About
Who We Are
Driving Success with Integrity
For nearly half a century, WMC (Western Management Consultants) has been at the forefront of management consulting, delivering innovative solutions that transform potential into achievement. Our team of seasoned consultants brings deep industry expertise, working closely with clients to navigate challenges and seize opportunities.
WMC’s commitment to integrity and excellence ensures that every strategy we develop is not just actionable but impactful, driving sustainable success for organizations across diverse sectors.
Our Story
A Legacy of Excellence
Founded in 1975 by a group of forward-thinking consultants, WMC set out to revolutionize the consulting industry. The founders envisioned a firm that would break away from the rigid structures and generic approaches of the time, instead offering dynamic, personalized solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.
This vision has guided WMC for nearly 50 years, allowing us to grow into a trusted national firm with deep expertise across multiple industries. Our consultants, many of whom are former executives, bring unparalleled experience and a hands-on approach to every project, ensuring that our clients receive the highest level of service and results.
As we look to the future, WMC remains committed to its founding principles of innovation, agility, and client-centricity. We continue to evolve alongside our clients, ready to meet the challenges of an ever-changing business landscape and drive transformational success.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Our Core Principles
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of WMC’s mission. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and creates more effective solutions.
Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of ethics and transparency in all our engagements.
Collaboration
Success is built on strong partnerships with our clients and within our team.
Innovation
We continuously seek new ways to solve challenges and improve outcomes.
Excellence
Our commitment to quality ensures we deliver outstanding results for our clients.
Accountability
We take responsibility for our actions and the impact they have on our clients.
Respect
We foster an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued.
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CMC Designation
Setting the Standard for Excellence
As members of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants (CAMC), WMC adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards. Our consultants are committed to delivering services that meet the rigorous requirements of the CAMC, ensuring integrity and excellence in every engagement.
Recognized Excellence
WMC is proud to hold multiple certifications that attest to our commitment to excellence and ethical practice in management consulting.
Meet the Team
Our team brings decades of experience and a commitment to delivering real-world results for our clients.
Damian Frith
Damian is a versatile executive and management consultant with a 20-year track record of managing and advising organizations dealing with significant challenges—major transformation programs, unpredictable business performance, Information Technology challenges, contract and client relationship issues, misaligned business strategies, and weak operational disciplines.
He is an innovative and vastly experienced professional known for developing and implementing custom business solutions in high-profile international corporations. He consistently provides valued services and impressive results on time and within budget. Damian liaises with client executives, team members, and vendors throughout complex transitional and pivotal transformation initiatives spanning many service industries and business sectors.
Damian holds a Bachelor of Computing from the University of Ballarat (Australia), an MBA from Queens University (Canada), and a Master’s of Law (Business) from York University (Canada). He has been a certified Project Management Professional since 2004 and a Certified Management Consultant since 2019. His additional education includes professional development programs, such as International Business Relations through the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai, China. Damian was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Canadian, Australian & New Zealand Business Association (CANZBA) in 2018 and the Terminal City Club in 2020 and has served as Project Advisor and Mentor for Queens University Smith School of Business since 2017.
Jeannie Wexler
Jeannie is a Director at Western Management Consultants with a multi-disciplinary practice that spans shared services, organizational restructuring, governance, strategic planning, and outsourcing. She also serves as a senior executive on a contract basis for various organizations, bringing her extensive expertise to drive key initiatives.
Her practice bridges both the public and private sectors, with significant experience in healthcare and government. Notably, she led the creation of a new shared services organization for health in British Columbia, showcasing her ability to manage complex projects and deliver impactful results.
John Neelin
As a Director and Management Consultant with WMC’s BC team, John Neelin brings 15 years of experience as a trusted advisor to executive teams on HR Strategy & Services, Change Management, and Organizational Development. He takes a highly customized approach to his services and is a champion for business agility and technological innovation in operations and organizational performance.
John’s credentials include certifications in Human Resources (CPHR, SHRM-SCP), Change Management (Prosci CP), and Agile Leadership (SAFe 5 Agilist), with degrees in Business (BCom, University of Alberta) and the Arts (MFA, California Institute of the Arts). He applies his study of business analysis (BA Professional Certificate, MacEwan University) consistently in his practice and continues to develop his expertise in HR metrics, people analytics, and digital HR through AIHR (Academy to Innovate Human Resources, Rotterdam, NL).
