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Board of Directors
Richmond Chamber Executive and Board of Directors for 2011-2012
RCC has a Board of 16 Directors and a staff of 8 that support five main committees and numerous regular events. The Board of Directors is the elected body of the Richmond Chamber and it focuses on policy development. The Board oversees the management of the Chamber, meeting on a monthly basis.
The Executive Committee is comprised of 5 Directors. It acts on policy matters in interims between regular meetings of the Board. The responsibility of the Executive Committee is to provide support to the Executive Director; review financial statements & budgets and present to the Board for approval; review yearly audited financial statements and prepare the agenda for Board meetings.
The Executive
Lisa Wong
Chair
Lisa Wong is a partner with the Richmond based insurance and financial planning firm of Beavis, Wong & Associates. With over 20 years experience as an advisor in the insurance and financial planning industry, Lisa is focussed on working with business owners, individuals and their families in protecting their greatest asset, one’s own human potential. Since 1988, Lisa has worked alongside business owners and not for profit organizations, developing and implementing sustainable and impactful employee benefit programs. In addition, she specializes in formulating advanced retirement and estate planning strategies with the aim to protect assets and preserve estate values.
Lisa holds a Bachelor’s degree from Simon Fraser University, is a member of the Financial Advisors Association of Canada (Advocis) and a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). Lisa’s passion for positively impacting the communities in which we all live, work and play is exemplified by her many years of service as a board member and volunteer of several business, community and charitable organizations. She has served on the board of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce for the past 6 years, most recently as Vice Chair. She is also a Director of Volunteer Richmond Information Services (VRIS), and past Director of the Shaughnessy Hospital Foundation. As a resident of Richmond for over 16 years, Lisa works to enhance business, arts and the cultural spirit of Richmond.
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Barry Grabowski
Vice Chair
Barry Grabowski is a Partner with Cohen Buchan Edwards, LLP and has served as a Director since 2000. Barry has lived and worked in Richmond, and been a member of the Richmond Chamber, since 1987. Over the years, he has been involved in and supported various community organizations, as a member, director, and volunteer, and considers the Richmond Chamber of Commerce to be one of the linchpin community organizations in Richmond. A strong chamber of commerce is the voice not only of businesses, but also the individuals who make up the owners and employees of those businesses. A healthy business environment is part of an overall healthy community. Barry is proud of the role that the Richmond Chamber of Commerce has played in making Richmond a better place to do business, and he looks forward to contributing to the Chamber’s continued growth and success.
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Brian Williams
Corporate Treasurer
For 25 years Brian Williams, owner and President of Ashton Service Group has offered a reliable plumbing service to the community. Brian Williams, the founder of Ashton has always believed in giving back to the community as a way of saying thank you for their success. From assisting the Union Gospel Mission, Fire Fighters in Richmond and a variety of sponsored kid’s sports organizations, Ashton is always ready to help. Brian Williams sits on a board of business executives for The Advisory Board (TAB), in which advice is given and problems solved in the business community of members. Five years ago Brian Williams founded an ongoing fund for kids who couldn’t manage the financial obligations associated with participating in a sport. This fund has been in operation every year and is accessed as needed by kids upon their application and approval by committee. The foundation was formed in memory of Brian Whatley. Brian and his wife Julie were honoured and acknowledged in 2005 for their extraordinary achievement of Semiahmoo Minor Hockey Association in the community of Surrey/White Rock. Brian Williams grew up in Richmond and played sports his entire life. In an attempt to give back to the community Ashton sponsors a number of sports teams, including: the Semiahmoo Predators, Semiahmoo Ravens, Flying Blue Camels, the Vipers, and the Richmond Sockeyes hockey teams, as well as the Ashton Mechanical Men's soccer team. In 2006, Brian Williams saw a need for a new vehicle for the Union Gospel Mission and refurbished one of his vans and took it down to the Union Gospel mission. In 2007 Ashton Service Group actively inspired their business friends, employees and associates to join in their effort to provide Christmas hampers, toys and meals for the homeless. And, in early 2008 Ashton Service Group put together a team of suppliers to assist in the purchase and installation of a new air conditioner for the New Westminster drop in center. In March of this year Brian Williams won the Humanitarian Award for the Quality Service Contractors Assoc, an international association. |
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Rob Akimow
Corporate Secretary
