscape, problem solving and conflict resolution experience, and experience from the various positions he has held, including chair at Seven Oaks Alliance Church. Glen has served as board member with Briercrest since 1996.
Abraham Jolly
Abraham Jolly is part of the Cree First Nation and was born in Waskaganish, Que. He attended Horden Hall Residential School for seven years in Moose Factory, Ontario. He is an alumnus of Briercrest and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2013 in recognition of his work and achievements. Abraham’s knowledge, skills, and work-related experiences include the economic, business, health, and human resource development sectors with First Nations at both the community and regional levels. Most recently, he served in the public education sector as Director General of the Cree School Board. Abraham lives with his wife Linda in Mistissini, Que.
Jim Latrace
Lumsden, SK
Jim and his wife Susan (nee Lutzer) live on their family farm near Lumsden SK since 1993. Jim operates the seed farm and Susan works as an RN in hospital in Regina. Jim grew up at Caronport and is a graduate of Caronport High School and Briercrest Bible College. He has been actively involved in our local community with minor hockey board, church board and camp board.
Ian Lawson MA
Lethbridge, AB
Ian Lawson recently retired from the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge after 20 years of ministry. Prior to that, he served both in the classroom and in leadership at Briercrest for 13 years. He is an alumnus of Briercrest, University of Alberta, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Ian is also currently serving on the board of Compassion Canada. He is the father of 5 grown children and grandfather of 14 grandchildren.
Brian Lofgren
Town of Plympton Wyoming, ON
Brian Lofgren lives near Forest, Ont. and has been a business owner since 1983. Brian has served on different church boards, and is currently serving as Chair of the deacons’ board at Forest Baptist Church. Brian has served on the Briercrest board since 2005.
Kendra Neustaedter
Kendra lives with her family in Calgary Alberta since her marriage to Jeff in 1996 after meeting at Briercrest. She has three children Emma, Thomas and Chloe all recently graduated from University.
She has enjoyed serving at Calgary Christian School, Rockpointe Church and Pregnanancy Care as a volunteer in various capacities. She enjoys helping out with the Family business, The Neustaedter Team in Real Estate.
Bev Shipley
Denfield, ON
Bev and his wife Barb live near the village of Ilderton Ontario. They have three adult married children and ten grandchildren.
Bev has had a lifelong career in agriculture including a purebred Holstein dairy herd and cash crop farming. He graduated from Agriculture College in Business Management and has been associated with several agriculture organizations. Bev also served on municipal council for 20 years and has just retired, as of October 2019, as Member of Parliament after almost 14 years of service.
Bev is involved in his local church, Community Bible Church Hwy 7, since its inception and has served as Deacon Board Chair. Bev found that being with Christian organizations like The Christian Embassy and Embassy Connections and being part of elected Member of Parliament prayer groups while in Ottawa kept his faith and accountability strong while serving.
Graham Thiessen (Board Exec)
Calgary, AB
Graham Thiessen is currently a founding partner of SummitPath LLP Chartered Professional Accountants in Calgary, AB. Graham has served private and not-for-profit companies for over a decade, providing advisory, assurance, accounting, and tax services. He commenced his articles with a national accounting firm before qualifying as a chartered accountant in 2008. After becoming a chartered accountant, Graham worked overseas specializing in hedge fund and insurance captive assurance until 2010. Graham has been actively involved in church leadership as well as serving on other ministry boards, and joined the Briercrest board in 2015.