John’s unique career path in business, education, and the arts has taken him to four countries and across three continents. His former academic appointments at the University of Saskatchewan (Canada), Anglia Ruskin University (United Kingdom), and Ara Institute of Canterbury (New Zealand) bring a creative and interdisciplinary perspective to his practice.
Max Mollineaux
Max Mollineaux is a Director and Senior Consultant with WMC, specializing in executive search, leadership coaching, and human resource consulting. With over 20 years of experience, Max partners with organizations across various sectors, including Indigenous, real estate development, technology, healthcare, private, and non-profit. Known for his customer-focused approach, Max views limitations as challenges to be overcome, enabling him to build productive and lasting relationships across diverse populations.
Max holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC, and a BA (Honours) in Human Resources Management with a minor in French from De Montfort University, Leicester, England. He is also a certified Myers Briggs Practitioner Level I & II and an approved Positive Intelligence Mental Fitness Trainer.
Areas of Expertise
Alli Matchett
Prior to joining WMC, Alli served as Indigenous Community Liaison for five years with Camosun College (Victoria, BC), where she coordinated recruitment plans, served as the liaison between multiple groups, including Indigenous communities, and provided educational and financial support to Indigenous students. She previously held roles as Program Assistant for the Aboriginal Infant Development and Aboriginal Supported Child Development Provincial Offices and as an Advisor for the BC Lean Office with the Public Service Agency.
Alli completed a BA in Indigenous Studies from the University of British Columbia (Kelowna, BC), and a Social Service Worker Certificate from Selkirk College (Castlegar, BC). She is a member of the Secwepemc First Nation, Canim Lake Band (Tsq’escenemc), and a traditional beadwork artist. Alli enjoys the outdoors, spending time at the lakes, rivers, and mountains of the West Kootenays where she lives.
Areas of Expertise
Neil Lilley
Neil serves as an executive-level strategic advisor and catalyst for change, partnering with clients to address critical challenges, seize opportunities, and drive meaningful improvements. With a career spanning three continents, Neil is a seasoned C-suite executive known for his strategic acumen, securing substantial funding, and optimizing operational performance. His global footprint and well-established network have solidified his reputation as a trusted leader who consistently delivers exceptional results.
Neil offers a comprehensive range of strategic and advisory services to clients in healthcare, government, municipalities, and beyond. His tailored approach ensures that every client’s specific needs and goals are met with exceptional value, drawing from his extensive experience and expertise to provide impactful solutions.
Christy Ciezki
Christy brings 15 years of experience to WMC in human resources, career development, and training design and delivery. She has worked across both the private sector and federal government, with projects that include human resources needs assessments, recruitment and retention strategies, leadership development tools and strategies, and executive search.
Christy holds a B.Sc. (Psych) and an M.Ed. from the University of Alberta. She served as the Vice President of Corporate Alumni Relations on the University of Alberta Alumni Council from 2017-2019 and is currently serving as a Senator.
Areas of Expertise
Dana Antayá-Moore
Dana brings over 30 years of experience in both education and government contexts to Western Management Consultants. She has demonstrated expertise in instructional leadership, collaborative teaming, strategic communications, program development and evaluation, resource development, and project management. Dana is passionate about fostering relationships and understands the critical role they play in the success of any endeavor. Known for her ability to bring people together, Dana creates space for conversation and learning, listens deeply to identify common threads, and poses insightful questions that surface new understandings.
During her time with Alberta Education, Dana successfully led multiple initiatives, both province-wide and school-authority specific. She worked collaboratively with stakeholders, both within and external to the ministry, to navigate the change inherent in successfully implementing these initiatives.
Dana is a lifelong learner. She holds a Master’s of Education in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta, a Foundations of Public Participation certificate from the Canadian Trainers Collective, and an Essentials of Program Evaluation certificate from the Canadian Evaluation Society.
Deanne Friesen
With over 15 years in senior and executive management roles, Deanne has built a reputation for excellence in execution within not-for-profit and government organizations. Her expertise spans Organizational Change, Business Process Improvement, Organizational Design, and Organizational Development, where she has successfully led numerous initiatives.
A graduate of the University of Fredericton’s MBA Program with a specialization in Global Management, Deanne also holds a Bachelor’s and Graduate degree in Psychology from Acadia University and the University of Alberta. She is known for her ability to use consensus-building approaches to tackle complex issues, effectively managing change through communication and bringing together groups with competing interests to achieve mutually agreeable outcomes.
