As a fourth generation northern girl, Judy Neiser (Assman) has now followed much of her family in relocating to the Okanagan, and is delighted to serve as the new Chief Executive Officer starting in April 2022. She has an extensive career that spans from working in a family business, both private and public industry, to the government sector and found her home in the Not for Profit world. She has spent 17 years in executive administration, community stakeholder, and finance in the Forest Industry, working for Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (previously Northwood Pulp and Timber Ltd. later Canfor in 2000), after which she had a brief stint with Northern Health and settled into the charitable sector to head up the Prince George Community Foundation for 6 years, and most recently led the largest healthcare foundation encompassing the two-thirds of the province of BC, the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation as CEO for the last nine years. During her time with both organizations her ability to work with passionate Donors to take the organizations, the communities, and the healthcare system to new heights has been significant. Her passion to provide donors with the opportunity to give, in the communities that they live, work, and play in, is genuine and her greatest satisfaction is helping Donors who have embraced the art of giving see how every dollar, no matter how big or small, can truly make a difference.
Judy is inspired by the legacy of the COF and the work of its’ donors, board, staff and volunteers and what is being accomplished here in the Okanagan valley. It truly is an amazing place to live and creating community begins at COF. There are so many funding pillars that if they work in collaboration, can truly do good things.
Judy has three grown children, who together with their families are living in Northern BC, with her youngest living here in Kelowna. Family, friends, traveling, cooking, knitting, being outdoors, and enjoying every day for the beauty that it brings is important and she is excited to embark on this next chapter of her career here at the Central Okanagan Foundation.