Founder & Principal Collaborator, Brenda Herchmer
Brenda Herchmer is a community builder, systems catalyst, and innovator who has spent her career helping communities and organizations move from silos to systems and toward a more whole-community, or ecosystem, approach.
As Founder and Principal Collaborator of Campus for Communities of the Future, the Lead Catalyst behind RESET Communities, and Co-Chair of the Canada Chapter of Catalyst Now; she works primarily with communities and neighbourhoods to strengthen leadership, organization, and community capacity for local economic, social, cultural, and environmental well-being. These are typically framed by global priorities, such as the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A sought-after facilitator, educator, and author, she is known for translating systems thinking and practice into clear language, practical tools, and hopeful, future-focused strategies that help leaders connect the dots between local insight and broader systemic change. A speaker, trainer, and coach-consultant across Canada and now globally, she is a former professor and director at Niagara College, the Director of Alberta's ACE Communities initiative, and has worked for local government and a number of social purpose organizations and businesses. This eclectic background provided a practical, cross-sector lens and understanding of what it takes to tackle "broken systems" and complex challenges and opportunities.
Brenda has been honoured as a YWCA Woman of Distinction and a Brock University Distinguished Graduate. She and her family live in Welland, Ontario, Canada, where they also own a Board Game Café and an online kite store.
R.E.S.E.T. Communities Collective increases responsiveness to complex challenges and opportunities by collaborating with multiple partners to provide a variety of support and services that enhance social, economic, and environmental well-being.
Individual and organizational future-readiness is supported increasing capacity for (1) community and stakeholder-led development, (2) systems-practices, (3) strategic foresight, and (4) digital optimization. We've learned these four components are necessary for the project and systems collaboration and informed decision-making we have experienced as being essential for transformative change and innovation.
Innovative approaches require being bold, perseverance, tenacity and a sprinkle of panic.
-- Michelle Baldwin
Many situations in life are similar to going on a hike: the view changes once you start walking. You don't need all the answers right now. New paths will reveal themselves if you have the courage to get started.
--James Clear
Leadership today is about courage. Courage to realize our challenges are complex and no one individual, organization, or sector can resolve them on their own. That means we have to let go of the idea that we alone have the answers. Instead, we need to strengthen our individual and organizational competencies in order to become sector connectors who call meetings before we have the answers, aren't intimidated by messy, and can ensure a culture where all voices are heard. Only then, can our collective gifts, experience, and wisdom be focused on building a better future for all.
--Brenda Herchmer
In times of change it is the learners who inherit the future. Those who have finished learning find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.
-- Eric Hoffer
