Our Team

Wendy is a Human Resources Professional (MBA, CPHR, SHRM-SCP) with over 30 years generalist experience and President and Principal Consultant for Wendy Ellen Inc. Wendy formalized her firm in 2005 and has been growing since. Her firm works with all industries based in and around Western Canada and US affiliates.

Wendy has practiced in all aspects of HR with a vast breadth of experience starting from solid training at a major oil company to consulting work with many small to mid-size businesses crossing various industry sectors. She has practical hands-on experience clients can benefit from.

Wendy's career includes 16 years working for a major O&G company to consulting as an independent in all areas of HR and group benefits to date. She consults predominantly to companies of sizes from two to 250 employees. Business sectors vary - O&G, High Tech, Non-profit, Mechanical, Engineering, Construction, Small Enterprise, Insurance, Retail, Plumbing, Environmental, Hospitality, and others.

As a generalist, she has touched all areas of HR with a specific interest and expertise in Employee Relations, HR Infrastructure, Management Advisory, Group Benefits, Employee Ombudsman, Organizational Strategy and Structure and Career Transition. Wendy is a grass roots HR practitioner and believes in simplified process and brings back the human in Human Resources. She manages to gain trust and respect from both staff and management to allow for HR processes to happen.

Education

• Queen's University, Smith School of Business Executive MBA
• Senior Certified Professional HR (SHRM-SCP) – 2020
• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) – 2020
• NYU – Graduate Program – Organizational and Executive Coaching – 2014
• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist 2011
• Professional mediation training
• Various HR/Pension/Benefits conferences
• Practitioner of Change – Shell Canada Limited
• University of Calgary – BSC Psychology – 1987

Board Participation

• Chair of the Board, Better Business Bureau of Calgary
• Chair Nominations Committee - Canada Snowboard
• Past President of the Board of Directors Calgary Executive Association
• Board of Directors, Rotary of Calgary At Stampede Park
• Past President of the Board of Directors for the Calgary Boys' Choir
• Past Board Member of, and current Volunteer for Sagesse

Volunteer

• Distress Centre
• Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park

Marilynn has extensive experience in leadership and consulting roles. She has held senior positions in management consulting firms where she has partnered with business leaders, HR professionals and employees in the areas of: transformational change management, organizational effectiveness, leadership development, performance management, conflict/complaint investigation and resolution, employee attraction and retention and workforce downsizing, restructuring and reorganization.

Marilynn's leadership roles have been focused in small to mid-sized companies and have given her the opportunity to spearhead, collaborate on and lead key change initiatives designed to define and operationalize new business structures and practices. Critical assessment, effective communication and employee engagement have been key components in driving the success of these adaptive change processes.

Over the course of her career, Marilynn has coached, mentored and consulted with a broad spectrum of professionals. She truly wants to make a difference in the work she does and has been successful in empowering and engaging people and organizations to move forward with change.

She is perceptive, proactive and results oriented, known for her great sense of humor and her ability to "zero in" and get to the heart of issues.

Education

• BA Psychology, University of Calgary
• MBTI Certification
• Harassment Investigation, Levels 1 & 2, Hill Advisory
• Numerous leadership development and coaching programs

Ashley is a Human Resources Professional with ten years of generalist experience. She has worked with numerous businesses in Calgary, plus several national and international companies in many industries, including oil and gas, technology, healthcare, construction, and non-profit, among others.

Ashley loves working with managers and business owners to help their businesses implement and improve their people processes. Ashley believes HR philosophies and policies should be simple and easy to follow, while of course remaining compliant. She practices a hands-on, communication-based approach and believes in upfront transparency with employees.

Ashley keeps up to date on current HR legislation and trends, ensuring her clients get the latest, up to date advice on the people side of their business. Ashley acts as a strategic partner to management; guiding companies in all HR related areas, including employee relations, HR infrastructure, policy development, employee attraction & retention, performance management and recruiting. With a solid background in payroll and benefits, Ashley has hands on experience dealing with all aspects of the people side of non-profit and small to midsize business.

Ashley works with clients onsite or remotely and strives to provide them with the expert and timely support they need so their employees want to come to work for them.

