Achievers Team
Catherine,
or Q as she is affectionately known to her three younger (handsome)
brothers, is a source of light, laughter and love - what you see is
authentic with Catherine. Born in Saskatchatoon (as her 6 yr old
charmster likes to call Saskatoon), Catherine came to the planet as a
naturally curious gal (hence her nickname) asking questions of everyone
around her. Her heart always filled with love and compassion for all
creatures – including the many frogs left in the bathroom sink over the
family’s dinner hour! Catherine’s childhood was full of adventures
along the riverbank, lying in grassy fields guessing the shapes of
clouds and even trying to lasso pigs with bale binder twine.
Catherine’s passion for learning about and connecting with people was
ignited by her favourite teacher Mr Bedard who engaged his students
enthusiastically about everything and anything from Shakespeare (acting
out scenes on top of his desk) to the classic Catcher in the Rye.
Catherine has traveled the world and lived in many places across
Canada. Today Catherine, her husband and romancer Danny, along with
their two beautiful curious daughters call Alberta home. Naturally,
Catherine’s enthusiasm and compassion led her to work in the
hospitality industry where she has thrived for over 25 years. She
adores watching people learn, grow and experience their own “aha”
moments. Her facilitation and coaching allows her to connect with
people at the very core of their being. Imagine receiving that gift
every day; witnessing people step into their true authentic selves.
Catherine
Burdett brings 25 years of hospitality sales and marketing experience
to Achievers World Wide. A career with Sheraton Hotels and Resorts in
Canada culminated in the successful opening and positioning of the
Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire as the undisputed market leader
since 1998. Catherine works with hotel clients in the economy, mid and
upscale segments and is active on a national basis in sales/marketing
and management consultancy, strategic planning, leadership and business
development. She has served on the Alberta Tourism Education Council
where she chaired both the Program Review and Standards Certification
Committee.
Catherine is also a certified professional coach
working with leaders at all levels in organizations to realize their
true potential – both personally and professionally. A graduate of the
Coaches Training Institute’s Co-Active coaching program at the
University of Calgary, Catherine is a Director on the Board of the
Calgary Association of Professional Coaches and a member of the
International Coach Federation ( ICF)
Certified Trainer and Managing Director EMEA
It was Robert Frost who once wrote..."Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the 'one less traveled' by,
And that has made all the difference." This undoubtedly encapsulates Jeff's amazing journey over the past 30 years. Jeff left his home town in Seattle at the young age of 18 to spend the next three decades traveling the globe, living in four different countries on two different continents, with three different languages while living and working in over 12 different cultures. It is these life experiences that have made Jeff a firm believer in people. His "can do" attitude shines through just about every aspect of his life. His two beautiful daughters are are living testimony that there is indeed nothing they can't do when they set their mind to it. The words "I can't" quite simply do not exist in their vocabulary.
Jeff graduated from the University of Washington in 1988 with a BA degree in International Business. He later went on to pursue his MBA at Pepperdine University in 1992. He holds an Advanced Marketing Degree at Cornell University and is certified with HSMAI as a Certified Hospitality Sales Executive (CHSE) and Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive (CHME) and is also a Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) with MPI. His work experience began in the early 1980's working in Field Sales with Alaska Airlines in Guadalajara, Mexico. In 1990 he moved over to the hotel industry where he spent the next twenty years in senior-level executive positions with Stouffer Hotels, IHG, Starwood, Hilton, and Guoman in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, the United States, and the United Kingdom. His depth of sales experience includes Divisional Sales, Area Sales, Regional Sales, Global Sales, Property Sales, Reservations Sales, Resorts, City Hotels, Airport Hotels, Luxury Hotels, Upscale Properties, Owned, Managed, and Franchised properties. Most recently Jeff served as Vice President, Global Sales for Guoman & Thistle Hotels in the United Kingdom.
