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Community Futures Online Learning - Launch Pad

PROJECT ROLES

Project Manager

"Cathy Forner of C4ner Consulting Inc. has been a trusted collaborator on several key initiatives with Community Futures Central Alberta. Her leadership in the post-pandemic regional and provincial Gap Analysis survey and report helped us identify critical needs and opportunities, shaping our strategic response during a time of significant change. As project manager and coach for the Catalyst Incubator Program—funded by the Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network—Cathy brought clarity, structure, and inspiration to emerging entrepreneurs, helping them build strong foundations for success. 

  

Beyond these projects, Cathy has made a meaningful impact through her coaching in the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP), offering inclusive and empowering support to diverse business owners. She also led the development of the Alberta CF online learning program, creating a flexible and accessible platform that continues to benefit entrepreneurs across the province. Cathy’s professionalism, insight, and genuine dedication to community and economic development make her an exceptional partner—and a key contributor to our success." - Kelly Kierluk, Community Futures Central Alberta

Community Futures Online Learning (Launch Pad)  

August 2023 to March 2026 


C4ner Consulting developed this two-and-a-half-year project in conjunction with support from 18 (of the 27) Alberta Community Futures offices. Launch Pad was designed to help communities, businesses and organizations in Alberta. The primary goal was to develop high quality, educational online courses that Community Futures locations could offer to rural entrepreneurs in Alberta. The Launch Pad courses covered the following topics: 

  • What it takes to be an Entrepreneur 

  • Creating a Business Plan  

  • Human Resources for small business 

  • Money and Finance 

  • Marketing for Business 

  • Staff Orientation to manage clients and run reports in the Learning Management Systems 


Objectives

Working in collaboration with a Community Futures Leadership team/Oversight committee (representing 6 offices). We develop a total of five online courses, plus one staff learning module. The project is being completed in several phases as follows:  

  • Project Planning and Research 

  • Develop the online learning system, pilot test and launch all 5 courses and staff onboarding module.  

  • Create a sustainability business model post-project 

  • Realize implementation plans and provide the tools and training to support the roll-out of the courses across the network.  

  • Establish the standards for development of future online courses that maintain the branding and quality standards established in the project.  

  • Closeout and evaluate project and program pre and post success. Three of the courses have been completed as of April 2025 and the development of the 2 additional courses and staff training module are underway.


Accomplishment

  • Worked with the leadership group to define initial project objectives, scope, budget and timeline, so the client had the proper information to apply for the grant funding for the project.   

  • Engaged 50+ key stakeholders to determine course topics, business requirements for the learning management system and the content that would best suit Community Futures and their clients.  

  • Completed an environmental scan and gather necessary resources and pre-existing tools to develop course content.   

  • Researched and presented the client with 3 of the best Learning Management System (LMS) and then implemented their final choice based on the needs and budget.  

  • Managed the project, which included facilitating meetings, creating agendas, assisting with project communications, monitoring project scope, budget, timelines, addressing issues and monitoring risks and developing project status reports, which were used for grant reporting.

  • Assisted with defining and hiring the additional human resources required to complete the project, such as the Instructional Designer and Videographer & photographer.

  • Worked with subject matter experts to create, test and finalize course content.

  • Administrated the LMS, act as main contact for the LMS company and provided client registration, training and support for the duration of the project.

  • Completed and released five courses built by Community Futures for Community Futures clients and one staff orientation module to support ongoing use after the project.

  • Created the implementation tools required to support the LMS post-project some of which included standardizing the steps to create courses, course creation standards for Community Futures, common task checklists and training for staff taking over the LMS and established course evaluation standards for course review and updating.

  • Completed and released five courses built by Community Futures for Community Futures clients and one staff orientation module to support ongoing use after the project.

  • Created the implementation tools required to support the LMS post-project, some of which included standardizing the steps to create courses, course creation standards for Community Futures, checklists for common tasks and training for the staff taking the LMS over and establish course evaluation standards for course review and updating.

  • Project Definition: Defined initial project objectives, scope, budget, and timeline with the leadership group, and assisted the client with grant funding information.

  • Team Building: Defined and hired additional human resources, including an Instructional Designer, Videographer, and Photographer.

  • Content Development: Engaged over 50 key stakeholders to determine course topics and business requirements for the learning management system (LMS), and completed an environmental scan for necessary resources and pre-existing tools.

  • LMS Implementation: Researched, presented, and implemented one of three best LMS options based on client needs and budget.

  • Course Content Creation: Worked with subject matter experts to create, test, and finalize course content.


Project Contributors

  • Photographer and Videographer 

  • Instructional Designer 


Services in this Project

  • Define project with client to develop Project Charter, which was used to secure funding. 

  • Economic Development 

  • Entrepreneurial Development 

  • Stakeholder Engagement 

  • Training 

  • Project Management 

  • Survey and evaluation 

  • Research

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