Education

• University of Calgary – HR Management (various courses)
• University of Calgary – BA Sociology, 2009
• Various workshops & industry training

Volunteer

• Regular Volunteer at various events for organizations such as Rotary & Mustard Seed
• Sat on the Board of a Calgary based women's business organization

Peter has been in the business world for most of his life - working with people and identifying their skill set to contribute to the success of the individual and the corporate entity they will work within. Peter is our senior search consultant and has placed numerous highly qualified and successful candidates in every role from the C-suite to sales to administration in both for profit and not-for-profit organizations. He makes it his mission to find the right cultural fit.

Peter is also certified and highly experienced in workplace investigations in all areas of harassment. Peter conducts investigations using formal investigation protocols in a highly confidential and empathetic manner. These investigations are best conducted in person along with one experienced scribe.

Human resources are the key to a company's successes. Identifying company's needs and corporate culture enables Peter to place the right individuals with the engaging personality and skill set to fit corporate needs. Peter's experience and gift is working with people to solve problems. He is most comfortable face-to-face using a very pragmatic approach. Peter has placed numerous senior executives over his career with Wendy Ellen Inc. and has a knack at finding the right individual to fit with your business.

Peter has onsite experience at the senior level as an HR practitioner and can very quickly assimilate into an organization gaining the trust of leadership and staff.

Starting at age 7 Peter worked at the Stampede, retail sales for department stores in High School and running his own light construction and hauling business while attending post-secondary school; an entrepreneur and people person at heart! For 18 years Peter worked for an international shipping company, working his way up to Vice President. Peter was the face of the company in charge of supply chain management, training and developing sales staff, shippers and receivers. He spent time after that on the west coast working for the government while owning 2 successful appliance stores.

Volunteer

• Rotary Club – Downtown
• Board of Directors for the Calgary Boys' Choir
• Mustard Seed
• Numerous Volunteer positions coaching baseball and soccer

Rachel graduated from the University of Calgary in 1998 with a BA in Sociology, concentrating in Groups and Organizations.

With over 15 years of progressively responsible experience in Human Resources, Rachel has worked in the public and private sectors in grocery retail, manufacturing and national sport/not for profit organizations.

Areas of specialization have included recruitment and selection, on-boarding, performance management and employee relations. Open and honest communication, coupled with adaptability, have made Rachel a valued contributor to her workplaces. Her relaxed and confident approach to Human Resources instills comfort and trust in her clients, and her sense of humour never hurts. She is passionate about her work and feels strongly that a healthy and happy workplace is the responsibility of everyone working in it, and that looking forward to Monday is possible!

Education

• University of Calgary – BA Sociology – 1998

Volunteer

• School Council
• Youth Soccer Coach
• Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta
• Library

Bree has worked for Wendy Ellen Inc. since her graduate year of high school, through university and now 5 years as a full-time member of the team. Bree's technical ability around payroll, policy and benefit administration is the backbone to our HR administration group. Bree uses her attention to detail and design skills to put the final touches on our product. She uses her creativity to create innovative solutions to address our client needs and her soft, empathetic approach to relate to employee situations.

Education

• Mount Royal University – BA of Psychology – 2018

Volunteer

• The Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park
• Mustard Seed
• Dance Instructor

Bonnie is a Human Resources Professional (CPHR) with seven years of experience, the last five in a HR Director level role. She worked for six years in the investment industry before making the switch to Human Resources in 2013.

Bonnie loves working with leadership to create and implement a culture of performance excellence. Her philosophy on the role of HR is to be the bridge between leadership and employees. Her focus is on creating success through performance management, culture and positive employee relations.

Bonnie is a strategic partner to leadership with the experience and ability to guide, coach and lead companies in all areas of HR including compensation, performance management, training and development, employee retention. She can get buy-in from all levels of an organization with her openness and communication skills. Bonnie partnered with SAIT in her last role to create a leadership development and future leader development program that combined mentorship, courses and speakers.

Bonnie works with clients both remotely and on-site with a focus on the Edmonton and Red Deer area. She is passionate about people and creating a culture that allows management to lead and employees to thrive.

Education

• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) – 2023
• NAIT Edmonton – Diploma Human Resources
• Mar-Tech College – Diploma Marketing
• Various workshops & industry training

Volunteer

• 100 Women Who Care – Red Deer
• Creator of an annual feminine hygiene product drive for the Women's Shelter in Red Deer
• Red Deer School of Business – Seminar on Job Seeking and Recruitment

Lauren, a Human Resources Professional, (CPHR), has spent the past 8 years honing her skill set as an HR generalist after graduating from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has experience working with small to midsize companies specializing in the Technology and Oil & Gas industries.

