Carla Nikli
General Manager
Carla Nikli
General Manager
Prior to joining the NBRA Team, Carla gained valuable experience in leadership roles with Disney Cruise Lines, Delta and Fairmont Hotels, the Lake Louise Recreation Society and the Cranston Residents Association. She is grateful to share her passion for recreation management with the community of New Brighton, as General Manager of the Residents Association since September 2013. With over 20 years of management experience in the field; her enthusiasm, creativity, and exceptional customer service skills pave the way for continued success of the NBRA Team. In her spare time, Carla enjoys kayaking, travelling, camping, reading, and fishing with her husband Peter, son Carter and fur-friend Daisy. Her guilty pleasure is watching Game of Thrones, and yes… she does enjoy attending Calgary’s Comic Convention every year! Carla looks forward to continuing to share her passion for community with the residents of New Brighton!
“A goal without a plan, is just a wish!” – Antoine de Sait-Exupery
Andrew Brown
Facility and Amenities Leader
Andrew Brown
Facility and Amenities Leader
Andrew Brown is one of NBRA’s newest editions fulfilling the role of Facilities and Amenities Leader and he is absolutely thrilled to join the team. Andrew has an extensive background in landscaping and construction and holds a certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from the University of New Brunswick in addition to numerous other professional accreditations including incident command system training and workplace training and assessment.
Born in the East, Andrew has spent most of his life in Calgary with the exception of a 7 year adventure to the Middle East where he and his family worked and lived in Doha, Qatar. During his tenure overseas, Andrew temporarily left industry to become a college trades instructor teaching health and safety, workplace communications, and industrial trades skills. Having developed a sincere and authentic passion for teaching and facilitation, Andrew also has an unwavering service orientation and relentlessly has a strong safety focus while conducting his work and supervision of others. Having picked up the travel bug while abroad, Andrew loves to travel to and explore new and different places; preferring to stay away from tourist heavy destinations. This includes spending a lot of time with his family in their travel trailer, where they love spending time camping in Alberta’s amazing parks and recreation areas with Maddie, the family’s adorable and loving dog.
“Four wheels move the body, Two wheels move the soul.”
― Anonymous
Taylor Gill
Customer Service Leader
Taylor Gill
Customer Service Leader
Taylor first joined the New Brighton Residents Association in July 2021 as Resident Concierge and is now fulfilling the role of Customer Service Leader! She is thrilled to be working in New Brighton sharing her passion for building community with like-minded people. Previously working at the Mahogany Homeowners Association and Westman Village in Mahogany, Taylor brings with her many transferable skills.
In 2015 Taylor moved to Calgary from Canada’s East Coast, Prince Edward Island! Growing up around water, Taylor enjoys paddle boarding and being on the water in general. When Taylor is not at work she enjoys traveling, camping, cooking, spending time in the mountains with family and friends. Taylor also keeps busy by caring for her turtle, Cheese!
Taylor is looking forward to connecting with the New Brighton Residents and guests and seeing what the NBRA has in store for her!
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss
Kayan Vanhorne
Resident Concierge
Kayan Vanhorne
Resident Concierge
Kayan Robinson Vanhorne was born and raised in a family of five in the garden parish of St. Ann, Jamaica. She is the first granddaughter in her extended family and the oldest of her siblings. Her role as a customer service representative is fueled by her love for serving others, and her enthusiasm for diversity. Kayan has more than 5 years of experience working in a customer service environment.
She holds an Associate of Science in Business Management and a Bachelor of Science in human resources management. She lives by the principle of treating others how she wants to be treated and does what she does because it gives her a lot of satisfaction to help others in whatever manner she can. In her spare time, she loved to cook traditional Jamaican jerk chicken with festivals and rice and peas for her two lovely daughters and her husband, who is a chef by profession.
Jennifer Strickland
Recreation Leader
Jennifer Strickland
Recreation Leader
Jennifer joined the NBRA team in June 2017 as the Resident Activities Coordinator. She has travelled the world and built a career on customer relations including various hospitality, front-desk and administration roles in Europe and Australia.
Jennifer has diplomas in tourism, customer service and events. She thrives on working with positive, enthusiastic, and driven individuals; the core foundation of New Brighton.
