Q&A with Board Member Kerry Brandt
We’re shining a well-deserved spotlight on the incredible individuals on LiveDifferent’s board of directors!
Each person plays a pivotal role in guiding LiveDifferent’s vision, strategy and impact—fueling our mission to create positive change in the world. Their unwavering dedication, expertise and boundless compassion have been instrumental in transforming countless lives and communities.
Prepare to be uplifted as we uncover untold stories, wisdom gained and the passion that drives this team to make a difference.
Meet Kerry Brandt, Chairman of the Board
Kerry lives in Rosenort, Manitoba, where he and his lovely wife Barb, raised three wonderful children.
Kerry and Barb dreamt of being a part of hope and change in a tangible way, and when they heard about a friend’s kid going on a life-changing humanitarian trip, they realized they wanted to do the same thing with their kids. Another friend mentioned crossing paths with a LiveDifferent staff member in Mexico, so Kerry called up the office in Hamilton to learn more.
Coincidentally, LiveDifferent’s CEO, Charles Roberts, was in Winnipeg when he called, so the two met up at a truck stop and from there planned the family’s first Build. That initial trip resulted in many more Builds and eventually led to Kerry accepting the Chairman position on our Board of Directors.
When he’s not busy leading the charge for LiveDifferent, Kerry wears multiple hats as a co-owner of Brandt Trucking—a family-run business that has been a partner of LiveDifferent since 2008. As the head of sales and marketing, he spends his days connecting with potential customers, all the while daydreaming about the next time he can visit our LiveDifferent communities.
His heart is truly invested in the cause, and his unwavering support shines through in his kind words, thoughtful gifts and mouthwatering steak BBQs!
Q: What inspired you to join the LiveDifferent board?
A: My whole family fell in love with LiveDifferent during our first Build. As I learned more about the organization, I wanted to get involved in guiding and protecting the organization, and my background equipped me to help in this way.
Q: What is your favourite thing about being a board member?
A: Always the people! The board members, the staff, the road teams, everyone!
Q: How has your experience with LiveDifferent changed you as a person?
A: LiveDifferent has opened me up to a different level of empathy and a desire to do all I can to make the world a better place for others. I’ve learned that time is currency, that you only get to spend it once and I want to be strategic with how it is spent.
Q: If you could pick one project or initiative that you are most proud of, what would it be and why?
A: I’ve thought about this question a lot and it’s very tough to choose, but the work that has been done within Indigenous communities and with their youth wins. I was able to visit Oxford House with Sheila [North], it’s where she grew up – that was an unforgettable day.
It’s such a complex issue with no easy answer and so people often avoid it, but LiveDifferent doesn’t shy away from people. They just want to make a difference and so jump in, do what you can with what you got.
Q: How have you seen LiveDifferent’s work positively impact people’s lives?
A: I have so many examples, but after our first Build trip in Mexico, we went back again the next Christmas and visited the family from the first trip. Seeing the transformation a house made to the family, seeing the difference, the family said the house was the catalyst to change for improving their lives.
Q: How do you hope to contribute to LiveDifferent in the future?
A: I’d love to contribute in whatever ways I can. My goal is to get to a place where Barb and I can spend extended time in Haiti or Mexico or the Dominican Republic; maybe even travel on the ice road tour!
Learn more
We are immensely grateful to the extraordinary individuals like Kerry who make up our board of directors. We are privileged to have such an exceptional group who wholeheartedly believe in our vision and generously share their time, skills and resources to ensure our success.
Don’t miss out on the chance to connect with the incredible minds behind the scenes. Learn more about our team and get inspired to create change alongside them.
Together, we can make a real and lasting impact!