Penticton Indian Band fills key administrative roles

PENTICTON – The Penticton Indian Band has found new people for the band’s Chief Administrative and Chief Financial Officer positions.

The band recently completed competitions for the top administrative positions awarding Penticton Indian Band member Joe Johnson the Chief Administrative Officer position.

Johnson is returning to the band after serving as Director of Operations for the Bonaparte Indian Band near Cache Creek.

Brian Connor was successful in winning the Chief Financial Officer position. He has played a key role in administrative development and served as Director of Finance for the Westbank First Nation since 2006.

In a press release issued this afternoon, Communications Manager Dawn Russell said interim Chief Administrative Officer Jonathan Baynes has worked to develop a new management structure aimed at shifting responsibility away from the one single position.

“To be truly transparent, we have to encourage and engage all of our staff and departments, empowering and supporting professional development across our resource pool,” Baynes said.

“Having these positions filled by experienced professionals with the understanding of our history, both culturally and politically, will serve us well. Both of these people have a proven track record of transparency and community connection which we had been missing,” Chief Chad Eneas said.

Joe Johnson begins his role as CAO on August 7 and Brian Connor’s first day is July 30.

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