Active in her community, Deanne is involved with the Boys and Girls Club/Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Lobster Lovers annual fundraiser. She enjoys traveling and frequently visits her home province of Newfoundland. Deanne currently resides in Edmonton with her husband and daughter.
Graeme Reid
For nearly two decades, Graeme has provided his clients with sustainable change and breakthrough performance. With a strong multi-disciplinary background, he excels at managing uncertainty and complexity, consistently delivering lasting results.
Graeme’s expertise has been shaped across a wide range of organizations, industries, and locations—from blue-chip banking in Europe to technology start-ups in North America. Despite the diversity of his challenges, his unwavering commitment to client success remains a common thread.
Graeme’s business acumen is supported by a solid education in the United Kingdom, where he studied mathematics and physics, earning a B.Sc., followed by the completion of an MBA to further enhance his credentials.
Joyce Tustian
With over 30 years of executive experience in a large, urban municipality, Joyce specializes in processes for strategic planning and implementation in complex organizations. Her practice also includes strategic communications in public service or other high-visibility environments and the facilitation of senior executive groups.
Additionally, Joyce is skilled in public participation and stakeholder consultation planning and execution, making her a valuable asset in navigating the intricacies of governance and strategic management.
Areas of Expertise
Marina Mollerup
Marina Mollerup is a seasoned business professional with over 23 years of experience across the public and private sectors, specializing in organizational improvement and transformation. At her core, Marina is committed to fostering innovation and enhancing organizational effectiveness. She partners with leaders to provide consultative solutions, leveraging her extensive expertise to help organizations achieve their strategic goals.
Her areas of expertise include Strategic Advisory, Operations & Performance Improvement, People Services, and Organizational Change Management. Marina’s impressive portfolio includes successful projects with prominent organizations such as BDO Canada, the City of Calgary, Alberta Energy Regulator, ENMAX, and ATCO.
Marina holds an Economics degree from the University of Calgary, a Business Analysis certification from Royal Roads University, a CERI certification, leadership certificates, and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
STRATEGIC ADVISORY
Understanding the critical importance of developing a comprehensive strategic vision, Marina excels in guiding organizations through strategic planning. She ensures alignment with their mission and values by engaging stakeholders, conducting environmental scans, and facilitating strategic planning sessions to create actionable and sustainable plans.
OPERATIONS & PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT
With extensive expertise in operational assessments, Marina identifies inefficiencies and implements strategies to enhance operational outcomes. Her work involves conducting workshops, performing thorough assessments, and developing continuous improvement strategies that boost efficiency, client satisfaction, and employee morale.
PEOPLE SERVICES
Marina specializes in developing and implementing comprehensive human resource strategies that optimize role clarity, improve onboarding processes, and foster inclusive workplace cultures. She has significant experience in promoting Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI), guiding organizations to leverage these principles to drive innovation.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Passionate about guiding organizations through complex transformations, Marina develops Change Management programs, facilitates stakeholder engagement, and provides training to support the adoption of new processes and technologies. Her work includes conducting Change Assessments, identifying potential risks, and ensuring alignment and commitment throughout the change journey.
Patrick Riechers
Patrick has been consulting since 1996, bringing extensive experience with large multinational corporations. With 8 years at an international firm, he has successfully led large-scale, two-year performance improvement projects focused on developing sustainable behavioral and process changes to deliver measurable financial, safety, and environmental results. His expertise spans across business functions and all levels of an organization, from the executive suite to the shop floor.
Patrick’s work includes implementing performance improvement projects with a focus on process, people, and leadership development. He excels in managing change, process redesign, leadership coaching, strategy development and implementation, financial and operational assessment and modeling, performance measurement, group facilitation, and business skill development. Patrick specializes in optimizing asset management strategies to ensure that organizations achieve their operational goals while maximizing asset value. His approach integrates comprehensive assessments, maintenance planning, and performance monitoring to enhance asset reliability and efficiency.
Robert Brassard
Robert is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of demonstrated success in operations, corporate services, and project execution. His unique combination of operations and corporate experience enables him to effectively engage organizations and provide thought leadership when analyzing and resolving both strategic and tactical business problems.