Jeff concurrently works as Vice President, Global Accounts EMEA & Team Leader for ConferenceDirect based in London. This keeps Jeff connected to the hospitality industry and also provides inside perspectives from a client point-of-view which are integrated into training sessions. His success stories are highly contagious which is an integral part of every interaction
Click here to see facilitators' video
Peggy is one of those people who even though she has a packed agenda, is still eager to sit with you and find out how you have been. Growing up in bustling Quebec City, Peggy and her two sisters spent lazy summers at their cottage in New Brunswick. It’s easy to picture Peggy after a full day of exploring, sitting on the wharf and eating lobster while the fishing boats come in. Winters would find Peggy either zooming down the ski hills or curled up reading a great mystery novel. Peggy is like a chameleon, changeable and adaptable to any setting. It is evident today as she is equally comfortable showing a newlywed couple their potential new home, facilitating a group of 16 eager sales participants, or managing her busy household of which includes a husband, two boisterous teenage boys and of course, Mac, the dog. Peggy loves to interact with her participants and enjoys sharing with them her own stories of her varied experiences in the hospitality industry over the years. And, mais oui, Peggy can regale you with her fascinating stories in both french and english!!!
Since graduating from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of
Applied Arts degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management, Peggy has spent
her entire career in the hotel industry.
Growing up speaking both English and French, she began her career
with Delta Hotels, working in operations and sales, and then moved through
progressive sales positions with Novotel Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels and
Canadian Pacific Hotels. For twelve years Peggy was a Global Account
Director based in Toronto representing Fairmont, Raffles & Swissôtel
brands, and consulting with clients to place their conferences in this
portfolio worldwide. She has since returned to the Fairmont Royal York as
Corporate Sales Manager and continues to facilitate training workshops for Achievers.
She qualified for her residential real estate license in 2007.
Peggy is currently an active member and volunteer of MPI
Toronto Chapter. She has served as Chair of the Special Events Committee
of the Canadian Society of Association Executives, Trillium Chapter, and is the
proud recipient of the Chapter Service Excellence Award for 2007. Peggy has personally achieved success in all
Achievers workshops as a Fairmont employee, and is involved with the Achievers
programs daily. Peggy has been employed with Fairmont 15 years, and has been
facilitating Achievers workshops since 2007.
Once you meet Cathy, the words caring, easygoing and loving to help people will be the first to come to mind. It is easy to picture Cathy as a little girl bringing home every stray animal she could find that needed her help including her favourite Chippy, the Chihuahua/Terrier mix that stole her heart. As the baby of the family with an older brother and sister, it was only natural that Cathy grew up with some good natured teasing and ended up developing a fabulous zest for life along with a terrific sense of humour. She is married to her soul mate, Todd, who is quite the prankster himself, and along with their two joyful children, Taylor and Ryan and their puppy Joey and their cranky cat Tigger, they make their home on the East Coast. Cathy loves to facilitate workshops and help her participants feel more confident in what they are doing. As Cathy says, “If I can make a difference or make it easier for one person in that room, then to me that is a win.”
Sylvia
loves people and food. And knowing Sylvia and her bubbly personality,
it is no surprise that recess was her favourite subject at school. She
grew up the youngest in a busy household of 5 children and two cats
aptly named Salt and Pepper. Growing up in Northern Ontario in a town
with a population of only 160, Sylvia has fond memories of hanging out
with her cousins. The more people the better. And where people
gather, there will be food! One sentence that Sylvia says sums herself
up is “I like to eat food.” It is no surprise that her husband, Paul,
is a Chef and her two lovely children as well as their blond lab,
Wesley, enjoy their parent’s undertakings very much. Since Sylvia
likes to treat people as you would like to be treated and loves food,
it is only natural that she is the co owner/manager of Bodega, a
charming French Bistro in the heart of Baldwin Street in Toronto. This
is where Sylvia really shines – food and people!
Sylvia Biggs is co-owner/manager of Bodega Restaurant, a French bistro, on Baldwin Street in Toronto Ontario.
Previously
Sylvia worked as a meeting planner with a Canadian association for 10
years. Prior to that she was with Westin Hotels and Resorts for 13
years where she held various roles with the last position being a
department head of a food and beverage outlet.
Sylvia has her earned her CAE designation and is a member of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association.
Lily Yinguin
Master Facilitator
Life is a journey. This is Lily's favourite saying since she considers the life experience as important as the result. She loves to try new things and is curious about the stories of different people. However, there were wonders along the journey at a time ten years ago when she just graduated from university. Although she chose a job in one of the largest international book trading cooperation due to the love of reading, and although she fed all her spare time with swimming, drama, movies, exhibitions, reading books...basically all the things she's fond of; Lily still felt lost and empty from time to time. There's no clear goal for this "fruitful" journey which resulted in a shallow and hollow experience. It did not change until she ran across the work of training which revealed a new world for her. Lily found the passion and firmly decided to be a life-long trainer. She loves how she communicates with people during workshops: respecting and inspiring each other; she loves sharing with them the picture of the wonderful world in her humorous, thoughtful and innovative way.
