“We had the pleasure of working with Ron Poole when Kwadacha Nation retained Ron to provide Governance Training for our Chief and Council, as well as facilitate a Strategic Planning session with our executive team. From the start, it was evident that Ron placed a high value on cultural awareness and sensitivity. We were impressed with his depth of knowledge and his ability to clearly orient us on the key aspects of governance. His approach provided us with essential information that was both informative and practical and relevant to our community’s needs.

Ron’s facilitation skills were particularly evident during the strategic planning process. He guided our Chief, Council, and Staff with care and expertise, helping us navigate through complex discussions and reach decisions that were both realistic and meaningful. The strategic plan we developed with his guidance is one that we believe will be impactful and effective in driving our Nation’s priorities forward.

What stands out most about Ron is his ability to make everyone feel heard and involved, all while staying focused on the end goal. Ron is approachable, committed, and was truly invested in improving how our Nation operates. His expertise in governance and strategic planning is invaluable, and we are grateful for the positive influence he has had on our leadership and operations.

I wholeheartedly recommend Ron Poole to other Indigenous communities and organisations as well as local governments seeking expert guidance in governance and strategic planning. His skills and dedication are unmatchable. Kwadacha has already reached out to Ron to schedule broader teambuilding, coaching and organisational planning for the coming year.”

— Dennis Sterritt, Executive Director, Kwadacha First Nation

“The Trust engaged Ron to establish connections and strengthen relationships with more than 30 nations across B.C.'s Northwest to advance the corporation's goals regarding co-governance. Ron's experience and background working with Indigenous nations and local government was extraordinarily valuable to us. He took the work seriously, using his professionalism and authenticity to establish meaningful connections that provided the organization with a great deal of information and a baseline from which to advance its relationships across the Northwest. I would hire Ron for this work again in a heartbeat.”

— Joel McKay, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Development Initiative Trust

“I had the pleasure of meeting Ron when he was working for the City of Terrace and Nisga’a were brand new to self government. Ron introduced Nisga’a to the LGMA and the UBCM which led to many Nisga’a becoming certified in local government. Ron’s approach to engaging with First Nations people had him first out of the gates in terms of Reconciliation, long before it became the “buzz” word. Ron is a good friend and partner to the First Nations people, and I look forward to working with him as Kitselas prepares for self government.”

— Laurie Mercer (Nisga’a), CAO, Kitselas First Nation

“I have had the opportunity to work with Ron since 2008, for training of our staff and elected officials in the area of governance and public administration. On May 11, 2000, the Nisga’a Nation signed the first Modern Day Treaty which triggered a new process of how we would forever conduct business locally, regionally, provincially, and federally. Herein began the change management process for the community of Gitlaxt’aamiks, as we let go of what we knew and began a new training journey for our entire organization. This forced us to look through a different lens, take and use what we needed from the process and adapt it to enhance what our Treaty gave us. 

We did not do this on our own. We reached out to Ron Poole. He became our mentor and our sounding board as we began to make changes in how we would move forward. Ron is an excellent mentor, trainer, and facilitator, with the uncanny ability to make First Nations people feel at ease. 

Today, Gitlaxt’aamiks is considered the most progressive of the four Nisga’a Villages, as we continue to build capacity from within. Ron brings with him years of experience as a public servant coupled with local government knowledge and a true understanding of First Nations struggles. We are very proud to say he is a “friend” who walked with us as we learned to “Dance in Both Worlds”.”

— Darlene Morgan, CAO, Gitlaxt’aamiks Village Government

"Ron Poole is one of the most capable, trustworthy and considerate CAOs I have ever worked with. Because he understands business, community, and government interests so well, he has a unique capacity to create shared wins and enhance shared value for all parties. The communities in which he served are better off for having had him lead the charge as are the businesses fortunate enough to have worked with him."

— Susannah Pierce, President and Country Chair GM, Renewables and Energy Solutions at Shell, past Director of External Relations, LNG Canada

“I was fortunate to work with Ron as Mayor of Kitimat and again as Chair of the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (RDKS). Ron, as our CAO, was instrumental in creating positive relationships with Haisla First Nation and industry in the area. Ron also facilitated public forums to ensure citizen participation. During his tenure he collaborated with the vast number of LNG proponents interested in investing in Kitimat, including the massive LNG Canada project.

I would recommend Ron to anyone wishing to foster positive relationships between, community, First Nations, and industry.”

— Phil Germuth, Mayor of Kitimat, Chair RDKS

“My name is Rod Graham and I was the President and CEO of Horizon North Logistics (now Dexterra Group) a camp, catering and modular building manufacturer that has operations in 9 Provinces and Territories across Canada. 

In 2014 I made my first business trip to the District of Kitimat with the purpose of making a series of investments in the community—including purchase of land with an intent to invest in industrial, commercial and residential projects. 

We knew no one in the region and at the time were true outsiders. We were highly fortunate that our first point of contact in the DOK was Ron Poole. Although Ron was the CAO, he was extremely generous with his time, his contacts and provided a unique perspective to the region that no amount of money could ever buy. He was a great steward for us as he could interpret complex issues and allow for us to make quick, well thought out business decisions. In the end Horizon North invested more than $50 million in the region and it all started with solid, trustworthy advice from Ron Poole. 

I have dealt with a number of CAOs across Western Canada and I would characterize Ron as the gold standard. He is a smart business person that truly cares for all stakeholders around the issues at hand. I have no reservations providing a strong commercial reference for Ron Poole in any type of business advisory role.”

— Rod Graham, Past President & CEO, Horizon North Logistics

“I have known Ron Poole for over 20 years, reporting to him as a director for five years and the balance as a colleague and collaborator on several public and private sector projects. Like most remarkable experiences, I did not truly appreciate Ron's leadership abilities until I left the organization.

Ron's mastery of "soft" skills, and the ability to motivate, inspire and empower a leadership team, is well known within the private and public sectors. Ron's involvement in public sector education has led to the development of a curriculum that has driven province-wide change in the approach to organizational leadership.  

Whether it's in the public or private sector, the demands of running businesses are the same. Leaders are judged on results; business owners and taxpayers hold their leaders accountable. Competent and trusted leadership is rare and much sought after in either realm. The difference between success and failure boils down to how leaders inspire their staff, listen, have conversations, their energy, and their ability to support the organization in the pursuit of their collective goals. These are the same challenges that both public and private sector leaders face.

Ron's understanding of developing people-centric organizations through a process of communication, support, and accountability is transformational. I would highly recommend Ron’s services to any struggling public or private sector organization.”

— Peter Weeber, General Manager, Peter’s Bros. Construction Ltd. Past CAO, City of Penticton

“Ron is one of the most experienced, professional, and reliable local government professionals in British Columbia. His collaborative, supportive style has been a boon to countless local governments throughout the province, providing them with the framework and tools necessary to navigate through challenging issues. His focus on building lasting meaningful relationships and strengthening great teams has set numerous communities on the right path. He’s passionate about what he does, and it shows. I would work with Ron again in a heartbeat.”

— Joel McKay, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Development Initiative Trust

“It is my distinct pleasure to provide a testimonial for Ron Poole. Ron was the CAO for a number of years in the (now City) of Mission and expertly guided council through some very challenging times. He is highly skilled at bringing people together and did just that with a diverse workforce. Ron also believes that it is important to provide as much opportunity as possible to employees so that they can expand their horizons. All of us were grateful for his genuine encouragement and support. A true leader in every sense of the word.”

— Pam Alexis, MLA Abbotsford-Mission, Past Mayor, City of Mission