Marketing Committee

Area C – Leanne Sallenback of South Point Resort on Canim Lake Leanne left the corporate marketing world to purchase and operate the previously named Ponderosa Resort on Canim Lake. By re-branding and creating a robust digital presence for the new South Point Resort, they increased summer bookings by 40% within their first year. Her marketing expertise and entrepreneurship lead South Point Resort to win the Digital Marketing Excellence award at the CCCTA’s 2019 AGM & Tourism Summit.

Area F – Andrew Cuthbertson of Sandman Quesnel  I starting working as a General Manager of the City Centre Inn Prince George at the age of 22 and ran this property for a year and a half. I then moved on to work as a Manager in training with Northland Property’s. I traveled around BC working at many of their property’s including Prince George Signature Sandman, Sandman Inn and Suites Kelowna, Castlegar, and as General Manager at Quesnel and Williams Lake. I then was the General Manager of the 108 Golf Resort for 2 years, before returning to now being General Manager at Sandman Quesnel.

Area G – Tanya Vigeant of Allways Travel in Williams Lake Tanya has her diploma in tourism and is a Travel Consultant for Allways Travel in Williams Lake. She has travelled around the world, and shares that passion and commitment to exploration with people in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast looking to do the same.

Area H – Donn Irwin of Retreat Wilderness Inn in Nimpo Lake Donn has owned and operated a tourism property on Nimpo Lake since 1979. He has been involved with the West Chilcotin Tourism Association for many years and enjoys building, designing, landscaping and many types of outdoor activities.

Area I  – Tim Wilkinson in the Bella Coola Valley Director of Sales & Marketing, Bella Coola Heli Sports. Born in Adelaide, Australia, and spending his childhood in Washington, D.C., Tim grew up with a love of skiing and quickly knew he would turn it into a career. After studying tourism management in Australia, his skills brought him to positions at many resorts around the world, eventually working 18 back-to-back seasons by traveling between hemispheres.  Tim has spent the last 20+ years in the industry. With experience snowboarding at over 150 ski resorts around the world, Tim understands the needs of winter sport lovers and what it takes to stand out and get noticed. His knowledge of the industry and eye for experiences that skiers and snowboarders crave have led him to helping the company win the “World’s Best Heli Ski Operator” title at the World Ski Awards for three years in a row from 2017 to 2019, receiving the Digital Marketing Excellence Award in 2014 for his work with the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association and an Award of Distinction at the Communicator Awards in 2016 for working with the team of web designers that introduced a sleek new website for Bella Coola Heli Sports.

Board Liason – Jayme Kennedy of Bella Coola Mountain Lodge From riding the rails on a luxury tourism train, to leading back-packer camping tours in the Australian Outback, originally from Vancouver, Jayme Kennedy’s tourism background is diverse, to say the least.  It was her passion for connecting with people as well as her love for the outdoors and new experiences that brought her to the Central Coast of British Columbia in 2009.  Jayme and her husband embarked on a new adventure in 2016 by becoming the proud owners and operators of one of their favorite places to stay, the Bella Coola Mountain Lodge.   She believes that tourism should be and can be sustainable, responsible, community-minded, and culturally sensitive.   

CEO – Amy Thacker Managing the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association for the past 8 years, Thacker has a strong passion for rural tourism and economic development. Born and raised throughout British Columbia, Thacker has also lived and worked in Alberta and the Yukon Territory. With a strong agriculture and business background, Thacker holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with majors in Project Management and Operations Management. Entering tourism as the Marketing Manager for Gold Country Communities Society, Thacker is experienced in the operational structures, business environment, trends and challenges facing our rural communities and stakeholders. She wrote and successfully implemented the Gold Country GeoTourism program, a first in British Columbia, before joining the CCCTA. Family, animals and all things outdoors are passions of this dedicated mother. Thacker believes the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region holds untapped potential and unlimited opportunities for excellence.