During Lily's 8 years in training/consulting business, with thanks to BMW since they invited her to be the coach for their dealers' management team which opened another window of the world for her. Now she is also the coach for Microsoft Hi-potential Program, and the designated trainer for Delloitte. Yes, life is a journey! Lily is always on the way: either on the way to explore new possibilities from one workshop to another, or on the way to adventure and enjoy the places of interests around the world. As Lily will tell you, the journey is full of surprise and fun, at the same time, she also gains the inside peace and joy that when you meet Lily, you will see how it radiates from her.
Kerstin Shillum
Administration Manager
click here to see Kerstin's video
Kerstin’s
favourite teacher, Mrs Smith, wrote on her third term report card,
“Kerstin is such a refreshing and creative person. Her ideas are
spontaneous and her own. She is so sensitive to others’ feelings.”
Even in grade two, Kerstin’s enthusiastic and loving personality was
evident. Growing up in Kitchener as the youngest to two brothers –
nightly neighbourhood games of street hockey, Hide N Seek and Red
Rover were the norm. As a little girl, Kerstin loved to play with her
stuffed animals – all 45 of them. And true to her very organized
nature, of course, they all had names and birthdays and each were
celebrated in grand style. And it’s no surprise, that on her last day
of high school, Kerstin was busy roller skating down the halls and
throughout the cafeteria much to the dismay of the faculty. She
currently lives in a small village north of Toronto sharing a home with
2 amazing kids, 1 bouncy dog, 2 moody cats, 2 friendly rats , 1 laid
back bearded dragon and 2 idle fish. Mrs Smith was right. Kerstin is
refreshing, spontaneous and somehow just seems to know if you need a
helping hand, a hug or a good laugh. She is the crazy glue that holds
us together
Chrissie Bergstom
Director, Assessment Program
When
Chrissie speaks to you, you are immediately drawn to her because of her
cheerful disposition and natural enthusiasm . Once you get to know her
better, you realize that Chrissie is someone who always gives 100% and
is an optimistic realist. Her friends will tell you that she has a
wonderful quirky sense of humour that can make any situation fun. And
as Chrissie will tell you herself “there is a positive and negative to
every situation.” And if something even as frightening as cancer can
have a positive side, Chrissie will find it. Surviving cancer has had
a huge impact on Chrissie’s life and she is truly happy to be here.
Growing up north of Boston with her parents and her brother, Chrissie
studied Computer Science and Accounting. But once Chrissie set foot in
the hospitality industry, she was sold – her eagerness to be surrounded
by and the ability to help people have made her a natural for the
industry. Chrissie loves the water and in her youth she was a
competitive swimmer for the US Swim team for 10 years. It is no
surprise, that she currently lives with her husband and two children on
the shores of Lake Lanier. Chrissie always gives 100% - to her
family, to her friends, to her co workers and to her clients.
Shannon Pecora
Sales Manager, Assessment Program 
Shannon’s
favourite movie, The Princess Bride, seems like a perfect choice to
describe Shannon. A movie filled with adventure, love, mishaps and
humour. Shannon wouldn’t be described as the fair maiden needing
rescuing, but rather, the hero who loves to help others, uses great wit
and has a sense of compassion. Born in Alberta as the only girl with
two brothers (one older and one younger), Shannon enjoyed being the
centre of attention. Shannon loved to ride her horse, aptly named
Regard me Lucky, and even completed her pooper scooper duties
cheerfully. Shannon thrives on being in the hospitality industry and
is fortunate to be able to stay connected while working from home
raising her two active children along with her patient husband.
Shannon is an avid reader and enjoys engaging others in lively
conversation. Shannon’s friends will tell you that she is the person
you can always rely on. And relied on she is. As an assessor, Shannon
gets to try on many different roles and loves the interactive role play
with her client. As those assessed by Shannon will tell you, Shannon
always tries to help out those on the other end of the phone.
Shannon’s motto is to respect everyone for who they are and not who you
think that they can become.