Lauren has a passion for people and believes that strong communication is the foundation for any successful HR strategy. By acting as a strategic partner for management, Lauren's main goal is to help create an environment in which employees feel welcomed, supported and empowered through effective HR processes so they are excited to come to work everyday. With her strong background in payroll, benefits, full-cycle recruiting and employee relations she is able to help her clients find the most well rounded and effective HR solutions for their business needs.

Education

• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) – 2023
• University of Calgary – BA Psychology 2015
• CPHR Candidate
• Various workshops

Julia's experience in HR comes from many years as an administrator and manager in small to medium size firms. Through her different roles, Julia has had experience in various aspects of HR and continues to hone her HR skills as part of the Wendy Ellen Inc team.

Julia finds passion in organizing and looking for efficiency in all aspects of her work. She is a reliable, knowledgeable and a highly competent individual who makes it her daily goal to create an inclusive work environment for all employees. She strives to make all individuals within a company feel valued, heard and supported with the right HR resources.

Education

• Athabasca University – HR Management (various courses)
• Athabasca University – Management Foundations Certificate – 2020
• Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships – Internal Auditor Certification – 2015
• Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships – Health & Safety Auditor Training – 2013

Jaclyn is an executive entrepreneur who is a born problem-solver and believer in everything happens for a reason. Having a unique passion and deep competency for all things HR, she showcases that this area of expertise is more than just paperwork and policies, it is connecting with the people - the human side of any organization. Her desire to always improve is what has pushed her to continually develop her HR knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, understand resiliency, and find innovative solutions.

Jaclyn is passionate about setting businesses up for success, while helping them navigate employee engagement and team training or development. Her ability to see the blind spots when it comes to HR and OH&S legislation in a business is a skill that she's continually proven proficiency in.

Throughout the course of her entrepreneurial career, Jaclyn has completely created and integrated a full HR and safety program from the ground up. Starting with nothing, and building a completely comprehensive internal company program has allowed Jaclyn the understanding and inner workings of a business' need for an all-inclusive HR program.

Education

• Business Management Certificate, SAIT
• Harvard Business School – Leading High Growth Businesses 1.0 and 2.0
• Harvard ManageMentor, various courses
• Various entrepreneurial/business conferences/retreat/workshops
• COEE (Certified Office Ergonomic Evaluator)
• Workshop and meeting facilitation and/or planning
• Numerous leadership development and training/coaching programs

Volunteer

• Mentor, Futurpreneur
• Mentor, SAIT Ten Thousand Coffees
• Member, 100 Women Who Care Calgary
• Member, Women Presidents Organization
• Past Board Member, and Committee Member of IFMA (International Facility Managers Association)
• Past Board Member of Rocky View County, Bow North Recreation Board
• Past Marketing Committee Member, CREW Calgary (Commercial Real Estate Women)

Dorran graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society and a minor in Sociology. His passion and skill for writing were honed throughout his degree and other writing projects, including contributing to WEI's book, "The Only HR Best Practice You'll Ever Need." Beyond his prior experience with HR-related projects, Dorran's excellent verbal and written communication, eye for detail, productivity, and dependability combine to create an undeniable asset to WEI.

Mike brings a strategic advantage to candidate selection. His diverse industry background, spanning Oil and Gas, Mining, Property Management, Media, and Real Estate Development, along with his two degrees, equips him to seamlessly align candidates with company cultures. As a Search Consultant at Wendy Ellen Inc, Mike's vocation for grasping businesses' visions, cultivated through his diverse industry experience, ensures precise candidate matches. His commitment, negotiation skills, and creative problem-solving prowess are invaluable assets that enrich his client relationships. Mike's unique amalgamation of experience, entrepreneurial spirit, and understanding of company visions promises to elevate talent acquisition strategies and drive ventures to new heights.

Education

• University of Calgary - Bachelor of Science Geology
• University of British Columbia - Bachelor of Human Kinetics

Brandon graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society. He has worked with Wendy Ellen Inc. throughout his degree and continues to do so as he embarks on further education. Brandon's logical thoughts processes and excellent communication skills compliment each other in the field of human resources.