Board of Directors
“I was looking for another aspect to my life,” explains Amy Carter, the Community General Manager at CIBC. “I work full time, I’m a mom, and I wanted to add another element where I can have that process of giving back.”
Amy moved to Creston in 2015. She knew that the community, with its robust support networks, was a good fit not just professionally but also for her family. Her daughter Gigi, who has profound cognitive disabilities, just turned 16 and Amy is ready to explore new personal directions. She was ultimately drawn to the CKF’s broad focus on community needs.
In her time on the board, Amy hopes to work on bridging the gap between organizations and donors. “I want more people to know what the foundation does,” she adds. “From both a grant side and from the donor side.”
Amy Carter, President
Casey Messinger
I was born and raised in Creston. I graduated from PCSS and then went on to university for 3 years. I returned home to take over the family business with the sudden passing of my father.
During my business career I have run a number of businesses in the Creston Valley. During those years I served on a number of community boards; Creston Museum Society, Economic Development, the Creston Chamber of Commerce and the Community Policing Committee.
As a Rotarian a core value we practice is “Will it be Beneficial to all concerned”. Building a community should benefit all. The Creston Valley Community Foundation plays a big role in creating a culture where all people can thrive.
Philanthropy and giving back to the community have been one of my core values and it is a tremendous opportunity to be able to fulfill that with the Foundation,
I was adopted from Haiti and have grown up in the Creston Valley for over 20 years. During my time in school in Creston I was involved in many volunteer efforts such as Relay for Life and coaching soccer. I completed many international volunteer trips to Haiti. I obtained my Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Okanagan College in 2020. My previous work experience has been as a Community Economic Development Coordinator (Factor 5 Group Inc.) for Creston. I am honoured to continue to work and volunteer on behalf of the community.
Aaron Gregory
I am a former journalist, and worked as a policy analyst for Yukon Government, in education and health and social services. During that time, I also had a chance to finish my MA in Strategic Communication with the University of Missouri. I moved to Creston in 2015 when my husband Jeremy started his family medicine practice here, and I now manage our small clinic, Sunrise Sunset Medical.
My previous non-profit background has been with groups who provide direct services, including in immigrant literacy in the US, and employment supports for people with disabilities. Since I joined the CVCF board in 2017, I’ve gained a profound appreciation for the quieter, behind-the- scenes work of our community foundation. My family chose this wonderful valley to call home, so I am grateful for the local focus of the CVCF and our small, friendly board’s ability to pivot, support a variety of causes and respond to our community’s changing needs over the past few years.
Alex Gesheva
My late husband and I retired to the Creston valley 25 years ago, from Calgary Ab. Originally living in Lister. I now live in the town of Creston. My professional background was in Social Services and Outdoor Leisure. I served many years on boards connected with children’s social services in Calgary. In Creston, I served over 5 years on the Board of PAWS both as Treasurer and President along with interests in other charities in the valley including the Creston Community Seed Bank Society. Currently with The Creston Valley Community Foundation and a founding member of the Creston and District Community C0--OP, I am eager to see this community grow and continue to expand its unique and friendly environment.
Carol Freeman
Jason Truscott
Community service resonates with Jason Truscott. For the last 110 years, members of his family have lived, worked and contributed to building community in the Creston Valley. In that time, he says, “Truscotts have also received so much from the valley it’s almost impossible to find a way to pay it back.”
Jason spent 10 years in Vancouver, seven in London and additional time in the Kootenays in his career, and looks forward to further building the CKF endowment.
“I want to help ensure we’re distributing funds according to our donors’ wishes and coming up with new ideas,” he says. “What I do in my career (Financial Advisor) is to be a broker of sorts, build bridges from services to people, people to services.”
I moved to the Creston Valley over 42 years ago to become a partner in a local insurance brokerage. Prior to moving to Creston I was a Chief Underwriter with an International Insurance Company. After 30 years in the brokerage the business was sold and I retired. While in business I served on the Boards or Advisory Boards of four multinational corporations, was a volunteer firefighter for 21 years and an Auxiliary RCMP Constable for 10 years. In 1997 I was deeply honored to receive the Citizen of the Year award. My wife Teresa and I have been married over 50 years with 3 children and 4 grandchildren.
Jim Elford
My wife Avis and I moved to Creston in 2009 in search of a better climate than Northern Alberta could provide as well as a smaller community in which to enjoy our retirement. We have been very happy with our decision and have enjoyed our time here very much. My career was spent in retail operations, the last 14 years with Staples where I enjoyed filling a number of roles from Store Manager to District Manager to Director of Sales and Operations for Western Canada (Regional VP). Some claim that retail is all about detail, but my experience has been that it's really all about people. I have been fortunate to find an organization such as the Creston Valley Community Foundation where I can add my experience to those of the other Board Members in a collaborative effort to further the Foundation's cause.