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Our People

As we tell our clients, it's the people that make an organization successful. We're lucky to have an amazing bunch with eclectic talents in many different fields.

Trent Schumann, B.Sc.

As the owner and CEO ("chief experience officer") of experienca, Trent wears many hats. He left a career in corporate information and change management consulting to pursue his dream of helping people and companies achieve their full potential. His time in large corporations gives him an "insider's" ability to relate to the challenges faced by companies and the work teams that make them successful. He is the "idea guy" behind our innovative programs. Hear a recent radio interview featuring Trent.

Keith Hanna, MEDes.

Keith's specialty is in working with high-performance sales teams. His wry sense of humor and keen insight into people are what make him so effective. Keith holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Design specializing in industrial design and new venture development and has over 15 years of experience in the venture support industry. He is author of the book “Higher Purpose, Higher Profit — Structuring a Venture for Higher Value”, an award-winning professional designer, speaker, coach, facilitator and father of two. Keith's love of the outdoors is expressed through his passion for climbing and mountain biking.

Susan Johnstone, B.Sc.

Susan started her career with a degree in molecular genetics followed by 3 years running a research lab in endocrinology and immunology. She soon learned that she was more interested in how the staff interacted than how the molecules interacted. She then embarked on 11 years of training and work in human field dynamics, opening her own coaching practice in 1996. Based on 11 years of study and her own research with over 150 individuals, Susan's knowledge of what drives both functional and dysfunctional interactions is unparalleled. Her ability to quickly pinpoint the hidden sources of discord with individuals and teams allows them to be addressed openly in a way that creates rapid positive changes. Susan excels at creating environments where every person can engage fully and even the most difficult exchanges can take place with uncommon ease.

Jan McMillan, B.A., MBA

Jan has over 20 years of experience in diverse industries including energy, education, health care, financial and high-tech. Her consulting style blends innovative ideas with solutions that work. Jan’s expertise includes facilitation of strategy development, leadership development, strategy design and delivery, merger integration, enterprise-wide system implementation and business process improvement. Before becoming an independent consultant in 1996, she was Director of the Change Leadership Practice, Western Region, for Deloitte Consulting.  She also has worked in the energy sector in human resource management.   She has volunteer experience with the YWCA, Calgary Humane Society and Girl Guides of Canada.  Jan holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master of Business Administration.  She is a certified Reiki Masterand horse lover.

Kenneth Johnson, B.Sc., MBA

Kenneth is our local expert in Cancun, Mexico. For over a decade, Kenneth has been owner and manager of one of the most successful eco-adventure companies in Mexico. He has also been an advisor to government and non-governmental organizations on tourism, economic development, training and stakeholder engagement.

He is a marine biologist with an MBA and has been the president and vice-president of the Mexican Association of Adventure Travel and Ecotourism, which focuses on the development and marketing of responsible operations in Mexico. Currently Kenneth works as an outreach coordinator with the Coral Reef Alliance, where he advances the goals of the ICRAN MAR project to facilitate the development of good environmental practices for marine tour operators. Finally, Kenneth´s passion is showing and teaching people about wildlife and the lessons that nature can teach us about sustainable business and long-term success. Learn more about his company and his work here.

Phen Ruyan

Phen started her career in Thailand’s tourism industry as an inbound tour operator. There she gained a vast amount of experience creating and managing programs for both corporate and leisure clients from around the world. During this time she was also active with various social and aid agencies.
She then moved to Canada and spent several years as a consultant to various Canadian aid agencies. During this time she also worked with experienca, organizing and facilitating corporate team building and incentive programs.
After the tsunami struck Asia, she returned to Thailand to consult to aid agencies working in Thailand as well as manage our Southeast Asian business.

Derrick Shirley

Derrick is our diversity expert and his groundbreaking training and consulting programs not only give you the tools for managing diversity but also the knowledge to leverage it into a powerful competitive advantage.

Derrick received his undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria, his Masters Degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Calgary, and holds a professional Certificate from the University of British Columbia in Cross-Cultural Counselling Skills. He is a Registered Canadian Counsellor and Certified Nutrition and Wellness Specialist in private practice in Calgary, AB. As a Consultant and Public Speaker, he has spoken to audiences nationally and internationally, and has made several media appearances including: CBC Radio One, Global National, and local News outlets. He writes a self-help column for KIVA Magazine and his first book: "Black Like Me, White Like You: The Making of a Canadian Oreo", is near completion. He sits on the board of Directors for the Alberta Association for Multicultural Education, was a Sessional Instructor with the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary where he taught a graduate course on diversity-related issues, and is an active stakeholder and volunteer with several community initiatives. He has an teenaged son named Roman and actively competes in triathlons, preferably when it is warm.

June Nery, B.A.

June is our local expert in Manzanillo, Mexico and acts as our local operations office. She has more then 15 years experience in the adventure travel and outdoor industries.  She started her career as a sales and marketing representative for a high-end adventure travel company.  She has garnered extensive event planning and execution experience working with groups such as the NBA All- Stars, International Lions Club and Freddie Mac providing transportation and tour coordination, VIP hospitality services and registration staffing. 

Her clients have included outdoor events such as The Elephant Rock Ride and The Cherry Creek Sneak, retailers REI and prAna, and adventure tour companies The Northwest Passage and PolarExplorers.

She currently lives in a La Manzanilla, Mexico and is the webmaster and owner of a tourism website.

June holds a B.A. in Environmental Biology from the University of Colorado-Boulder. 

Address:

1115 5th Ave. NW
Calgary AB
T2N 0R7
Canada

International:
+1 403.270.0000
North America:
800.269.8735
infonow[a]experienca[dot]com

Our Vision

We wouldn't be much of a corporate training company if we didn't have our own vision statement, now would we??:

experienca
contributes to the world by increasing peoples' understanding and appreciation of each other and the planet we share.

We do this by providing our transformational experiences to the leading edge corporations that help shape our society.

Using experiential learning, facilitation and consulting, we help them make money and make a difference.

Reputation

We've developed a reputation for high quality, reliability and professionalism, balanced with a generous dose of fun, flexibility and creativity. Just ask our many happy customers. Check out our testimonials.