A graduate of Harvard Business School’s General Management program, Robert holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Alberta and has earned graduate degrees from both the University of Alberta and the University of Manitoba. He has also completed his ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
STRATEGIC ADVISORY
Robert has extensive experience in strategy and corporate planning, having served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning and Strategy at Capital Power. He has helped executive teams and boards pursue growth strategies, whether through redefining their organization’s purpose, M&A, strategic reviews, or creating corporate plans that accentuate competitive advantage.
OPERATIONS & PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
With a wealth of experience in operations and performance management, Robert served as Vice President of Operations at Capital Power, overseeing the safety, operations, and maintenance of $2B in power generation assets. He was also responsible for profit and loss oversight of approximately $125M in EBITDA and a five-year maintenance budget of over $250M. Robert has driven performance improvement initiatives in plant safety, emergency response planning, commercial performance, and plant reliability.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Holding a master’s degree from the University of Alberta’s Department of Computing Science, Robert brings extensive knowledge of IT and delivery. As the former Senior Vice President at EPCOR Utilities, he successfully implemented more than $150M in technology and business transformation initiatives. Robert specializes in structuring long-term business system strategies from concept to execution, engineering end-to-end digital transformations that enable organizations to thrive in the transformative age.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Throughout his career, Robert has led large organizational change initiatives, acting as an experienced change agent. He has assisted many clients in structuring and managing large, multi-year, multi-project programs, always with a focus on adoption and results.
Shannon Crawford
Shannon joined WMC in 2021 to provide support to their broad cadre of independent consultants, a role in which she quickly excelled. Three years later, with hands-on experience under her belt, Shannon is now applying her skills and knowledge as a junior consultant.
With strong communication abilities and a passion for simplifying complexity, Shannon is dedicated to making positive changes in the organizations she works with. She excels in managing sensitive situations with a diplomatic approach and has a talent for transforming knowledge into actionable insights.
Shannon holds a BBA in General Management with a concentration in International Business, a FITT Certificate in International Trade, and is a Certified Associate in Project Management
Graham Herbert
Graham naturally brings a diverse global perspective to all of his client engagements. Over the years, he has worked side by side with leaders in the U.S., Australia, Asia, the U.K., and Africa in various hands-on roles. At WMC, Graham leverages this unique international experience to advise private, public sector, and not-for-profit organizations on business direction, strategic planning, change management, and organizational improvement.
Business leaders also rely on Graham’s expertise in leadership and staff assessment, coaching, team development, management development, and talent acquisition. To support these advisory services, Graham provides clients with a suite of value-added services, including talent management, organizational change simulations, leadership and staff assessments, organizational assessments, and a comprehensive range of employee and customer surveys.
Prior to joining WMC, Graham held senior positions at Price Waterhouse Coopers, Manulife Financial, Bull, National Mutual of Australasia, Southcorp Holdings, and Ford Motor Company.
Growing up in Zimbabwe, Graham earned his BA at Rhodes University in South Africa and his MBA at Michigan State University in the United States.
As a young athlete, Graham represented Rhodesia in swimming and South Africa in basketball in international competitions. He keeps fit by playing hoops at the University of Toronto and is challenging himself to learn to play a decent game of golf. Graham and his family enjoy travel, sports, and the blues.
Leo Gotlieb
For over 25 years, Leo has worked collaboratively with clients to define and implement effective business and administrative strategies, processes, and structures. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Computer Science and a Lean Six-Sigma certificate, both from the University of Toronto.
STRATEGIC ADVISORY
Leo assists clients in making strategic decisions and taking actions to move them in new directions. He supported a province’s Digital Health Division in its transition from financial oversight to proactively funding digital health services. For another ministry, Leo devised a new government supply arrangement for IT resources, incorporating managed service provision with modern technology.
OPERATIONS & PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT
Through recommendations in policies and standards, processes, organization, and technology, Leo helped a building inspections function respond to a public audit that identified the need for multiple improvements. Taking a LEAN approach, he assisted a community college in identifying over 50 measures to enhance the student experience and increase recruitment and retention.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Leo has guided a government branch through the restructuring of its back-office functions by increasing specialization for efficiency, creating dedicated operational supports, and introducing service management and metrics. He also helped a provincial agency modernize its procurement function by shifting from a traditional enforcement role to one of partnership and client service.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Leo has helped a large municipal operating division better align IT with its operations by enhancing IT governance, improving IT stakeholder relations, and increasing organizational effectiveness.