Christianson & Company

About Us

Christianson & Company

We specialize in non-profit and professional association management and deliver a full range of management and event services tailored to the unique needs of our clients. Our personal and custom approach – backed by a dedicated team of experienced professionals – adapts to your environment and your budget. We’ve been delivering association and event management excellence for over twenty years and have a proven record of achievement. We are the ideal long-term partner for associations seeking efficient management, and operational and event practices that produce high-impact results.

Association Management

Steering clear of the cookie cutter model employed by many other association management firms, we work in close consultation with each client to deliver a cost-effective and customized central operations infrastructure. Our 30+ person team of management, operations, and marketing professionals are skilled in all aspects of non-profit governed associations. And, with a knack for managing volunteer talent, we strive to meet and adapt to your association stakeholder needs.

Event Management

With a focus on creativity and innovation, we offer full production services to deliver sophisticated and professional-caliber event experiences. No detail is too small and nothing is overlooked. Our event team puts clients at ease by inspiring confidence and always remaining on budget.

Leadership

Judy Christianson
CEO & Founder
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Meet Judy Christianson
Judy Christianson is the founder and CEO of Christianson & Company, bringing with her more than 20 years of executive and creative experience, managing corporate events for world-class clients including Electronic Arts, Kodak Canada, the Kodak Graphic Communications Group, and Creo Products Inc.

Over the past 12 years, Judy and her team have been responsible for the executive management of the PASS (Professional Association for SQLServer) organization; the world’s largest community of technical professionals leveraging the Microsoft Data Platform. Along with the day-to-day operational management of PASS, Judy’s team is also responsible for planning and executing the global PASS Summit conference, an event attended by over 5,000 registrants each year.

Having served as Director on a number of boards throughout the years –  including the Creo and Kodak Graphic Users Associations –  Judy also brings this expertise and passion to her charity work. Currently serving as Executive Director for the Courtnall Celebrity Classic Society, a charitable organization that provides financial support and raises awareness for mental health, Judy’s team have also produced many successful charitable fundraisers for organizations such as the Steve Nash Foundation and Mark Messier in support of Canuck Place.
Sandy Cherry
Senior Finance Manager
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Meet Sandy Cherry

Bringing in over 25 years of accounting experience, Sandy had joined the team in February 2007 to lead the finance team; managing all finance related deliverables for C&C clients and working closely with C&C’s accounting firm to complete annual audits, financial statements and tax returns for C&C clients. Sandy’s natural ability with numbers helps her keep very close track of her fellow golf player’s scores and her eagles and back to back birdies during this favorite pastime of hers.


Craig Ellis
Global Alliance Manager
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Meet Craig Ellis
Utilizing his strong business development and relationship building abilities Craig delivers excellent customer service and creates mutually beneficial relationships with C&C clients. Since joining C&C in 2007, Craig has developed and executed on numerous international multi-million-dollar conferences for C&C clients. On top of his overall business strategy guidance, Craig is responsible for the creation and development of the Global Alliance Partnerships program for C&C’s client PASS. Craig’s dedication to achievement spans across both his at-work and at-home life in which he holds a true and long-term passion and commitment to marathon, half-marathon, and 10km competitive running.
Anika Poliseno
Senior Manager, Events & Registration
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Meet Anika Poliseno

When Anika joined the team in November of 2010, she brought into C&C 8 years of event management experience. With it, she brought her unparalleled creative approach, expertise, and excellence in budget management. She has a passionate love for the outdoors (traveling, camping, and basically anything involving mountains and/or the ocean), and always enjoys taking the chance to be in nature when the opportunity presents itself. Whether it’s hosting (and cooking) for her own dinner parties or managing complex event-within-event conventions for over 5,000 people, Anika always delivers quality results and unforgettable memories. 

Janice Simpson
Governance & HR Manager
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Meet Janice Simpson

Since joining C&C in 2013 as the Governance Administrator, Janice has worked to develop the HR department as the C&C team continued to grow. Now, as the Governance & HR Manager, Janice brings her background and experience in both managing people and implementing compliance to support C&C’s culture while upholding good governance for both C&C and our clients. Outside of work, Janice enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, wine tasting and staying active. 


