Meet the CTC Experiences Team
Robby Safrata
Owner & CEO
Robby is an entrepreneur, former Olympian, and environmental leader. He founded Eagle Quest Golf Centres, a chain of golf facilities that he grew to 24 locations across Canada and the US before selling it for $105 million in 1998. He is also the owner of Novex Couriers, the first carbon-neutral courier in North America and a Certified B Corp company that operates a 100% ULEV fleet. He acquired Westcoast Sightseeing, a tourism company that offers unique experiences to visitors in Vancouver, and increased its annual guests from 45,000 to over 500,000 by integrating two other businesses. The Globe and Mail has hailed him as “perhaps the greenest CEO in Canada” for his dedication to sustainability and social responsibility.
Jason Bryant
President & COO
Jason is an innovative and experienced tourism leader with over 25 years of industry expertise. He started his career at Brewster Travel Canada in 2000, where he oversaw Brewster Vacations and Brewster Charters & Sightseeing divisions. He managed multi-million dollar budgets, strategic plans, leadership development, on-site operations and guest service for 12 years. In 2013, he joined Westcoast Sightseeing as the head of sales, marketing and business development, and became the President in 2019. He led a successful rebrand and increased the annual guests from 50K to nearly 500K. In 2020, he became the leader of Coast to Coast Experiences, the parent company of Gray Line Westcoast Sightseeing, Gray Line Niagara Falls, and Gray Line Seattle.
James Terry
Advisor
James is a seasoned tourism and hospitality professional with 50 years of international experience. He is the Founder and Chair of Tourism Industry Partners (TIP), a network of tourism leaders and experts. He is also the Principle of a hospitality consultancy, specializing in Corporate Strategy and Customer Experience. Previously, he was the COO of Rocky Mountaineer, an award-winning Canadian rail tour company, where he led its worldwide operations and rapid growth. He has served on the board of Tourism Vancouver, Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), and Vancouver Playhouse. He is a hotelier and restauranteur with a passion for the tourism industry.
Hugh Jones
Vice President, Operations
Hugh is a transportation and logistics expert with 15 years of operational experience and 10 years of consulting experience. He is a leader in innovation, process management, resource utilization and competitive positioning. He has been instrumental in Westcoast Sightseeing’s growth and fleet renewal strategy, supporting new business structures and environmental impact. He has developed a roadmap to renewable energy for the company. He is a valuable member of the CTCE team, providing business solutions that are effective and efficient.
Oltion Leka
Chief Financial Officer
Oltion is an executive leader with 20 years of experience in growing, restructuring and exiting businesses. He is an expert in strategic M&A, board governance and C-Level operations. He currently provides hands-on executive stewardship to portfolio businesses at CTCE. Previously, he was EVP of Finance, IT and HR for a Pharma supply chain company, where he led successful transactions in SaaS, expansion, restructuring and B.I implementation. He also served as VP of Finance, IT and board member for various transportation-related businesses in Canada, where he initiated acquisitions, drove record results and spearheaded exits. He holds a CPA from NY state, an MBA from Staffordshire University and a bachelor’s degree from Strathclyde University. He is a Board Director for the Logistic Institute of Canada, Treasury on private Board, member of Rotary Club Mississauga and part of the project team for the new Trillium Health Partners initiative.
Monica Karlsson
Director of Sales & Marketing
Monica is a creative and strategic business leader with a knack for finding innovative sales channels and revenue streams for renowned tourism businesses. She has helped create brand-aligned products and services, such as themed rail cars for Rocky Mountaineer and a Hop on, Hop off tour with elevated service for Landsea Tours & Adventures. She also played a key role in launching BC Ferries Vacations, a division that offers cost-competitive vacation packages built around the existing ferry system. This division benefits both BC Ferries, one of the world’s largest ferry services, and the surrounding communities by increasing demand and traffic. Monica brings to the CTCE team a unique perspective on opportunities and a talent for turning dreams into reality.
