2013 Abbotsford Chamber Annual General Meeting Nominee List

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1 2013 Abbotsford Chamber Annual General Meeting Nominee List For President 2 year term By acclamation Mike Welte - Farm Credit Canada Mike works here in Abbotsford where he has held various lending positions with FCC. Most recently Mike worked as a Sr. Relationship Manager prior to accepting a leadership position late last year. A UFV Graduate with a Bachelors of Business Administration; Mike was born, raised and educated in Abbotsford. Mike has served as the Treasurer of Abbotsford-Matsqui Rotary Club and remains involved with many community events including the Abbotsford Airshow. Currently he serves as a committee member for the Abbotsford Community Foundation s, Agriculture Grants Enhancement Fund. Mike has been actively involved with the Chamber more than 6 years serving as the past-chairperson of the Chamber s Agricultural Committee. He also represents the Chamber on the City of Abbotsford s Agricultural Advisory Committee, Economic Development Commission and the Mayor s Task Force on Economic Prosperity. Vice President 2 year term By acclamation Joshua M. Bach - Integra Law Group Josh practiced law in Ontario for over 25 years (15 years operating his own practice in Hamilton) before relocating to Abbotsford in Josh is a solicitor at Integra Law Group in Abbotsford, practicing in the areas of Wills and Estates (including powers of attorney and representation agreements), Real Estate (residential and commercial),and Business law (including contracts and closely-held corporations). Josh has been a presenter in local seminars providing information on estate issues. Josh is particularly interested in community development and corporate governance. Josh has a leadership role in the local community: Abbotsford & District Bar Association - President Seniors Healthy Aging Resource Environment Society - President Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley - Vice President Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Director Fraser Valley Child Development Centre Foundation - Director In addition, Josh is an active member of the following organizations: Abbotsford Hospice Society, Capital Campaign Committee Estate Planning Council of Abbotsford MSA Museum Society Rotary Club of Abbotsford-Sumas University of the Fraser Valley, Research Ethics Board Josh and his wife have made Abbotsford their home. For Treasurer by Appointment - 2 year (+) term Brandon Kelley - KPMG Brandon is an Audit Manager with KPMG in Abbotsford. He has been with KPMG for 6 years where he provides financial accounting and auditing services to private companies. He serves clients in a variety of industries, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and not-for profits. Brandon is an active member of the KPMG agricultural committee, a group focused on serving the needs of agricultural businesses in the Fraser Valley. Born and raised in Hope, he moved to Abbotsford in Brandon is an alumnus of UFV where he studied Business Administration and was an active member of the Business Administration Students Association serving as treasurer.

2 Kenda Allen - TD Canada Trust Kenda is the District Vice President of TD Bank s Commercial Banking Centre in Abbotsford. After 24 years of Commercial Banking in various cities within Ontario, Kenda relocated to Abbotsford in the fall of She has been an active member of the chambers in the communities where she has worked, and resigned from her second term on the Guelph Chamber s Board of Directors when she transferred to Abbotsford. Kenda grew up on a Dairy Farm and her love of agriculture lead her to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree. She worked in the dairy cattle industry for a few years before her career in business banking. She believes it is important to be active and give back to the community where she lives and works. Over the years Kenda has held volunteer roles on boards and on committees in the areas of business, sports, not-for-profits, and agriculture. She is currently an active member of the Leader Impact Group and the Abbotsford Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women. Agatha Ardon, BFA - Agatha Ardon Inc. (DBA: Astar Transport DBA: Astar Communication Networks DBA: Staying Younger Solutions) (Transport, Independent Distributor of Telecommunication and Energy Services, Distributor of Natural Collagen Colwayâ ) Agatha works full-time overlooking operations of the small Transportation Company, she co-owns. Additionally, she became an Independent Distributor of Telecommunication and Energy Services, as well as Distributor of Natural Collagen Colwayâ Products. In addition, she actively works on developing her artistic collection. Agatha holds the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a Major in Visual Communications, Design and Illustration. As a Board of Governors Award Nominee for Artistic and Academic Achievements from Commercial Arts Department - Visual Communications ACAD, in graduating, last year of studies 1996, she plans to promote her artistic collections, currently in progress. Agatha has lived in Abbotsford for the past 12 years. She has been involved in the community and is currently a Director for the Abbotsford Arts Council, and a new member of the Government Affairs Committee of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce. Hilary Beard - University of the Fraser Valley Hilary is the Senior Manager, Principle and Planned Gifts, at the University of the Fraser Valley. She is passionate about the value education brings to our communities, and the importance of strengthening partnerships between businesses and UFV to build an educated workforce and entrepreneurial leadership. Hilary is proud her son is a current student at UFV. With 11 years of non-profit experience, she is a Board member for a large independent school that has adopted the Carver governance model, and is on the Strategic Planning, and Superintendent Audit committees. Hilary also has 20 years of diverse business accounting and audit experience (KPMG) particularly in light and heavy manufacturing, as well as banking, travel and forex. She has cultural and business understanding from working in three countries across two continents. Her international service includes writing curriculum for a university leadership centre in Kenya, focusing on result-based leadership, values-based decisionmaking, and resource development. Other past volunteer work includes church Treasurer, and Vice President Education and Secretary roles for a Toastmasters club. Hilary holds a Master of Arts in Leadership (business), a Bachelor of Accounting Science with double majors in accounting and auditing, and a Certified Fundraising Executive designation (CFRE) recognized internationally. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.

