November 2014
(Fort McMurray) Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta and Syncrude are proud to announce the 6th nominee for the Women of Inspiration series 2014-2015:
Cheryl Alexander
Cheryl Alexander is well known for her community, business and leadership contributions in the Wood Buffalo Region, and is a professional advisor on Aboriginal issues and education. She is a Mikisew Cree First Nation in heritage and native Fort McMurrayite at heart. She holds a Masters Degree in Theocentric Counseling in Cognitive Behavior from Genesis Institute of Theology and Leadership, and a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration.
Cheryl, formerly the General Manager for the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association (NAABA), is now the President and CEO of her own Aboriginal consulting business: C & O Consulting Ltd. Since its inception in 2006, C&O Consulting has grown from its customized, personal, and professional roots. With a variety of tailor-made courses and workshops in Aboriginal Awareness, Team Building and Leadership training, Cheryl’s consulting business offers local insight, credentialed expertise and strong leadership experience. The Team Building workshop was the first course that was delivered to personnel at the Mark Amy Center. In 2007, C&O Consulting designed an Aboriginal Awareness Course for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and is still delivering this course. The business has also worked for Integrated Environments in partnerships since 2008, and recently has designed and began delivering an Aboriginal Awareness Training course to the leadership personnel for Syncrude Canada Ltd. As well, they have acquired two new clients that are Aboriginal owned businesses who are also utilizing the unique services that C&O Consulting can offer.
In addition to providing Aboriginal Awareness & Cultural Training, Cheryl specializes in facilitating Strategic Planning Sessions, board development of policy and procedures, leadership training and team building workshops. As a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation she has combined her business acumen with her professional and personal cultural knowledge thereby becoming a powerhouse in the Aboriginal business community. Cheryl is a well-known figure in the community and is actively involved with volunteering for her local assembly as the Youth Leader for the Tabernacle of Praise Church, and facilitating various training workshops for the leadership team. Cheryl has worked with the Athabasca Tribal Council as an Education Communicator and with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo as the Rural and Aboriginal Community Coordinator. She has designed and delivered Aboriginal Awareness training within the region.
Cheryl currently is a member of the board of directors for the Fort McMurray Airport Authority and the Wood Buffalo Wellness Society, respectively, and was a recipient of the 2011 Leadership Award and 2011 Female Citizen of the Year from the Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards Organization. Recently Cheryl had the distinct honour of giving the opening greeting at the 2013 swearing in ceremony for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and has to been asked to be the Master of Ceremonies for several large events in the community, such as Oilsands Banquet V11 Honouring Athabasca Tribal Council’s 25th Anniversary.
Most importantly, above all her professional successes Cheryl values her commitment to her church, husband and three children. She is a strong advocate for the necessity of maintaining a work-life balance and is a testament to this value. With support from her husband, she was able to home-school her children while actively contributing to the community.
Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta and Syncrude will honour Cheryl and 11 other nominees, at the Women of Inspiration Celebration which will take place in June 2015 at the Sawridge Hotel.
The Women of Inspiration is a partnership between Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta and Syncrude, with a goal to recognize women throughout the Wood Buffalo region who inspire others, break new ground or old barriers and help create change. The series also aims to show local girls positive role models who live right here.
To nominate a woman of inspiration, please visit our website at www.girlsincofnorthernalberta.org or contact the Girls Inc. office at 780-790-9236.
For more information, please contact:
Ann Dort-MacLean
Executive Director
Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta
Phone: 780-790-9236
Email: girlsinc@telus.net
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