We are a team of proven business practitioners that have formed a company to meet a need in the marketplace for outsourced business development. Our managing partners have over 50 years of relevant experience propelling businesses forward.

Kimberley Van Vliet, BA, CFP
Founder & CEO
Ms. Van Vliet brings over a decade of experience in professional sales, business development, and high-value proposal presentations including co-presenting with Industry Canada managers on the IRB and SR&ED program at industry conferences. After gaining 15 years of business experience, Ms. Van Vliet stepped away from her position as director of corporate development at Stonecracker Scientific Legal Network in pursuit of running a company of her own. Because of her proficiency in marketing and sales management, she has met with success within three short years of establishing WaVv Business Development Inc. At WaVv (pronounced "wave"), she specializes in bringing together advanced and industrial technology companies with strategic opportunities in Aerospace, Defence & Security. Currently, her firm provides expert advice for companies expanding their reach in their current industry or need guidance in the areas of facilitation, analysis, and strategic direction spanning across multiple industries. As a result of her company's connections and industry expertise, WaVv is the Executive Director of WestDef (www.westdef.com) - Canada's third annual defence conference, and produces and manages the Canadian Aerospace Summit’s B2B Tradeshow for the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) (www.aiac.ca). To assist clients with research and development claims, Ms. Van Vliet maintains a strategic relationship with her former company, Stonecracker Scientific.

Ms. Van Vliet received a Bachelor of Arts in neuropsychology with a minor in neurobiology in 1996 and holds a private pilot license and PADI Divemaster certification. An active public speaker, she has presented talks at various conferences. Her entrepreneurial work ethic earned her the distinction of Executive of the Year by Cambridge Who's Who in 2010, as well as a nominations for an international Top 40 Under 40 Award and RBC’s Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award. Ms. Van Vliet is on the board of Aviation Alberta, sits on the Western Showcase committee of The Calgary Stampede, and is a supporter of The Women's Executive Network and Rotary International. .

Denean Tomlin
President & COO
Resourcefulness and the ability to creatively solve problems is the guiding force behind Ms. Tomlin's career and success. She has over 15 years working in the Information and Technology sector in a variety of roles, ranging from project management to business development. Her success in managing teams, deadlines and budgets were the cornerstone to building Ms. Tomlin's strong reputation with both national and international clients. She has also worked with university, government and non-profit sectors in the area of economic development fostering strong, positive relationships; connecting individuals, businesses and governments in the spirit of cooperation and growth.

Penny Leach, MSc, PMP
Strategic Partner - Business Development & Project Management
Penny Leach has spent the last eight years working within the Industrial and Regional Benefits domain. She has constructed coveted relationships and developed sophisticated projects with leading aerospace and defence companies such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Rockwell Collins. Strong relationships with over twenty primes, Western Economic Diversification and Industry Canada positions her in an ideal situation to both shape and deliver IRB projects that influence the growth of the western economy. The most outstanding IRB projects to date include a transaction with Boeing regarding a technology upgrade of $1M to one of Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions. In 2008-2009 a public-private consortia was formed by leveraging IRB investments from Boeing, Rockwell Collins and Lockheed Martin with provincial and federal funding and an agreement with the Saskatoon Airport Authority to establish and construct an industry standard training facility at the Saskatoon International Airport. The new Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Center (a 25,000 sq ft facility) houses an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Program and the provincial Commercial Pilot Program. Ms. Leach has been involved with establishing significant projects that resulted in public private funding arrangements and consortia over the past twenty years. Nearly all of these projects required needs assessments, feasibility studies, business and implementation plans and high level negotiations. Her experience in fund development is prolific. Extensive work in intergovernmental relations and policy analysis have yielded a strong background for structuring high level agreements. Penny holds a master’s degree from the University of Toronto and she is a registered Professional Project Manager (PMP). She is an alumnus of both the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Toronto. Ms. Leach has strong connections with Saskatchewan First Nations having served as a senior advisor to the Meadow Lake Tribal Council self government initiatives in health, social and economic development and with the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies in Institutional Advancement and Fund Development. International experience has been attained in South America and Africa.

General Jean E. Boyle, CAF (ret) (Ottawa, Canada)
Strategic Partner
General Jean (John) Boyle brings to WaVv Business Development extensive experience from senior appointments from within both the international military and business communities. General Boyle retired as Chief of the Defense Staff (CDS) of Canadian Armed Forces following a distinguished thirty-year military career. Following his retirement from military service, General Boyle joined the Boeing Company as Vice-President, International Business Development (St. Louis, MO) and as Managing Director, Boeing International Corporation- Europe (Brussels, Belgium). In addition to his SPECTRUM Group appointment, General Boyle is President and CEO of JEBtek International, which specializes in distributed computer-based training for industry and government.

Brigadier General Murray Ramsbottom, CAF (ret) (Victoria, Canada)
Strategic Partner
A business leader, senior operations manager and aerospace engineering executive. Fifteen years business experience in senior executive positions in the aerospace and defence private sector and over thirty-four years of progressive military responsibility, rising to the rank of Brigadier-General. Extensive experience in the Management of Major Crown projects (MCPs) and in-depth knowledge of Government procurement policies and procedures for major acquisitions. Exceptional decision making, liaison, public speaking, team building and interpersonal and management skills that achieve corporate goals and objectives.

Robert Gary Payne, CD, PEng, PMP
Strategic Partner
Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRBs) and Program Management Specialist Mr. Gary Payne has a wealth of experience to offer WaVv Business Development's clients. His background encompasses senior management positions in the fields of Program Management, Industrial and Regional Benefits, Business Development and he has been a CEO within the manufacturing industry sector. Before joining WaVv Gary was the Industrial and Regional Benefits Manager for one of Canada's leading electronics firms. For over twenty-five years Gary has been a Program Director and Program Manager leading large scale design and integration programs within the defense and pharmaceutical industries and has been directly or indirectly involved in the delivery of IRB programs since 1987. Gary has been a mentor to senior Program Managers where IRBs are required and has guided both small and large companies in the development of IRB proposals and the delivery of IRB programs. Gary has first hand experience as a President and CEO in managing a pharmaceutical company where he led the conversion of a research and development facility into an FDA approved production facility. Throughout his career Gary has personally managed and coached individuals in Program and IRB Management at all organizational levels. As an accomplished leader in these fields, Gary's practical experience is complimented by degrees in Engineering, Education, and Arts. Gary is a Professional Engineer (PEng) and holds a Program Management Professional (PMP) designation.

Dr. Bob Schulz
Strategic Advisor
Dr. Bob Schulz is a Professor of Strategic Management with the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary, where he has taught for the past 36 years and coached student case competition teams to more than 75 championships . Bob has received 21 outstanding teaching awards, including the 3M Teaching Fellowship as one of Canada's top 10 teachers among 39,000 professors. He was the first recipient of the Order of the University of Calgary, the City of Calgary Award of Merit (Education), and the University of Calgary Lecture of a Lifetime award. Bob has served on the board of directors or advisory board for more than a dozen public and private companies, primarily in the technology sector, and maintains networking access through his former students, many of whom are now senior leaders in business.