Vicki Van Damme
Director of Operations
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Meet Vicki Van Damme
Vicki joined the C&C team in 2012 and since then she has worked across many of the teams within C&C. As the Director of Operations Vicki brings her background in Project Management to her approach as she collaborates with all of the teams within C&C to achieve our goals. Vicki has a degree in Economics from Simon Fraser University. When not working Vicki spends her free time with her husband and growing family. As a Vancouver-Islander Vicki takes any opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. 
Sonya Waitman
Director of Partnerships & Business Development
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Meet Sonya Waitman

Sonya joined the management team of Christianson & Company as Director of Sales in 2015 and is responsible for providing the strategic direction for all sponsorship sales related activities. Sonya ensures the alignment of PASS sales strategies and plans to overall PASS objectives and maintains open communication with the Director of Marketing and other team leads and board counterparts. Sonya has a master’s degree in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University, over 15 years of IT industry experience, and 9 years in sales and marketing. She comes to C&C most recently from Microsoft where she managed the relationships of strategic retail partners in Canada. In her spare time, Sonya prefers to escape the office and head to the mountains to go hiking, rock climbing or skiing.

Elizabeth Jeffs
Operations & Project Manager
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Meet Elizabeth Jeffs
Elizabeth joined the C&C team in 2014 bringing experience in project and event management, and a passion for volunteerism. During her time with C&C she has worked on many teams, leveraging this experience as Project and Operations Manager to ensure collaboration across teams and that deliverables and organizational goals are met. A graduate of the University of British Columbia with a degree in Human Geography and English Literature she has a passion for good grammar and urban development issues. Outside of work Elizabeth enjoys getting lost in a book or a good piece of music, staying active outside, and exploring as much of the world as time and opportunity allow.

Meet the Team

Leeza Andrewsky
Program Coordinator
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Meet Leeza Andrewsky
Leeza joined the C&C team in February of 2015. Coming into the team with a strong administrative background, detail-oriented work ethic, and always upbeat personality, Leeza has become an excellent fit for the Programs team. When not at work, she loves spending time with friends and her football fanatic husband, doing yoga, or relaxing with a nice glass of Okanagan wine.
Thiago Bernardo
Jr. Database Analyst
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Meet Thiago Bernardo

Thiago joined Christianson & Company in 2015 as a Help Desk Administrator. Prior to this, he worked as a .NET Programmer for 5 years in Brazil. He decided to move his career to Canada in order to improve his knowledge in the IT field. He now is engaged in providing help to all teams wherever he is needed and utilizes his systems and web application expertise in network troubleshooting and maintenance. Throughout his career, Thiago has received two Microsoft and one CompTIA Network+ certificates. Thiago is a Brazilian who loves soccer, MMA, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and hiking with friends.

Wesley Chang
IT Architect
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Meet Wesley Chang

Managing an association’s IT infrastructure is no small feat and Wesley, along with his team of developers and analysts, is responsible for the creation, support and management of hundreds of websites since joining C&C in April 2010. Wesley has a Bachelor and Master degree in Computer Science from Simon Fraser University and Illinois Institute of Technology, respectively. In his spare time, Wesley enjoys playing sports (basketball, softball) and competing in mind sports (Go, Sudoku), and is currently a contributing member to the Canadian Go Association.

Nicole Cherry
Business Development Analyst
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Meet Nicole Cherry

Nicole joined the C&C team in November 2011. As the Business Development Analysis Nicole is responsible for building Data Models, Power BI Dashboard & Reports for the organization. Nicole’s precise nature in reporting on finances, event records and projections helps C&C clients keep on track and in the know with vital statistics. Her colorful, unique and amazingly detailed artwork she creates in her spare time provides the artist aspect to our Dashboards & Reports. A graduate of the University of Victoria in 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree, Nicole also completed 2 years of pre-medical studies, and operated a Student Works Painting Franchise from 2006-2008. She has completed 3 Power Pivot/Query/Dax training courses 2015-2018. Nicole practises Vinyasa yoga and enjoys spending her evenings with a great book. Nicole and Sadie can be found exploring the city on weekends when Nicole isn't on her bike tearing up rubber.

Emilija Dufresne
Educational Content Specialist
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Meet Emilija Dufresne
Emilija joined Christianson & Company in August 2013 bringing with her a varied slate of abilities and expertise in education, research, and community engagement. Working on the PASS Program team, Emilija applies her knowledge and experience to further develop educational content for C&C’s client PASS. In her spare time, Emilija enjoys going on outdoor adventures with her family, yoga, and adding books to her ever-growing home library. 
Jasjit Gandham
Event & Registration Coordinator
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Meet Jasjit Gandham

Jasjit grew up in Burnaby and attended Simon Fraser University. Since joining Christianson & Company, Jasjit has succeeded in the coordinating of projects that require input from multiple departments on strict deadlines, allowing him to excel in his current role as Event & Registration Coordinator. An avid soccer fan, Jasjit enjoys playing indoors or out and tries to pick up a game at least once a week. It is a dream of his to see his favorite team, Manchester United live in action. When Jasjit isn’t playing soccer, he enjoys traveling, hiking and exploring all the wonderful things Metro Vancouver has to offer.

