Our Team

Spencer McDonald

President and founder of Thinking Driver, has over 25 years' experience in driver training curriculum design and instructor development. Spencer’s expertise in psychology,education, training and motivation together with instructor trainer qualification in all vehicle types uniquely qualified him to develop the attitude-based Thinking Driver programs.

Mr. McDonald is a bestselling author, has been awarded the 2008 Transport Canada/Transportation Association of Canada Award of Excellence and the 2013 Canadian Society of Safety Engineering Outstanding Achievement Award for his 30 years of leadership in fleet driver safety. He has appeared on national television and radio and is an international keynote speaker on the topics of road safety, aggressive driving, road rage and driver training.

Pamela Peterson

Operations Manager. Pam has over 25 years in administration and logistics. She oversees the Thinking Driver team, ensuring all deliverables are met, if not exceeded, and presented to the highest quality, to the right people, on time. She handles the preparation of quotes and proposals, product and program development, marketing promotions, tradeshows and conferences, distributor and instructor liaison, instructor development, finance, customer service and more.

Mike Glas

Chief Instructor. Mike has over 35 years service with the RCMP where he instructed numerous courses at Headquarters and in the field including Radar, Accident Investigation, Air Brakes, TDG, and Advanced Driver Training for enforcement officers. Mike joined Thinking Driver after spending several years training at the Justice Institute of BC where he trained Municipal Police recruits, Firefighters, Corrections workers and other public service employees.

Reid Knutson

Chief Instructor / School Bus Program Lead. With over 35 years with the RCMP, Reid brings extensive expertise in Driver Training with the RCMP, Law Enforcement training in New York and California, and most recently with the Vancouver 2010 Olympics Integrated Security Unit. Reid is a gifted trainer and curriculm/program designer. 

Joe McKeown

Senior Instructor. A certified driver training instructor and licensed assessment officer, Joe brings with him a certificate in adult education and wealth of experience in the transportation industry with over 30 years’ experience in the heavy moving industry.

Robert (Bob) Verbree

Instructor. Bob has over 35 years with the RCMP, 33 years in Traffic Services. Bob has extensive experience in Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement, Inspections, logbook audits, Advanced Driver training, Emergency Vehicle Operation and was a CVSA inspector for many years. Bob was the RCMP Commercial Vehicle Coordinator for eight years and a long term member of the BCACP Traffic Enforcement Sub-committee.

Vern Nystedt

Instructor. Stationed in Manitoba, Vern comes to us from the Department of National Defense. With over 40 years as a truck and heavy duty equipment operator, Vern brings with him extensive knowledge and experience in the transportation safety industry.

Dave Williams

Instructor. Dave has over 35 years' service with the RCMP all in the Province of British Columbia. He dedicated 31 years to Traffic Services (Enforcement and Collision Investigation) with 26 years in the highly specialized field of Forensic Collision Reconstruction. He has instructed numerous Collision Investigation courses at the RCMP’s Regional Training facility in Chilliwack, BC. Dave is also a part time Defect Investigator for a major North American automotive manufacturer.

Kristy Gittens

Training Coordinator. Kristy possesses extensive experience in customer service and administration. She handles the coordination and scheduling of client training, instructor travel, preparation of student materials, handles product inquiries and customer care.

Karen Ryan

Program Coordinator. Karen has extensive experience working in complex regulatory environments. Her expertise in identifying, collecting and interpreting empirical evidence to analyze systems and processes has contributed to five public inquiries in BC and makes her an intuitive and effective administrative team member.