Rob Akimow wears his passion on his sleeve, and his passion is making a difference in the local community. Since joining The Richmond Review's sales team in 2003, Rob has rolled up his sleeves in support of grass-roots initiatives such as the Jimmy Ng Memorial Ball Hockey Tournament. Rob also co-chairs and served as host of the 2010 Richmond Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, and has been an active figure in the Richmond Community Foundation's fundraising golf tournament. With deep community ties that trace back to when he moved to Richmond with his family as a six-month-old, Rob ran for city council in the 2002 by-election, a sign of his determination to make a difference in the community. Rob graduated from Richmond Secondary School and earned a diploma in public relations from Kwantlen University" I love Richmond for its cultural diversity and natural beauty. I'm committed to doing my part to ensure Richmond continues to be one of the best cities to in which to live and do business." |
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Tony Kwan
Immediate Past Chair
Tony Kwan is a partner with the law firm of Pryke Lambert Leathley Russell LLP. Tony advises clients in a variety of business matters including real estate development, bank financing and corporate and commercial transactions. Tony joined Pryke Lambert Leathley Russell LLP in 1994 and became a partner in 2005. He received both a Bachelor of Science degree and a law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1989 and 1993 respectively. Tony is a former director of the Richmond Chinese Community Society and the Victorian Order of Nurses. Tony is also a past president of the Richmond Sunset Rotary Club. Tony is currently the honourary legal advisor of the Chinese Federation of Commerce of Canada. |
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Board of Directors
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Lori Chalmers
Director
Lori Chalmers is the Publisher of The Richmond News. She has spent the majority of her career in print media having worked for a number of other community papers and the Lower Mainland’s lead daily papers. Lori spends time coaching and leading her team of newspaper professionals and helps to develop strategies that enable the newspaper to deepen its connection with the community. Lori has been volunteering for many years. She is Vice Chair for the Gateway Theatre, Chair of the Tourism Richmond Service Award, Co-chair of the Richmond Chamber 911 awards and is currently a Rotary Club President. She is the past Vice President of NABS and was awarded the 2009 NABS Honour Award for her outstanding volunteer commitment to the organization. Lori was a Leader for the Minerva Foundation, she worked with the Special Olympics Sports Celebrities Festival in 2008, was Retail BC Retail Week Advisor and the Vision Conference Committee Chair. Lori has a degree from Langara College and completed her studies in marketing at The University of Calgary. Lori is married to Glenn and they have two wonderful children, Amy and Steven. She loves to golf, ski and read. |
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Colleen Chambers
Director
Colleen Chambers is a Senior Analyst with the TSX Venture Exchange, helping local companies raise public venture capital through the Capital Pool Company Program. Colleen also reviews mergers, acquisitions, financings, option plans, etc. for the non-resource BC public companies listed on the Exchange. Colleen is currently on the Board of the Richmond Hospital Foundation and previously served as Director, North Fraser Port Authority; Property Assessment Review Panel; Director, BC Police Victim Services Board; Board Chair, Richmond Public Library Board; Treasurer and President of BC Library Trustees' Association; and Trustee Canadian Library Trustees’ Assoc. Colleen currently trains new library trustees throughout BC and trains CNIB volunteers to be visionmates for the blind. |
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Bonnie Chiu
Director
Bonnie Chiu is the president and CEO of Maple Freight Partnership, a global logistics service provider. Building on the extensive global trade experience in this ever changing market, Bonnie has extended her business to US, S. America, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, while covering south Asia and the often challenging Middle East as well. Bonnie served as a trustee for the Richmond Hospital Foundation and actively supports various charity organizations. Bonnie is married to Steve Chiu, a Mechanical Engineer and a home builder, and has a happy and healthy 16 year old son, Michael. Her hobbies include golfing, hiking, travelling and fishing. She hopes to have one day, a picture perfect trophy sized sturgeon with the family. |
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David Coons
Director
David Coons is Vice President for Resource Advancement at Trinity Western University. His main role is to provide senior administrative direction for University Fundraising and Revenue bases in order to achieve the University’s Institutional goals and objectives. David directs the Richmond Campus plans and fundraising initiatives to completion in 2013. David received an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, from the University of Ottawa. As a former Senior Sales/Marketing and Operations manager with over 15 year’s experience with a large international company, David Coons came to Trinity in 2006 with a wealth of experience in business planning, product development and marketing. The last 5 years at Coca-Cola, David was the Sales Centre Manager for Coco-Cola Bottling Company based in Coquitlam.
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Gerard Edwards
Director
From professional experience in England, Turkey, North America and the Pacific Rim, Gerard has senior management expertise with small, medium and large corporations. His portfolio spans R & D, engineering, manufacturing and installation of complex products and systems, as well as international marketing experience including sales, contract negotiations, establishment of joint ventures and development of sales and distributor networks.
