The Women Behind Spark

THE WOMEN BEHIND SPARK

Suzanne Young

HR Management Consultant | Self Employed

Suzanne Young grew up in Chetwynd, B.C. and, aside from a few years to attend post-secondary school, has proudly spent her time living and working in Northeastern B.C. With Bachelor’s Degrees in both Education and Commerce combined with both CPHR and SHRM-SCP designations, she has over 20 years of diverse industry experience in Human Resources Management. Suzanne believes in the rich opportunities available for individuals in the North and encourages embracing diversity, communicating with transparency, and facilitating positive change in every organization she works with. When not at her day job, if she isn’t volunteering her time with Spark or undertaking some wildly challenging costuming construction project, she can be found spending as much quality time as possible with her husband and two energetic boys (and her equally energetic Standard Poodle).

Carolynn Oliver

Senior Policy Analyst | Employment and Social Development Canada

Carolynn Oliver is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of driving results and fostering innovation in diverse organizational settings. With a diverse background spanning from government agencies to financial institutions, Carolynn brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning, risk management, and operational excellence. With a Master of Business Administration and specialized certifications in risk management and program evaluation, she combines academic rigor with practical expertise. Carolynn is a passionate advocate for continuous learning, and she eagerly embraced the opportunity to contribute her expertise to the planning and execution of the Spark Women’s Leadership Conference. With a deep-seated belief in the power of education and empowerment, she is dedicated to crafting a transformative conference experience for women in the peace region. Carolynn has been a resident of Northeastern BC for over 10 years and when she has some downtime, she enjoys spending it with her husband and two fun-loving Labs.

Megan Troyer

Partner | Via CFO

Megan Troyer is a leader, passionate about bringing dignity, hope and vision to people and organizations through education and relationships. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant who has spent almost 20 years of her career providing financial leadership in the energy industry. Megan was raised in Fort St John, and as a partner in Via CFO, provides her unique expertise to many local businesses, her contribution to building her community. She believes leadership requires clarity and accountability but not at the expense of kindness. In 2019 Megan became a Certified Facilitator for the Dare to Lead™ curriculum under the instruction of Brené Brown. In her spare time, Megan provides leadership for a variety of community and nonprofit organizations, including North Peace 4-H, CPA Financial Literacy, Rising Above FSJ, FSJ Hospital Foundation, and Trades 4 Life International. Megan loves gardening, cooking, and travelling with her husband Steve.

Lisa Henry

Regional Bookstore Retailer | Northern Lights College

Lisa Henry loves creating and is always learning something new. In 2015, Lisa started her photography business, specializing in branding and headshot photography. Her passion for supporting women led her to this photography niche and she is committed to help women launch and grow their businesses with all the imagery they need to succeed. A resident of Fort St John since 2021, Lisa is also the Regional Bookstore Retailer at Northern Light College and has recently completed her Certificate in Canadian Copyright Law. Outside of work, Lisa loves spending time with her husband and three children.

Catharine Dragojevich

Mortgage Specialist | RBC Royal Bank | Royal Bank of Canada

Catharine Dragojevich moved to Fort St. John in 1994. She is a mother of two and actively engages with her community to help continue its’ growth and development. Catharine has 20 + years in the financial industry and is currently working as a Mortgage Specialist with Royal Bank of Canada.

Jeleena Cawley

Coordinator – HSER Field Operations | Pacific Canbriam Energy

Jeleena Cawley is a lifelong Northerner and dedicated Health, Safety, Environment, and Regulatory (HSER) professional in the Energy Industry. With a passion for both people safety and human connection, Jeleena thrives in collaborative environments where teams come together to achieve common goals. She is deeply committed to providing valuable resources to her community and is particularly enthusiastic about supporting Women in Leadership; helping Women build confidence and grow in their careers.Jeleena enjoys golfing with her family and friends, and hiking with her energetic – very vocal – Corgi.

Whitney Armstrong

Digital Marketing Manager | Moose Media

Whitney Armstrong was born and raised in Fort St. John and currently works as the Digital Marketing Manager for Moose Media. With over six years of experience in marketing, an Administrative Assistant Certificate, and a Digital Marketing Strategy Certificate from Harvard Business School Online, she brings creativity and a passion for empowering others to everything she does. Before her marketing career, Whitney managed a local clothing boutique for four years, where she was dedicated to helping women feel confident and embracing #AllBodiesAreBeautiful. This experience further fueled her passion for supporting women and fostering self-empowerment, believing in the power of community over competition. Outside of work, Whitney enjoys laughing with her husband, exploring creative pursuits, and spending time with her beloved fur baby, Rupert.

Crystal Leahy

Owner | Tribe Salon Group

Crystal Leahy is the owner and founder of Tribe Salon Group and a hairstylist since 2008. In 2020, Crystal turned her dream into reality by creating a salon that blends beauty with community. What began as a small, two-person space has grown into a team of seven who share their passion for creating a welcoming, spa-like experience that prioritizes connection and exceptional service. Continuing her commitment to service, Crystal has raised over $26,000 to help build a salon and education space at a women’s shelter in rural Baja, Mexico, providing employment opportunities and cosmetology training for women rebuilding their lives to be able to do so with confidence and independence. As a mom to two beautiful daughters, Crystal strives to lead by example, showing them what it means to be fearless, compassionate, and empowered.

Jennifer Lefley

Accounts Receivable | SureLine Projects Inc.

Jennifer Lefley, born in Zimbabwe, is a dynamic professional with a strong foundation in business administration, earning her Bachelor of Business Administration from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Jennifer is also the co-owner of BI LeanWorks, where she helps businesses enhance processes, streamline operations, and gain valuable insights through data. A Certified Credit Specialist through the Credit Institute of Canada, Jennifer specializes in credit management, process optimization, and operational excellence. Her Lean Agile Greenbelt Certification and recent Scrum Master certification equip her to lead Agile teams, foster collaboration, and deliver high-quality results in dynamic environments. Outside of work, Jennifer is a passionate marathon runner who exemplifies resilience, discipline, and a commitment to achieving ambitious goals—qualities she brings to every aspect of her professional and personal life..

Karen Thierson

Owner/Marketing Designer, Branding Specialist & Social Media Manager | Indigo Designs

Karen Thierson is a passionate designer and branding specialist crafting compelling, award-winning graphic design and marketing campaigns for the businesses, organizations and individuals she works with. In 2007, Karen took a leap of faith and opened her design studio, Indigo Designs. Since then, she has gone on to win 8 National awards and 2 Provincial Awards for her marketing and design work. Karen has been lending her marketing design, web design, and theme weaving skills to Spark since 2015. In addition to her design work, Karen manages social media for several internationally renowned artists. In her free time, you will find Karen attending concerts and spending time with her husband and her dog, Oliver.