Gilker McRae
Gilker McRae is a Canadian firm specializing in career transition, leadership coaching, and people-centred organizational support.
We believe that every workplace challenge is ultimately a people challenge.
That’s why we work alongside organizations and individuals with practical guidance, experienced coaching, and a thoughtful approach that puts people first. Whether supporting change, developing leaders, or helping people navigate career transitions, our focus is on building confidence, creating clarity, and helping people move forward.
Our Story
Gilker McRae has supported organizations and individuals through career transitions, leadership development, and workplace challenges since 2002.
Originally founded by Rick Mastel and later expanded by Ross Gilker, the company built its reputation on thoughtful guidance, strong relationships, and steady support during difficult organizational moments.
Hailey Adlard joined Gilker McRae in 2008 and became the owner in 2022. Her long history with the company has allowed her to carry forward its strong foundation while continuing to evolve Gilker McRae’s approach to modern career transition, leadership coaching, and people-centred organizational support.
Today, Gilker McRae works with organizations across Alberta and beyond, helping leaders navigate complex people decisions with clarity, confidence, and care.
Our Approach
We take the time to understand your organization, your people, and the realities surrounding each situation so we can provide guidance that is practical, thoughtful, and aligned with your goals.
Whether we are supporting employee transitions, leadership coaching, team development, or broader workplace challenges, our role is to help organizations navigate complex moments with confidence, care, and a steady approach.
Clients know us for being responsive, prepared, and present during difficult conversations, leadership challenges, and periods of organizational change.
Experience Matters
Gilker McRae is a Canadian HR consulting firm specializing in leadership development, executive coaching, and career transition. With over 22 years of experience, we have supported clients across various industries, in Canada and internationally, through long-term partnerships.
People First:
People are at the centre of every decision, conversation, and transition. We lead with empathy, respect, and real support while helping organizations navigate difficult situations responsibly.
Clarity Over Complexity
Our role is to simplify what can feel overwhelming. We bring structure, direction, and practical guidance to complex people decisions and organizational challenges.
Experience Matters
Our team brings senior experience, strong judgement, and a deep understanding of Alberta industries, organizational dynamics, and leadership realities.
Prepared and Present
Clients trust us to be prepared, responsive, and present when they need support in critical moments. We show up consistently, follow through carefully, and handle sensitive situations with professionalism.
Member of VF Career Management
Gilker McRae is a proud member of VF Career Management, one of Canada’s leading national human resources consulting organizations.
For more than 30 years, VF Career Management has specialized in career transition, coaching, and talent support, providing organizations and individuals with trusted guidance during periods of change and growth.
Through this partnership, we are able to combine strong local relationships with broader national reach and resources.
Local Insight, National Reach
Gilker McRae is proudly Canadian and rooted in Alberta, with our head office in Calgary and team members located in Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, and communities throughout the province.
Our team has worked alongside the leaders, HR teams, business owners, executives, and employees we now support. We understand the industries, communities, and workplace realities that shape organizations across Alberta, from corporate offices to field-based environments.
Through our partner network and national relationships, we can also support organizations across Canada with scalable, responsive services when broader reach is needed.
Wherever support is required, our approach remains personal, practical, and people-centred.
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Our Leadership & Team
Experienced leaders. People-first guidance.
Our team brings together senior level experience across career transition, executive coaching, leadership development, HR advisory, and organizational support.
We are known for being approachable, responsive, and steady partners who help organizations navigate complex situations with professionalism and care.
Hailey Adlard
President and OwnerHailey leads Gilker McRae’s career transition, outplacement, executive coaching, and leadership advisory work. With more than 15 years of experience in career transition, executive recruitment, coaching, and business development, she supports organizations through complex workforce changes while ensuring impacted employees receive practical, compassionate, and timely support. Hailey has supported large scale restructuring events, sensitive notification meetings, senior leader transitions, and executive career programs across a range of sectors. She works closely with HR teams, leaders, and executives to plan transition support, assign the right consultants, and maintain a strong employee experience throughout the process. Hailey holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the University of Manitoba and is a Certified Leadership Coach through Essential Impact. She has completed Mental Health First Aid training through the Mental Health Commission of Canada and is affiliated with the International Coaching Federation, CPHR Alberta, the Career Development Association of Alberta, and AXIS Connects.