Jennifer can be found keeping active with her family, enjoying a glass of wine with friends or binging on a new series. She enjoys camping & hiking with family and friends in the summer months and in the winter you can find her at a rink watching her kids play hockey and ringette. To complete Jenn’s family she has two dogs, Stella & Andy and Hazel the cat.
Jennifer is passionate about the programs she offers at the Clubhouse and is always looking to bring new options to the residents of New Brighton.
Danny Markle
Special Events Coordinator
Danny Markle
Special Events Coordinator
Danny Markle joined the New Brighton Residents Association team in late 2023 taking up the role of Special Events Coordinator. Before discovering his love of customer-oriented experience roles he was in school for Computer Systems Technologies and pursues this passion on the side by customizing and building PC’s for friends and family.
Prior to moving to Calgary, he lived in London, Ontario and graduated from Fanshawe College’s Special Events Planning program. He is excited to bring his knowledge learned in school, skills learned in management positions, and leadership capabilities to the NBRA.
Outside of work Danny can usually be found playing boardgames at one of the local stores, hiking with his partner, baking desserts for his friends, watching anime, or exploring the city.
Danny looks forward to learning all he can at the NBRA and putting on fantastic events for the community.
Craig Heisler
Maintenance Foreman & Safety Officer
Craig Heisler
Maintenance Foreman & Safety Officer
Craig Heisler joined the New Brighton Residents Associations maintenance team in September 2016. Craig has lived in Alberta since 2008, when he moved here from Nova Scotia. His love of hiking, the mountains, and staring at rocks led him to complete his Bachelors of Science in Geology at the University of Calgary. His love for having fun outdoors means that he enjoys the opportunity to maintain and improve the amenities of New Brighton while getting fresh air. When he is not working, you can find Craig watching the Blue Jays with his dog Grady or getting lost among the rocks, wherever he can find them.
“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its perseverance.” – Jim Watkins
Abby Kozak
Customer Service Representative
Abby Kozak
Customer Service Representative
Abby is a resident of New Brighton herself and has grown up in the community ever since she
was 6. She has been a part of the NBRA team since 2022 when she first came on as part of the
landscaping team in the summer, then transitioned to a part-time customer service
representative member in the winter. She loves being a member of the community and being
able to help it flourish!
Abby is currently in her third year of study at Mount Royal University, pursuing a bachelor's
degree in Criminal Justice - she aspires to become a corporate lawyer or a crown prosecutor.
Softball is one of Abby’s many passions and after playing for 12 years she has been to the
Canada cup international softball championship, traveled to many different places for
tournaments, won provincial championships, and made many friends. Most recently, Abby has
played for SAIT, but is now a part of the Mount Royal University Cougars Softball Club.
When Abby is not at school, at work, or out on the diamond, she enjoys spending time with
family and friends, hanging out with her dogs, camping, hiking, skiing, or traveling!
Alexis Hardy
Customer Service Representative
Alexis Hardy
Customer Service Representative
Alexis joined the NBRA team in June of 2023 but once lived in the community of New Brighton up until she was 10 years old. Now, She is currently enrolled in Mount Royal University and is pursuing an English Literature degree in hopes to become an editor and publisher for future novelists. Before entering university, Alexis played a high level of soccer- even going onto represent the province of Alberta. Now, without the presence of sports in her life, Alexis is very determined to educate others about the stigma of mental health within high level athletes.
While not at school or work, Alexis likes to hang out with her friends, read, and listen to K-pop. Alexis also likes anything to do with art and film, so you might find her studying certain movies or paintings just for the fun of it.
Alexis is very excited and grateful to be back in her childhood community and can not wait to meet all the New Brighton Residents! She looks forward to helping and connecting to those in the community and is looking forward to her future with the NBRA.
Sophia Zapata
Customer Service Representative
Sophia Zapata
Customer Service Representative
The NBRA gave Sophia an invaluable experience when she joined the team working alongside her sister Emmy, as a camp counsellor in the Summer of 2023. Though she left that role with many wonderful memories of your children, Sophia is thrilled to join the NBRA as a Customer Service Representative and looks forward to reconnecting with many of them all year long.
Home is where the heart is, and New Brighton was home to Sophia for the first 10 years of her life. The familiarity of that very same splash park, skating rink and playground brings her right back to being a kid with sand between her toes. She will graduate High School with the Class of 2024 with plans to stay in Calgary to pursue a post secondary education, remaining close to her family, her friends and this very community.
