Our story so far…
Nikki has more than a decade of experience developing and implementing full-cycle administrative and corporate solutions for public and private sectors.
She has worked for more than five public bodies before moving her expertise into the private sector. Nikki has grown to consult with small to medium sized companies to improve employee retention, increase sales and develop systematic processes to manage growth and success. Business owners, not-for-profit associations and government departments have called upon Nikki to provide fresh perspectives to decrease systematic bottlenecks, increase proactive innovation and identify opportunities for future succession.
Born in Northern Newfoundland but raised mostly in Southwestern Ontario, Nikki was the first person in four generations of her family to attend post-secondary education. Graduating with an Honours Bachelor degree in Legal Studies, and a Minor in Human Resources from the University of Waterloo (UW), Nikki has ambitiously achieved goals she once thought were impossible. During her time at Waterloo, she was awarded governance and leadership scholarships while being elected by her student body and peers into President and Vice-President roles over four consecutive years. By 2010, Nikki was one of the first undergraduate students to become a facilitator for the UW Leadership Program, where emerging leaders were trained in public speaking, board meetings, mediation and conflict resolution.
Upon graduating, Nikki was offered a life-changing opportunity to move to Whistler, British Columbia with only three weeks notice when an internationally-recognized retail and lifestyle company DAVIDsTEA needed someone who could not only recover employee retention in a worker-shortage community, but also support their flagship operations to the international guests. Like many before her, Nikki fell in love with British Columbia and became a full-time Whistler resident in 2011.
Moving beyond retail and administration in 2012, Nikki began volunteering and working with local service organizations like Whistler Community Services Society and eventually began employment with the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW). Working in the fast-paced and challenging Legislative Services Department, Nikki found her stride and was progressively promoted each year, eventually arriving into a senior leadership role as the Deputy Corporate Officer and Acting Corporate Officer (Municipal Clerk).
Nikki regularly worked directly with the Mayor’s Office and Senior Management Team to administer committees, official records, correspondence, insurance claims and lawsuits, cemetery services, risk management, privacy compliance, access to information and elections. In her time at the RMOW, Nikki created and implemented annual events, awards and drafted policies, bylaws and procedures that are currently being used by local governments across BC. Some of these notable accomplishments include: The Civic Service Awards, Local Government Awareness Week Student Council Program, RMOW’s Online Voter Guide and Election Procedures and Protocols, Access to Information Services, Employee Privacy Training & on-boarding, the Community Enrichment Grant Program and Policies, Committees of Council Staff and Policy Manuals, Agenda/Minute/Terms of Reference templates, and application and intake forms for various government services and programs.
Outside of the office, Nikki became the on-site lead for provincial conferences like the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) and has also worked or volunteered her services with Crankworx, the World Ski and Snowboard Festival, IRONMAN, TED Conferences and regularly works in a lead role for local, provincial and federal government elections. When not working, she serves on various boards for corporations, not-for-profits, alumni associations and continues to volunteer regularly.
Self-described as “forever curious” Nikki has also completed and additional post-secondary program, at Capilano University in the Global and Community Development Department for the Local Government Management and Administrative program. To date, she sits on the Zero Ceiling Society of Canada Board of Directors as Secretary and Chair to the Governance Committee, is the Administrator for the Restaurant Association of Whistler and runs a networking/mastermind group for emerging female entrepreneurs.
As the founder of Snowberry Consulting Ltd. in 2017, Nikki is utilizing her lived experience, education and applied skills to be known as a consultant with a conscience. Nikki hopes to one day write a book, travel overseas to each continent and strives to give back to her community. Her greatest passion is sharing what she has learned with emerging young professionals who are working to break their socio-economic cycle to build brighter futures.
Often overheard cracking jokes with her friends and colleagues or welcoming visitors to Whistler over a pint of Guinness at the local Irish Pub, Nikki’s favourite saying is “Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice.”