Sanjeet Gandham
Sr. Project Coordinator
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Meet Sanjeet Gandham
Sanj was born and raised in the UK, where she studied a Masters in Business and IT. She joined Christianson & Company in 2008 and has worked on various teams, having now settled in Projects and Operations. She has a strong attention to detail which helps ensure tasks are accomplished and on time. Sanj now calls Vancouver home, and outside of work dedicates time to her family, volunteering at the school and staying active. 

 


Justin Gong
DevOps Engineer
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Meet Justin Gong

Justin graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science from UBC and has worked in the software development industry for 8 years focusing on Microsoft .NET development. Before joining Christianson & Company, his latest employment was with Bay West Management company as a Software Developer where he worked on a variety of different technologies. Outside of work, Justin spends most of his time with his family and two little boys. He also enjoys watching sports games (NBA, NHL, MLS and EPL soccer games).

Lisa Harding
Marketing Manager
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Meet Lisa Harding

Lisa joined the C&C marketing team in 2017 with a focus on brand, member acquisition, community engagement, and marketing operations. Lisa has over 15 years of marketing experience, primarily in the local Vancouver tech industry. She is passionate about to lifelong learning and gets super jazzed when she can put a well-thought-out plan to action and drive real results. 

Born and raised in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Lisa enjoys all the things that Vancouver has to offer. In her spare time, she can be found volunteering, taking road trips, or exploring the local beaches and forests with her Irish Terrier Ruby. 


Eleanor Klassen
Executive Office & HR Administrator
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Meet Eleanor Klassen

Eleanor joined C&C in 2013 and brings expertise in Executive Management support, Travel Administration and Organizational/Schedule Management skills. Eleanor’s 15+ years of experience in Executive administration has provided a strong support structure for C&C’s growing team. Eleanor previously worked in the travel insurance and accounting software industry and enjoys contributing to the success of both her colleagues and C&C’s overall success. When not working, Eleanor travels extensively and can be found with a camera in her hand or her nose in a book!

Jason Lau
Web Developer
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Meet Jason Lau

Multi-tasking is Jason’s forte as he troubleshoots technical and client/server-related issues while also maintaining and expanding the functionality of websites to meet client’s evolving needs. Holding the Christianson & Company office record for most screens at one desk, and number of applications open, Jason enjoys badminton and gaming in his spare time, no doubt helping his juggling abilities in the office. 

Amanda Martin
Community Manager
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Meet Amanda Martin

Amanda is the Community Manager at Christianson & Company, and had joined the team in 2016. She brings experience in strategic communications, marketing, and community management, and has a passion for connecting people. With a background in both the private and public sectors, Amanda has worked for energy companies, non-profit organizations, and the University of Alberta’s International Department. Originally from Calgary, Amanda has worked overseas in both Australia and Vietnam, and loves living in Vancouver. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Calgary, as well as a Diploma in Public Relations from the University of Victoria. Outside of her professional life, Amanda is always looking for new outdoor adventures, craft beer, and passport stamps. 

Marcella McKeown
Educational Programs Team Lead
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Meet Marcella McKeown
Since joining Christianson & Company in April 2008, Marcella has greatly contributed to the growth and development of Educational Programs and leads the team with an organized, informed, and dedicated approach. Born in New Orleans and raised in Vancouver, Marcella holds a degree in Criminology & Sociology from Simon Fraser University and enjoys spending time with her family.
Joanne Minnie
Finance Officer
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Meet Joanne Minnie

Joanne developed her career as a Finance Officer in small business and has a vast amount of experience in bookkeeping, management and consulting in which she has brought into to her role at Christianson & Company.  Joanne very much enjoys the challenge of Finance and the satisfaction of success when all the numbers balance! Joanne’s pastimes are running, yoga and as much golf as she can book in!