Carolyn Bates
Director of Product Services
Carolyn Bates is a client relations and contract negotiations expert with over 25 years of experience in the Tourism Industry. She started her career at Brewster Travel Canada, where she worked her way up from an entry level position to roles of leadership, product development and client relations. She spent 20 years at Brewster, learning the intricacies of the travel industry. In 2016, she joined Gray Line Westcoast Sightseeing as the leader of OTA and Receptive Sales. She has also been involved in integrating support and sales systems within the CTCE network of companies. She is a valuable asset to the CTCE team, with her extensive knowledge and skills in the tourism industry.
Meet the CTC Experiences Advisory Board
Kara Flynn
Former Vice President - Syncrude
CTC Experiences Board Chair
Kara is a strategic leader with diverse experience in driving sustainable ESG strategies for complex organizations. She retired as the VP of Government & Public Affairs for Syncrude Canada Ltd., where she led the brand, sustainability, regulatory and government relations strategies. She also led the lease development, operatorship transfer and Covid response initiatives. She holds an ICD.D designation and serves as a director on several boards, including CNC Industries Inc, Edmonton Elks Football Club and Francis Winspear Centre/Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. She has chaired boards such as CCAB, Keyano College and Telus World of Science. She is passionate about building trusted relationships and adding value to the organizations she supports. She loves to travel and golf in her spare time.
Darcy Verhun
Former President – FYI Doctors
CTC Experiences Board Member
Darcy earned an MBA from the University of Western Ontario, a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta, and several professional certifications. He has held senior roles at Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton and Cap Gemini. He is a Fellow of CPA Canada, a Distinguished Alumni of MacEwan University, and a member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches. He is a lifelong learner, a passionate coach, and a grateful leader who loves mountain biking, skiing and reading. He believes in enhancing life through a coaching culture.
Trent Walsh
Founder/Board Member, Leading Quality Assurance
CTC Experiences Board Member
Trent Walsh is the Founder of LQA, the world’s leading quality assurance company for the luxury hospitality industry. He partnered with Leading Hotels of the World Limited to launch LQA in 2000 and has expanded it to serve over 70% of the global market. He made LQA an independent company in 2017. As a board advisor for CTC Experiences, he focuses on strategy, product innovation and industry relations. He has a background in hospitality operations with InterContinental Hotels and Sun International. He has a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and a Diploma in Business Administration from Kingston University. He lives in Vancouver with his family and enjoys travel and golf.
Geroge Hines
Senior VP, Chief Innovation & Technology Office Lithia Motors Inc.
CTC Experiences Board Member
George Hines is a Fortune 150 technology executive leader with experience in B2C retail, hospitality and eCommerce. He is the SVP, Chief Innovation & Technology Officer for Lithia Motors, Inc., where he launched Driveway, a new online eCommerce business. He has led major digital and customer experience transformations in his previous roles at Massage Envy Franchising and Viad Corp. He also has a consulting background with Deloitte and Ernst & Young, advising clients in the telecommunications industry. He has a global perspective, having lived and worked in five countries. He has a B.S. in MIS from Millikin University and studied Design Thinking and Innovation at Stanford. He loves to volunteer as a dog walker at an animal shelter and travel internationally, having visited 78 countries.
Jen Hancock
Vice President Collaborative Construction at Chandos Construction
CTC Experiences Board Member
Jen is the Vice President Collaborative Construction at Chandos Construction and a CTC Experiences Board Member. She is a coach, facilitator and trainer for project teams, specializing in Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), collaborative construction practices, lean, sustainability and EDI initiatives. She has been a key champion of IPD in Canada, working on some of the first IPD projects from BC to Ontario. She also oversees Lean integration and training and manages the waste diversion policy that has diverted over 75% of the company’s waste in the last 12 years. She serves on the board of directors for the Edmonton Construction Association and Alberta Construction Association and is a former Director of the Integrated Project Delivery Alliance. She loves to travel, and enjoys the Edmonton River Valley.