Ross Gilker
PrincipalRoss is a senior career transition consultant and business advisor with more than 30 years of experience in career management, coaching, and organizational support. As the former owner of Gilker McRae, Ross has supported individuals and organizations through all types of career and workforce transitions. Ross works with clients navigating job loss, leadership transition, business change, entrepreneurship, retirement planning, and mid career change. He is known for his calm, thoughtful, and practical coaching style, and for helping people step back, clarify what matters, and move forward with confidence. Ross holds a Bachelor of Education and has completed executive coach training through Essential Impact. He is also certified in a range of career assessment tools and was the 2013 recipient of the Human Resources Institute of Alberta’s Community Champion Award.
Theresa Jumpsen
Director of OperationsTheresa brings senior HR leadership, operations, coaching, and consulting experience to her role as Director of Operations. She has more than 10 years of career transition consulting experience and has supported organizations through large scale downsizing, complex employee transitions, and senior level career transition programs across Canada. Theresa helps organizations plan and manage transition events while ensuring participants receive thoughtful, structured support. She has also led a career services team in a federally funded initiative with Calgary’s post secondary institutions, supporting displaced oil and gas professionals as they transitioned into Alberta’s growing technology sector. Theresa holds coaching certifications through The NeuroLeadership Group and Newfield Network, and a Work Life Strategist certification through Canadian Career Professionals. She also holds a Business Studies Diploma from Glasgow Caledonian University and an Adult Learning Certificate from the University of Calgary.
Diane Bogner
Office ManagerDiane has more than 20 years of experience in career transition administration, office management, client service, accounting, and vendor coordination. She supports program administration, client communication, participant setup, consultant coordination, billing, and day to day office operations. Diane brings strong judgment, confidentiality, and care to her work with organizations, consultants, and participants. Her role helps ensure requests are handled quickly, information is organized, and participants receive clear communication as they move into their career transition program.
Charla Suprovich
Client and Program ManagerCharla is Gilker McRae’s Client and Program Manager and a career coach with a background in human resources, recruitment, management, people and culture, and career consulting. She supports both the delivery and coordination of career transition programs, including participant intake, consultant coordination, engagement tracking, follow up, and client communication. As a coach, Charla helps participants rebuild confidence, understand their strengths, and take practical steps toward their next role. She supports resume development, interview preparation, job search planning, confidence building, and realistic next steps. Her coaching style is warm, encouraging, and action focused.
Calgary – Senior Consulting Team
Pauline Greenidge
Senior Consultant and Executive CoachPauline is a leadership coach, workplace consultant, HR professional, and career transition coach with more than 20 years of experience supporting individuals and organizations through growth, change, and transition. She helps participants build clarity, confidence, and practical next steps during career change. Pauline’s background includes leadership development, workplace learning, facilitation, HR consulting, and career coaching. She works well with professionals, leaders, and individuals who need support translating their experience, rebuilding confidence, and moving forward with purpose. Pauline holds a Master of Education, CPHR designation, and ACC coaching credential through the International Coaching Federation. She also teaches in the University of Calgary’s Continuing Education programs.
Lindsay White
Senior Consultant and Executive CoachLindsay is a professional coach and human resources professional who supports individuals, leaders, and teams through change, growth, and transition. In career transition work, she helps participants reconnect with their values, clarify their direction, and build the confidence to move forward. Lindsay brings expertise in leadership development, people strategy, coaching, and organizational change. She is especially strong with leaders and professionals who are reflecting on what they want next and how to position themselves in a way that feels authentic and practical. Lindsay holds CPHR, CPCC, and PCC credentials.