Simon Rea-Palmer
Senior Accountant
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Meet Simon Rea-Palmer

Another of C&C’s avid sportsmen, he loves anything sport related, especially triathlon and has an affinity with the outdoors be that hiking/trail-running with the dog or family camping trips in the summer. On weekdays as the Senior Accountant, Simon works closely with the Finance Manager and is responsible for managing the day-to-day processing, monthly financial statements, preparing year-end financial documents and managing the annual fiscal audit. 

Having joined C&C since July 2013, Simon has brought into the team his insights learned through 15 years of financial experience, wherein he has worked in both private practice accounting and industry roles. Simon moved from the UK in 2010, recently became a Canadian citizen and now lives in Nanaimo with his wife and two young daughters.

Erick Romero
Operations & Community Coordinator
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Meet Erick Romero

Erick was born and raised in Mexico City. Considering his fascination towards the hospitality industry in which he has held from a young age, Erick had chosen to pursue his studies in Hotel Management. Prior to moving to Vancouver, Erick was in the events division in Dubai's Oil and Gas Industry. His favorite aspect of Vancouver is the combination of beaches, mountains, and the great outdoors.

Julia Wu
Event & Lodging Manager
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Meet Julia Wu
Julia joined Christianson & Company's events team in March 2014 with a background in Project and Event Coordination. A pro at Excel and a devotee of Gantt charts, Julia maps out every minute of the event to ensure no details are missed, and that each individual amongst the thousands of attendees has the best experience possible. When not working, Julia is a self-confessed sports addict. Whether if it’s watching the professionals or playing in recreational and competitive leagues, there won’t be a season where you don’t see her running around on the field or court!
Terence O'Shea
Communications Strategist
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Meet Terence O'Shea

Terence brings with him over 10 years of sales and marketing experience, spanning the financial, technology, and software industries. In recent years, Terence has been focused on creating and managing content-driven lead gen campaigns, driving growth for high-performance sales teams. Terence enjoys playing music, ultimate frisbee, and snowboarding in his free time.

Katherine Allen
Sponsorship Sales Account Manager
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Meet Katherine Allen

Katherine has recently moved to Vancouver from the UK and brings with her into Christianson & Company a rich background in sponsorship sales for technical conferences. Katherine is very excited about exploring her new city and spends most of her time outside of work going on adventures and working her way through trying every single pho and ramen restaurant in Vancouver.

Jeremy Alexander
Marketing Coordinator
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Meet Jeremy Alexander

Jeremy joined Christianson & Company in 2017 after moving to Vancouver from Toronto. Jeremy brings with him into C&C an analytical framework of thinking paired with a creative approach to actualizing his strategies. His background is largely centered around creative and technical writing, design, and management of social media automation software. Always eager to make the lives of people around him a little brighter, Jeremy is perpetually looking for opportunities to collaborate on projects, offer a sympathetic ear, or chime in with a playful quip. In his spare time, Jeremy writes and performs comedy, loves cooking, and is always ready to go on just about any adventure. 

Marcia Mendonca
Global Alliance Sponsorship Coordinator
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Meet Marcia Mendonca

Marcia brings into Christianson & Company over a decade of experience in the mining information industry through her work with the organization InfoMine. Marcia had moved to Vancouver in 2002 from São Paulo, Brazil, is fluent in both Portuguese and English, and holds a degree in Psychology. For the past five years, Marcia has developed the marketing and sales strategy for Infomine’s subsidiary ConferenceMine. Through this work, she was the first point of contact for sponsors and exhibitors, and brings a strong understanding of their individual needs to C&C. Outside of work, Marcia dedicates her time to her family, yoga, and outdoor activities.

Joe Peace
Community Coordinator
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Meet Joe Peace

Originally from the UK, Joe comes to the team with a background in marketing and community outreach in the non-profit sector. Most recently, he worked with Reconciliation Canada and helped deliver the Walk for Reconciliation event in Vancouver. Joe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia and a Certificate in Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University. Outside of the office Joe is an avid musician and supporter of live music, and can often be found at music venues and open-mic nights around Vancouver. 

Lucky
Office Security
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Meet Lucky

No mailman or visitor enters Christianson & Company without thorough inspection from Office Security Agent Lucky. A Pomeranian-Cross, Lucky provides much comic relief to his busy colleagues and cuddles if asked nicely (or where food incentives are involved).

Sadie
Personal Trainer
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Meet Sadie

(Almost) faster than the speed of light, Jack Russell Poodle Airdrie Cross, Sadie can get from one end of the office to the other quicker and jump higher than anyone else on the team. Known for her signature curly locks Sadie keeps everyone on their feet and energized during her regular visits.