Emmy Zapata
Activities Assistant and Customer Service Representative
Emmy Zapata
Activities Assistant and Customer Service Representative
Emmy Zapata grew up in New Brighton and spent many days at this very splash park. Some of her favourite memories include building sandcastles with her mom, sneaking up on her younger sister with super soakers and ice skating around the fire pit with her dad in the Winter. Alas, Emmy grew up and graduated from All Saints High School in June 2021 and will be attending Mount Royal University in the fall, to pursue her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.
In her downtime, Emmy likes to play basketball, go camping, boating, socialize with friends and is a coffee enthusiast.
Ironically, she’s come full circle as a Customer Service Representative at the NBRA and in addition to seeing many familiar faces, is excited for the opportunity to engage with the community. As they say, “it takes a village to raise a child” and now, it’s her turn to help raise yours.
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou”
Paytton Smith
Customer Service Representative
Paytton Smith
Customer Service Representative
Paytton Smith joined the NBRA as a Customer Service Representative in June of 2022. She just graduated this past year and will be taking a major in Culinary Arts in the new year. Paytton completed thirteen years of Spanish Bilingual Schooling here in Calgary, and recently received her diploma for completing the Spanish program. Paytton also sang with Cantare Children’s Choir for over eight years and has a strong passion for singing.
Paytton believes in working hard to achieve goals and building positive connections with anyone she encounters. She also preaches helping others and loves to help out whoever she can when it's needed. Paytton believes that no matter what cards you’ve been dealt in life, everyone deserves a fair shot at this game of life and equal understanding.
When Paytton isn’t working at one of her two jobs or at school, you can find her in the kitchen cooking something up, signing, doing bold makeup looks, hanging out with friends/loved ones, playing with her dog, or going out for drives.
Angelito Ponce
Full-Time Maintenance
Angelito Ponce
Full-Time Maintenance
Angelito Ponce is the Weekend Lead Maintenance at New Brighton Residents Association. He joined New Brighton Residents Association in 2016 as part timer. Previously, he worked at Cranston Residents Association but now has joined New Brighton Residents Association full time.
Angelito strives to have a “Balanced Life.” As an ex IT professional, he loves the physical aspect that comes with the work. Driving a Zamboni is a little scary but seeing the kids waving at you as you pass them by just makes heart feel glad that you are doing something that they appreciate.
When not working, he loves to play hockey, hiking, fishing, mountain biking and golfing. Sometimes he can be found at the dog park with Jaeger (mixed German shepherd and husky). While lying around and watching tv, usually with his daughter’s cats, Boo and Domo. If they are not lying around, they are causing a menace, the cats that is.
Matthew Jenkins
Full-Time Maintenance
Matthew Jenkins
Full-Time Maintenance
Matthew joined the New Brighton Residents Association’s maintenance team in February 2022. Matthew is proud to be born and raised in Calgary where he has worked all over the city working landscaping and other maintenance work. Matthew loves working outdoors and with his hands as well as being part of a team, making his role at the NBRA a perfect fit.
Matthew prides himself on attentions to detail and a job well done. When he is not at work you can find him watching hockey, reading, spending time with friends.
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.” -Tim Notke
Nick Leszczynski
Full-Time Maintenance
Nick Leszczynski
Full-Time Maintenance
Nick joined the NBRA team in February of 2021. He is a true Calgarian being born and raised here. He did leave Calgary for 5 years to attend the University of Lethbridge. He played on the university soccer team for 4 years and moved back to Calgary after acquiring his kinesiology degree. In his free time, Nick enjoys playing soccer, hanging out with friends, and playing with his new puppy Luna.
"Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise" - Kobe Bryant
Isaac Mehr
Maintenance
Isaac Mehr
Maintenance
Isaac joined the NBRA team on June 28 2021 as a maintenance team member. He was born in Vancouver but has lived in Calgary since he was 3. In high school Isaac built a strong sense of community through his extracurriculars; basketball and show choir. Isaac is currently attending the University of Calgary for Education and Math and hopes to be an elementary teacher. He believes in working hard and having a strong and uplifting community. In his free time, Isaac is playing basketball, watching the Raptors, hanging out with his dog Eva and spending time with his girlfriend.
What comes, when it comes, will be what it is. -Alberto Caeiro