Heather Beck
Senior Consultant and Executive CoachHeather is a certified leadership and career coach with a human resources background and more than 15 years of experience helping professionals navigate change. She supports participants by helping them clarify direction, strengthen job search materials, prepare for interviews, and regain momentum. Heather brings practical insight into what employers are looking for and how participants can position their strengths effectively in the current market. Her approach is grounded, empathetic, and action focused. Heather holds PCC and CPHR credentials.
Troy Deck
Troy is a career transition consultant, coach, and management consultant with experience in human resources, entrepreneurship, business strategy, and coaching. He supports individuals and organizations through significant change with practical, results focused guidance. Troy has deep experience working with entrepreneurs and individuals considering self employment, consulting, or a shift in career direction. His background includes leading self employment programming, supporting business planning, and helping clients build realistic strategies for change. Troy holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations, a Certified Management Consultant designation, a Chartered Professional in Human Resources designation, and a Prosci Change Management Certificate.
Deb Stewart
Senior Consultant and Executive CoachDeb is a career and executive coach with more than 20 years of experience in education, HR consulting, talent management, leadership development, and personal development. She supports professionals at all levels as they navigate career change and make thoughtful decisions about what comes next. Deb uses a strengths focused approach to help clients build self awareness, confidence, resilience, and practical strategies for transition. She is also experienced in assessment interpretation, including CliftonStrengths, MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory, Hogan, and EQi. Deb holds a Master’s in Leadership, a PCC coaching credential, and a Certified Professional Co Active Coach credential.
Northern Alberta Team – Edmonton, Fort McMurray & Grande Prairie
Mary Lou Hamilton
Senior Career CoachMary Lou is a career coach, mentor, and human resources consultant with more than 30 years of experience helping individuals make thoughtful next steps in their careers. She works extensively with professionals and senior executives affected by organizational change. Mary Lou brings leadership experience in human resources operations, sales and marketing, and general management. She has held senior roles in telecommunications, software, and not for profit organizations, and has supported individuals and organizations across Western Canada through career transition and restructuring. Mary Lou is especially strong in one to one coaching, community based delivery, and supporting participants as they clarify direction, reposition their experience, and move forward after change.
Tracy Zander
Tracy is a senior human resources professional with 19 years of generalist HR experience across private and not for profit sectors. Her background includes employee relations, recruitment, performance management, learning and development, employee engagement, policy development, and organizational design. In career transition work, Tracy brings practical insight into hiring, workplace expectations, and how organizations assess talent. She helps participants understand their strengths, prepare for job search conversations, and move forward with a clear and realistic plan. Tracy holds a Chartered Professional in Human Resources designation.
Heather Beck
Senior Consultant and Executive CoachHeather is a certified leadership and career coach with a human resources background and more than 15 years of experience helping professionals navigate change. She supports participants by helping them clarify direction, strengthen job search materials, prepare for interviews, and regain momentum. Heather brings practical insight into what employers are looking for and how participants can position their strengths effectively in the current market. Her approach is grounded, empathetic, and action focused. Heather holds PCC and CPHR credentials.
Tim Dyck
Tim is a Fort McMurray based business leader and career transition consultant with extensive recruitment experience. He supports participants as they build a deliberate job search, identify target roles, and present their skills and experience with confidence. Tim brings strong knowledge of the Fort McMurray market and understands the needs of job seekers in regional and field based environments. His coaching style is practical, encouraging, and focused on helping participants take clear next steps.
Cara Hason
Cara is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and a Canadian Certified Counsellor. She has more than 10 years of experience supporting individuals through anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, OCD, relationship concerns, and other personal challenges. As a psychological support resource, Cara provides a safe and supportive space for individuals who may need counselling support during a difficult transition. She draws on training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, and she receives ongoing supervision and consultation to support strong client outcomes. Cara holds a BA in Psychology from Mount Royal University and a Master’s in Counselling Psychology from Athabasca University.