3 Kevin Koopmans - Community Futures S.F. As a long term resident of Abbotsford, Kevin s passion lies in building local community. In his current role as the Community Economic Developer for Community Futures South Fraser, Kevin has built and maintains strong ties with the agricultural and business communities of the Fraser Valley. Kevin enjoys applying his expertise in facilitation, strategic planning, project coordination, marketing, and proposal writing towards his passion of building sustainable and livable communities. Kevin has worked on projects for government, the nonprofit sector, and private industry. Writings include feasibility studies, a multi-day Marketing and Sales workshop in conjunction with Douglas College, and co-authorship of a Human Resource guidebook. In addition to sitting on the Fraser Valley Mountain Bikers Association and Farmstart BC, Kevin has served on the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee for two years. Sara Lawson - Dignity Memorial Funeral Homes Sara has been in the funeral industry since 1997 when she began her apprenticeship with a small-town funeral home in Central Alberta. She has been serving grieving families in Abbotsford since 2000 and is the manager of Henderson's Dignity Memorial Funeral Home. Sara also cares for the bereaved as a volunteer with Abbotsford Hospice Society. She facilitates children and teen grief groups at AHS with particular attention to helping families who struggle with how best to support their children through grief. Sara is also a proud member of the Abbotsford Rotary Club and the Abbotsford Executive Association. Sara is passionate about supporting the growth and development of business in Abbotsford. She is excited for the opportunity to work with the Chamber of Commerce to help Abbotsford continue to be a great community in which to live and work.

4 John McDonald - Business Fraser Valley John is the Publisher of the Business Fraser Valley newspaper, which operates under the Business in Vancouver Media Group. The oldest of 5 children, John has been in the newspaper industry since the age of 14, working in every aspect of the business, including: accounts receivable, editorial, sales and now management. An Abbotsford resident for a year and a half, John has decided to call the City in the Country his home, and is immersing himself in the community as much as possible, serving on the Chamber's Business Excellence Awards and Government Affairs committees, joining the Rotary Club of Abbotsford-Sumas, and participating in a variety of local networking groups. Outside of work, John is involved in politics at every level, from municipal to federal and has extensive experience in advocacy and media relations. He is also working towards completing his Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Finance. Dave Miller - Fix Auto Collision Dave is the owner and CEO of six Fix Auto Collision shops with three in the Fraser Valley as well as Vernon and Salmon Arm locations. With a serious entrepreneurial drive, he grew his business from humble beginnings - fixing cars in a chicken barn (complete with a paint booth) to the modern, state of the art, paint and auto body shops that he runs today. He credits his hard working team of quality technicians, and managers whom he has engaged to follow, using his bottom line principle that customers be treated as they would want to be treated themselves As a defending World Masters Water Ski Champion, Dave continues to make waves both in business and on the water. He believes that the empowerment of his managers to make their own decisions based on his principles allows him the flexibility to follow his passion (waterskiing) and still be dialed in to the successful operations of his body shops. Dave has called Abbotsford home for more than 40 years and is married to his lovely wife Jackie. They have two grown children. Cameron Wilson - RBC Dominion Securities Cameron is an investment advisor with RBC Dominion Securities in Abbotsford, and has been in the finance industry for over 7 years. Prior to this, he was running his own personal training business while going to university for a degree in mathematics. In 2012 he was nominated for Young Entrepreneur of the year with the Chamber and was recognized for RBC Dominion Securities President's club. He and his wife (Lola Evans) were born and raised in Abbotsford, and after a brief stint in Victoria they have permanently moved back 'home' to put down roots. Cameron is active in a local Rotary Club, volunteers as an in-school Big Brother, serves on the Fraser Valley Child Development Center Foundation Board and helps as a fundraiser for a number of local golf tournaments and charities.

5 For Director One Year Term By Acclamation to complete a two year term vacated by Joshua Bach who has accepted a nomination for Vice President. Mark Dana RE/MAX Little Oak Mark works full-time as a professional Realtor. Prior to real estate, he worked as an educator and school principal. He is an active Rotarian and Past President of the Rotary Club of Abbotsford. Mark is also a member of the Chamber s Government Affairs Committee. He has lived in Abbotsford for the past 20 years. His hobbies / interests include real estate, investments/finance, and personal development.