President:
Colleen Caron
Colleen Caron is a social worker with over 25 years experience, she currently works for CLBC.
Colleen has volunteered with CMHA for over 6 years; she has previous board experience with non profits and government boards. She lives in Penticton, loves the weather and the people.
Vice President:
Ernie Blumke
Marketing Manager (retired)
Ernie is a Certified Marketing Manager with over 40 years experience in broadcasting, marketing, and advertising. A strong believer in community support, he has sat on Boards/Committees that include the Penticton Peach Festival Committee, Snowbirds Association, Penticton Tourism, and as President and Past President of the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Penticton Board of Trade. Since moving to the Okanagan in 1980, he has raised one son and two step-sons and is “gramps” to six grandchildren. He is proud and honoured to serve on the CMHA Board.
Treasurer:
Megan Long, CPA
Senior Manager,
Business Performance
Megan is a senior finance professional with 15 years of progressive and broad finance and accounting experience in a variety of industries, such as banking, public practice, and government.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Victoria in 2002, and more recently in 2012, completed her Chartered Professional Accountants Designation (CPA, CGA).
Megan was born and raised in Penticton, and after being away for many years, she is thrilled to be living back in her hometown, raising her family and volunteering in our wonderful community.
Directors:
Mark Smed
Information Technology
My entire career has been working with technology and small to medium sized businesses. I started with my own small company in 1989, while living in Summerland. Since then, I have continued to develop my knowledge and skills. I have stayed in Summerland since I arrived in 1989, married and raising two daughters who have grown up and are attending university. I have an enormous amount of gratitude for the life I lead, and look for any opportunity to improve myself or my community through discussion, volunteering and work. In my spare time, I like to write creatively, hike, fish and mutilate the occasional canvas with acrylic paint.
Jon Ferebee
Radio personality (retired)
Jon is a former broadcaster who has lived in the South Okanagan since 1994 and currently lives in Naramata. After a 30 year career in radio the last 25 years based at SUN FM and EZ Rock in Penticton where he was both News Director and Program Director. He retired from radio in September of 2017 and joined the Naramata Fire Department. He is a long time Director on the board of the South Okanagan Children’s Charity, currently in the role of President. He is also Vice President of the Naramata Fire Department Charitable Society. Jon is the father of two adult children and has one grandson, and his been married to his wife Natalie since 2001.
George Elliott
Town Councilor
George has 40+ years of experience in Media/Marketing and is currently a full time freelance writer. He and wife Brenda reside in Princeton BC where he has served countless years on many different non-profit organization boards. He was elected to Princeton Town Council in 2018.
Ray Skea
Retired Naval Officer
Ray left the navy in 2016 to join the Canadian Public Service, moving to Penticton in the summer of 2020. He is in the process of completing his Masters in Business Administration. Ray knows mental health is essential and often ignored and is eager to give back to his community by volunteering and supporting mental health awareness and treatment.
Leah Schulting
Executive Director
Mary Ferrier
Executive Assistant
