Who We Are
Meet The Team
Meet the staff and Board behind our work. Our dedicated team is proud to drive economic development and build community wealth for Nak’azdli Whut’en and its Members.
Executive Leadership & Administration
Our staff team values fun, growth, and connection with community. We are proud of our impact on Nak’azdli Whut’en and the community of Fort St. James.
JP Wenger
JP has called Fort St. James home for 23 years. Starting in forestry, he later pursued a Master of Business and found his passion in creating opportunities for Nak’azdli Members. JP enjoys running, hiking with his spouse and dogs, and planning trips to Southeast Asia. His work involves building partnerships across various industries, often surprising others with its breadth. JP values a good night’s sleep to start his days well and spends weekends in his yard. During the week, he focuses on connecting with the community and personally supporting business growth.
Marci Thomas
Marci holds a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Commerce, and Bachelor of Arts, with 16 years of extensive professional experience in accounting and governmental systems across diverse industries. Her involvement in the Indigenous Mentoring Initiative program, focused on leadership development, was particularly impactful and rewarding. Marci is dedicated to advancing the economic development of Nak’azdli Whut’en. She recognizes the significance of daily consultations and decision-making processes at various levels within the community, striving to acquire knowledge that enables effective participation and strategic decision-making. Marci’s goal is to empower community members to navigate future challenges successfully.
Blaine McFadden
Blaine brings a wealth of experience in operations, leadership and team development to NDC. With a background in agriculture, manufacturing and education, he’s passionate about helping people grow and reach their full potential. Outside of work, Blaine enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, whether that’s cycling, swimming or playing soccer.
AARON LEON
Aaron joined our team as Operations Manager in 2026. Aaron was born and raised in Fort St. James.
He is a Red Seal Carpenter and has some environmental training experience under his belt. He also served as part of the NDC Board of Directors for four years. His new role requires him to work in a fast-paced environment, something he enjoys. Aaron is passionate about adding value to NDC by bringing impact to the companies and people he works with. His goal is to bring a lasting legacy of success that brings value to his community. Outside of the office, you can find him enjoying the outdoors, hunting, fishing and camping with his family.
Geraldine Erickson
Geraldine’s journey with NDC began when her sister recommended a position aligned with her professional interests. Known for her meticulous work ethic and timely execution, she thrives on keeping everything organized. Personally, she cherishes quiet mornings with a cup of green tea or coffee. A lifelong resident, Geraldine finds joy in exploring local scenery through hiking and immersing herself in nature’s sounds. Her ultimate dream? To one day win the lottery!
Grady Goodwin
Grady recently joined NDC as the Resources Manager, leveraging his background in environmental sustainability and project management. His responsibilities span forestry and mining, overseeing contractor coordination and partnership agreements. Grady also manages facility operations, including overseeing renovations and leases in Prince George, and conducting environmental assessments on owned properties. He focuses on developing formal partnerships for Mt. Milligan and other projects, identifying growth opportunities for NDC. Grady takes pride in strengthening partnerships and driving Nak’azdli businesses forward across various initiatives.
Ahmad Azizieh
Ahmad’s passion for numbers and precision drives his work on NDC’s finance team. He sees challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, shaping both experience and character. Guided by the belief that “life is just a big waiting room,” Ahmad approaches his work with patience and purpose.
Jenny Martin
Jenny has a passion for crunching numbers, and it shows in her hard work and dedication as an NDC Bookkeeper. Jenny was born and raised in Nak’azdli Whut’en and is a proud member of the community. She started working at the young age of 16. She has a knack for continuing to grow her education and moved to Prince George to accomplish that before moving back home. When she isn’t in the office going through numbers with a fine-tooth comb, she is visiting, travelling with friends or at the cabin with her husband, dogs and grandchildren.
Natasha Parker
Natasha joined the NDC team in early 2026. Her passion for numbers led her to complete her Accounting and Payroll Diploma at Robertson College. For Natasha, accuracy and the world of numbers are her passion. When she isn’t crunching numbers, she is spending time outside with her husky, gardening, camping, hiking, and exploring trails on ATV’s and dirt bikes. Natasha brings energy and enthusiasm to work and play.
Jacqueline Rose Antoine
Jacqueline is a proud member of the Lusilyoo clan of Nak’azdli Whut’en. She brings a diverse background in education, finance and patient travel to her role at NDC, and is excited to continue building on her experience in her role.
Outside of work, Jacqueline can be found cheering on her son Logan at the hockey rink, getting lost in a good book or enjoying her favourite music.
Board of Directors
With a dedicated and diverse Board of Directors, Nak’azdli thrives on innovation and collaboration. The Board strives to explore new avenues of business for Nak’azdli to open up opportunities for diversity and growth.
Riley Willick
Riley is the owner of Dado Construction and holds the prestigious Gold Seal Apprentice designation. With previous roles as a District Councillor and president of the Chamber of Commerce, Riley brings extensive leadership experience to the table. Joining NDC’s Board of Directors reflects a commitment to leveraging skills for community service. Riley’s dedication to giving back and active participation underscores a lifelong commitment to community values.
Justin Bull
Justin’s career spans diverse roles including landscaper, horse logger, web designer, and researcher. Currently a professor at UBC, he specializes in teaching sustainability and strategy to graduate students. Justin leads several climate-focused programs and serves on multiple boards. Committed to the project of reconciliation, he views his role on the NDC Board as a crucial opportunity to dedicate his time and expertise to community service.
Elke Lepka-Taylor
Elke’s family is the Wolverine Alexanders, cousins to the Hogem Alexander family and Takla Lake Johnny family. Elke grew up just outside of Fort St. James in rural Dog Creek and spent most of her summers within the Takla Territory. During the summers, she would assist in building bridges and roads in the family business, go back to homesteads in Wolverine and Germansen Landing, and return to the old country, Austria, to visit her relatives. Elke attended college in 2000 to study forest technology, and later returned to pursue business marketing and management.
AILEEN Prince
Aileen is a proud member of Nak’azdli Whut’en and of the Lusilyoo clan. Raised in Nak’azdli, she has dedicated her career to serving her community across a wide range of leadership roles, including Housing Coordinator, Health Director, Band Manager and elected Chief of Nak’azdli Whut’en, making her the first woman to hold that position. Aileen brings nearly 30 years of experience in administration, health, housing, lands and governance to her work.
Aileen has been an active contributor to boards and committees since the age of 18, including the BC Native Women’s Society, Nezul Bey Hunuyeh, the BC First Nations Health Directors’ Association and as a founding member of the first First Nations Lands Managers Society in BC.
A mother of six and grandmother and great-grandmother to 19, Aileen brings deep roots, lived experience and a lifelong commitment to community well-being to the NDC Board. She looks forward to serving Nak’azdli Whut’en in this new capacity.
Nak’azdli Development Corporation (NDC) was established in 1987 by Nak’azdli First Nation. Chief and Council have developed a Business Charter to define the governance structure, in particular the relationship between Chief and Council as the sole shareholder and the Board of Directors.
Board members are appointed by Nak’azdli Whut’en Chief and Council who consider applications annually. The Nation looks for a number of competencies when considering Directors, including:
- Experience in business, business management, and strategic planning
- Understanding of budgets, finances, and Key Performance Indicators
- Experience working with First Nations communities and traditional governance
- Strong communication, negotiation, and risk management skills