Garth Pinton

Well-respected for his industry knowledge and ability to quickly capture the essence of an assignment's core requirements, Garth Pinton draws on a three-decade career in executive search. During this time, he has earned a reputation for his astute headhunting abilities and his attention to detail. His executive search expertise includes the resource, manufacturing, operations and not-for-profit business sectors.

 

On the community front, Garth is Board Chair of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. He also volunteers as a mentor with the Minerva Foundation, helping talented, educated women re-start their careers after prolonged periods outside the workforce.

Casey Forrest

With more than 25 years experience in executive search, Casey Forrest brings to the organization a dynamic blend of business savvy and interpersonal skills. His keen understanding of people enables him to quickly grasp the particular needs of an assignment, resulting in winning results for clients and candidates alike. Throughout his career, Casey has utilized his strategic abilities to complete senior executive searches for an array of public and private sector clients.

 

Casey shares his organizational development expertise with a variety of community and national organizations. As a member of the YMCA's Board of Greater Vancouver, Casey is an active participant in the organization's capital campaign. In addition, he is involved with the development of the Junior Achievement's Business Laureates of British Columbia Hall of Fame.

George Madden

George Madden's professional accomplishments in communications, public affairs and management have made him a well-known figure on the Canadian business landscape. A 15-year veteran of the executive search industry, he brings to each assignment an incisive understanding of business affairs and a natural affinity for distilling complex client objectives into measurable goals and results.

 

Prior to PFM, George held various senior management roles within the Jim Pattison Group, one of Canada's largest privately held companies. Previously, he served as Vice President of Corporate Communications for the 1986 World Exposition (Expo 86) in Vancouver.

 

George is a member of the New York-based Association of Executive Search Executives, for which he serves on the Council of the Americas. Closer to home, he is a Trustee of the Jack Webster Foundation.

Shaun Carpenter
Principal

Shaun Carpenter has been part of the PFM team since 1998. Well respected for his aptitude in candidate development and client relations, his thorough, insightful approach gives clients confidence that their needs are being met in a professional, timely manner.

 

A member of the Human Resources Management Association (HRMA), Shaun also has past experience with the receiving side of search services as Manager, Human Resources with a leading Canadian health insurance provider.

 

Shaun received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary, which included studies abroad at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.

Shelina Esmail
Senior Search Consultant

Shelina Esmail joined the firm in 1998 as Research Director and quickly moved into a consulting role. Formerly a Senior Research and Marketing Analyst for Colliers International in Vancouver and California, her professional experience and depth of business knowledge provide a rich foundation for leading executive searches across a variety of sectors.

 

A UBC graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a diploma in Urban Land Economics, Shelina has been active in the community through the Aga Khan Foundation, the Ismaili Walk for Charity and Canuck Place.

 

Allison Rzen
Senior Search Consultant

Allison Rzen came onboard at PFM in 1999 and quickly tapped her interpersonal abilities and business skills to successfully match candidates with the right positions. Initially one of the firm's research associates, she is sensitive to the range of specific skills and intangible qualities required by today's organizations.

 

Previously, Allison coordinated convention services for the Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau, an experience that provided firsthand knowledge about working with diverse stakeholders and clients.

 

On the community front, Allison is a Board member with the Directorate of Agencies for School Health (DASH-BC), a cooperative interagency network representing a broad range of local, regional and provincial organizations and individuals acting as advocates for the prevention activities that enable students to develop to their fullest potential.

Tracey Vopni
Senior Search Consultant

A Consultant with the firm since 2001, clients see Tracey Vopni as a solutions provider, a skilled executive search expert whose communication and business skills enable her to easily understand the needs of different industries and organizations. Tracey boasts a wealth of professional sales and marketing experience gleaned from her decade-long career in the hospitality industry, most notably with Intrawest, Tourism Vancouver and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.

 

Tracey holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria and gives back to the community through her work with the Salvation Army, Canadian Cancer Society and as co-chair of a Municipal Community Planning Committee.

 

Esther McGregor
Search Consultant

A member of PFM since 2005, Esther McGregor has worked in the executive search industry for more than seven years and brings to the organization significant business expertise. She began her career with the Bank of Montreal in financial services management.

She then turned to executive search where she has had the opportunity to collaborate with top leaders for some of Canada's most successful organizations.

 

Esther obtained a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Administration and Information Management from Ryerson University in Toronto and is fluent in Cantonese and conversational French. She is a member of the BC Technology Industries Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the Pooh Corner Daycare Society.

Seema Kanwal
Director of Research

A veteran of the executive search industry with more than a decade of international experience to her credit, Seema Kanwal joined the firm in 2001. She is well recognized for her trademark methodical approach to the search process, which has resulted in the successful recruitment of candidates in local, national and international markets.

 

Prior to joining PFM, Seema honed her research talents with executive search firms in Hong Kong and Vancouver. She is fluent in Cantonese, Hindi and Punjabi, which adds a multi-cultural perspective to her search efforts.

Trish Janik
Manager, Operations & Research

A long time member of the PFM organization, Trish Janik has held a variety of positions with the firm. She currently manages the firm's corporate services as well as its IT and research operations. As one of PFM's lead researchers, her familiarity with the multi-dimensional aspects of executive search makes her a valuable resource to the partners, consultants and clients.

 

Trish is a science graduate of the University of British Columbia whose superior analytical skills and natural curiosity are key assets for her research assignments. She also plays a role in the company's many community initiatives.

Randy Evans
Research Associate

Randy Evans brings to PFM a strong background in research and international affairs. Most recently, Randy was a research analyst with The Corporate Library, a leading corporate governance research firm located in Portland, Maine. He previously lived and worked for six years as an English instructor and editor in Japan, where he gained a keen understanding of Asian culture and honed his Japanese language skills.

 

Randy obtained a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Northern British Columbia. Further study followed at the University of British Columbia, where he obtained a Master of Arts in Political Science.

Scott Nason
Research Associate

Bio coming soon.