Operations Team
Cathy Dale
Cathy brings more than 15 years’ experience in sales, marketing and customer service, along with a genuine passion for supporting not-for-profit organisations and strengthening local communities.
Before joining EPIC Te Puke, Cathy held marketing and customer service roles with Thermo Fisher Scientific before transitioning into the community sector following her family’s move to Te Puke. She has since worked with several local not-for-profit organisations, developing expertise in governance, event management, volunteer coordination, fundraising and community engagement.
In her dual roles as Operations Support for EPIC Te Puke and Hall Manager for the Te Puke War Memorial Hall, Cathy combines her passion for events, marketing and community development to help deliver initiatives that connect people, support local organisations and celebrate everything that makes Te Puke a great place to live, work and visit.
Cathy is passionate about making a positive difference in the community and is proud to play a part in EPIC Te Puke’s continued growth and success.
Pictured here with her daughter Rosalie, who also regularly volunteers at EPIC events, community involvement is very much a family affair!
Sally Benning
Sally is delighted to be back working on events in Te Puke, coming full circle from her days as Focus Te Puke Coordinator in the early 2000s.
She is excited to once again be supporting the delivery of local events and initiatives that bring the community together.
Since leaving Te Puke, Sally has gained extensive experience in event management, marketing and town centre promotions.
Her career has included working at Saatchi & Saatchi, global communications and advertising agency managing Palm Beach Plaza, working with Dale Carnegie and the Te Puke Times, before spending over eight years as Greerton Village Mainstreet Manager.
Over the years, she has organised a wide range of successful events, festivals and retail promotions, including float parades, the Cherry Blossom Festival in Greerton, the Vintage, Retro & Steampunk Fayre, car giveaways and many more.
Sally has lived in rural Te Puke with her husband David for over 26 years. Outside of work, she enjoys fishing, entertaining, dining out, travelling and reading.
She’s thrilled to be working in the community she knows and loves and continues to reconnect with familiar faces while helping create memorable experiences for Te Puke.
Our Board
Antoine Pol-Simon
Antoine is Service Manager at VisionLab and brings a passion for technology, innovation and helping local businesses thrive.
As EPIC Te Puke’s Vice-Chair, he generously shares his time and expertise with the organisation, continuing VisionLab’s proud involvement with EPIC since its very beginning.
Janine Gartner
Janine is the Director of Tax Agent 99 and is passionate about helping small business owners succeed through accounting services and personalised support.
She values being part of the Te Puke community and enjoys contributing her skills and experience to support its continued growth and success.
Aaron Ralph
Aaron is the awesome person behind EPIC Te Puke’s accounts, bringing exceptional attention to detail and a friendly, professional approach to the role.
As a valued volunteer, he generously shares his time and financial expertise to help keep the organisation running smoothly and support EPIC’s work in the community.
Jenny Williams
Jenny brings a passion for creativity, community and supporting local initiatives.
She runs Seed Studio alongside her husband Dave and enjoys using her design experience to support local organisations and events, while contributing to a vibrant and connected Te Puke community.
Ash Peat
Ash has strong ties to Te Puke’s business community and, alongside his wife Sue, is involved in two long-standing local businesses.
A passionate community advocate and President of the Te Puke Sports Club, he values the role EPIC plays in creating a vibrant town where people enjoy living, working and playing.
Stuart Gunn
After many years living and working overseas, Stuart chose Te Puke for its strong sense of community and connection.
He joined the EPIC board to play his part in supporting that community spirit and values the local pride, neighbourly care and sense of belonging that make Te Puke special.
Mike (LJ) Littlejohn
LJ is the owner/operator of Te Puke Landscape Supplies and a strong believer in good old-fashioned service and putting customers first.
He joined the EPIC board to give back to the community that has supported his business and is passionate about helping Te Puke remain a strong, connected and vibrant town.
Marie Douglas
Marie is a dedicated EPIC board member and long-time Te Puke local with a genuine passion for her community.
Always one of the first to put her hand up to help at EPIC events, she generously gives her time and energy and loves playing her part in making Te Puke a vibrant and connected place.