Home  Our Team
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 Dave Varner Dave Varner, president and CEO of Innersee Initiatives Inc., founded the company in 1997. His vision was to create an accessible, high quality challenge course that utilized a wide range of innovative elements and processing techniques. He designed and built the challenge course, developed the curriculum, trained his facilitators, and facilitates a diverse array of clients on the course and in the natural environment. Dave’s expertise in the field of experiential and adventure based training is the accumulation of over two decades of experience, working a wide variety of client groups. These groups include: students from elementary, secondary, college and university, “at risk” populations, leadership candidates, as well as corporate teams from across the spectrum. Dave’s dedication to this field earned him Barrday’s Corporate “Teacher of Excellence Award” in 2001. Currently Dave is providing adventure based programming for the Ministry of Education and Training in a pilot project. Dave has also been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Western Ontario teaching additional qualification courses for over 8 years Dave has presented at numerous provincial, national and international conferences and workshops in the field of experiential and adventure based training. Education/Qualifications Bachelor of Arts, Wilfrid Laurier University, 1980Masters of Arts, Northern Arizona University, 1982Bachelor of Education, University of Toronto, 1988Certified in Wilderness First Aid/CPR, ORCA certified in canoeing, Advance Skills and Standards for Rope Courses, Top Rope Certified in Rock Climbing and CRCA Sea Kayak. | 
Jan Varner Jan Varner is currently the CEO of United Way for Kitchener-Waterloo and area. Prior to this role, Jan was at Wilfrid Laurier University for ten years. She was the Director of the Laurier Institute as well as a faculty member, both full-time and part-time, for the School of Business and Economics. She joined the faculty after serving 15 years in the private and public sector. Jan was instrumental in designing and delivering a management development program with the City of Brampton that won a national excellence in training award. Currently on the board for the Canadian Society of Training and Development and for The Centre for Rural Leadership, Jan was also the first Canadian nominated as chair for CMED, an international management and executive development association. She has been making presentations at provincial, national, and international conferences since 1988. Education/Qualifications Honours Bachelor of Business Administration, Wilfrid Laurier University, 1980Masters of Business Administration, Wilfrid Laurier University, 1994Canadian Training and Development Professional designation (CTDP) |  Rod Matheson Rod is an educator, coach, facilitator and consultant. During the past 27 years he has acquired a rich and comprehensive range of skills and knowledge working in diverse organizations, communities and cultures within Canada and abroad. In those settings Rod has been recognized for his strong leadership and teamwork skills, and for the creation of unique and innovative working and learning environments that effectively promote the development of individuals, teams and organizations. Rod’s areas of expertise include the fields of: Leadership and Leadership Development, Culture Development, Team Building, Conflict Resolution, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Motivation, Facilitation, Adult Education, Awareness, and Inter and Intra Personal Development. As a facilitator and adult educator, Rod’s experiences are extensive. Guided by the principles of experiential and reflective learning and the Socratic Method, he has helped others acquire their learning in a variety of ways, including: on-the-job (in real-time); in classroom, boardroom or retreat settings; through self-directed programs, or service-learning and outdoor adventure-based activities. One of his best known and most popular programs is The Art of Leadership - a multi-module, comprehensive leadership development program. Rod is currently working on writing 3 books: Wisdom Creation: Keys to Coping with Change and Uncertainty; The Facilitation of Learning: Helping Others to Help Themselves; and A Question of Survival, A Matter of Leadership. Education/Qualifications Rod’s relevant formal education includes a Masters Degree, specializing in the areas of Leadership, Systems Thinking and Learning Organizations (York University); and a Certificate in Adult Education, specializing in Experiential Learning, Program Design and Facilitation (St. Francis Xavier University). |  Eric Schmeiss Eric Schmeiss, AVP of Business Development, has been with Innersee Initiatives for 7 years. Eric has been interested in education and adventure training since high school. He gets consistent ratings of excellence from clients for his facilitation skills. Prior to becoming AVP, Eric worked extensively with Youth at Risk, starting with RRAP (Retention Reintegration Adventure Program) which was part of the Waterloo Region Catholic District School Board. Utilizing an adventure based, teambuilding approach, the program boasted an 85% success rate with reintegrating Youth at Risk back into mainstream school. This experience provided a solid foundation for Eric’s involvement in adventure based facilitation, both with student and corporate clients. Education/Qualifications Adventure Guide, School of Wilderness Arts and Technology (SWAT), 2000. Canoe and kayak instructor certification. Wilderness first responder.Computer Programming courses, Conestoga College, 2004 |  Greg Awad Lobe Greg is a therapist, teacher, consultant and entrepreneur. During the past 15 years Greg has worked in residential treatment programs, community mental health programs, taught ESL in Egypt, and worked in Children’s Protective services. These roles have taken him to organizations in Canada and abroad. Greg’s area of expertise is in child and family mental health, and has spent 10 years working in this field with at risk youth and their families. Greg has led a variety of groups for youth and parents, and has worked with families and couples. Greg most recently worked as the director of a not for profit agency Ausable Family Services. Greg is part owner of a company that focuses on real estate acquisition, development and sales. Greg has been with Innersee Initiatives for the last four years working as a trainer/facilitator. Education/Qualifications Bachelor of Theology, Canadian Mennonite University, 1989 Bachelor of Arts, University of Waterloo, 1990Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies, Conrad Grebel College, 1992Masters of Social Work, Ohio State University, 2001 |  Don Varner, Chief Cook |  Metu, Mascot
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