Gerard is also an award winning educator who has taught and mentored at colleges and universities at undergraduate and post graduate levels. He has developed a range of programs and courses in sales and marketing, trained business and student groups across Canada and internationally, and authored several publications in the educational and training fields. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC, and is a Faculty Emeritus at Douglas College. He currently teaches part- time at the University of the Fraser Valley and serves as a faculty advisor to the Royal Roads University MBA Program. A Richmond resident, he is a founding partner and vice president of a local management consultancy specializing in business development, market research, marketing strategy, and sales management for small and medium size companies. A member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, he currently serves on the Sub Committee for International Business Development. |
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Howard Harowitz
Director
Howard has consulted extensively to a broad spectrum of senior leaders in the area of strategic planning and implementation. His fifteen-plus years of management consulting are complemented by senior management experience, including eight years as President/COO of a two profitable, high-growth companies. Howard’s work focuses on helping his clients develop clear and compelling strategic insights into their own organization and their competitive landscape. His approach is highly collaborative, integrating the in-depth corporate/industry knowledge of the client’s senior executive team with the breadth of experience he brings to the table from his own work. Howard has worked with well over fifty clients in formulating and implementing strategy, including: Prospera Credit Union Pharmasave Drugs, Digital Dispatch Systems, Motorola, Molson, Credit Union Central of BC, OpenRoad Auto Group, Oil & Gas Commission, Pacific Press, Premier’s Office (Sask. Gov’t.), BC Hydro, Ocean Fisheries, RivTow, and Coal Association of Canada. His clients value the best practices disciplines and analytic frameworks he brings to the process, and his ability to get participants to challenge “conventional wisdom” where appropriate. Prior to establishing Howard Harowitz Consulting, Howard held senior positions in different organizations, including:
• Partner at Coopers & Lybrand, • President of a successful software company (B2B and B2C applications software in large-scale messaging over telephony and broadband) • President of a security alarm company • Principal with Knightsbridge MICA.
Howard’s education includes an MBA from Stanford University where he graduated in the top 5% of his class, and undergraduate studies (Economics and Mathematics) at University of British Columbia and Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
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Mike Karamanian
Director
Mike Karamanian has worked at Digitech, a local company that produces environmentally safe printer cartridges for the past 6 years and has recently opened the newest office for Digitech in the Fraser Valley. With experience in sales and the service industry, Mike is a team builder. His ability to connect like minded people has helped him grow not only his own business ventures but others too. As chair of the Chambers Strictly Networking committee, Mike and his team have more than doubled the attendance over the past couple of years. Mike also resurrected the Chambers Ambassadors Club in 2010 as a way to engage new members and ensure they are aware of the benefits available to them. Born and raised in Richmond, Mike has a strong connection and commitment to the community and is involved in fundraising for local charities like Variety Club and he is a member of the Richmond Sunrise Rotary group. |
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Todd Laycraft
Director
Todd Laycraft is District Vice President with the TD Commercial Banking Centre in Richmond. Todd leads a team of dedicated commercial banking professionals serving primarily mid-market privately-owned businesses in the Richmond and South Delta marketplace. Todd has had a 15 year banking career spanning 4 provinces, including roles in risk management, sales management and retail banking. Todd served on the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards committee last year and has been active in Junior Achievement, United Way and Juvenile Diabetes charities. In his spare time, Todd enjoys travel, sports and time with his young family. |
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John Miles
Director
John Miles is the Director of Corporate Finance for the Vancouver Airport Authority, joining the organization in 2004. His previous background included providing wealth management and commercial banking services with a Canadian bank. John has a Bachelor of Business Degree from SFU, is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder and a Certified General Accountant."
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Dana Westermark
Director
Dana Westermark is the owner and president of Oris Consulting Ltd. Specializing in obtaining rezoning and development permit approval s for property owners and developers, Oris has been active in Richmond for the past 15 years. With 8 years experience on the City of Richmond’s Heritage Commission, 6 years on the Advisory Design panel, 5 of those as the chair and many hours of volunteer time of various civic initiatives, Dana has an excellent working relationship with the City. Dana is currently on the Provincial Brownfield’s task force and the Urban Development Institute’s liaison committee with the City of Richmond. One of the landmark projects Dana has been involved in includes the London Landing area, winner of a Canadian Urban Development Institute award, the City of Richmond’s Design award and “best kept neighbourhood” award and a Gold Georgie Award. A major development in the West Cambie neighbourhood that includes affordable housing, a daycare and 420 units of market housing is slated to begin construction in September 2009. The massive River’s Edge development of over 1000 units of housing and 165,000 square feet of commercial space is poised to begin in 2010. Dana is a Project Management Professional (PMP) with 30 years experience in dealing with municipal, provincial and federal government approval requirements. With projects in most Lower Mainland municipalities, ranging from heritage restoration to Brownfield reclamation, no project is too challenging. Oris can help you extract the maximum value from your property by negotiating favourable conditions for your rezoning or development permit. |
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Raymond J. Segat
Chair Board of Governors
Ray is responsible for Cargo & Business Development at the Vancouver International Airport. His area of responsibility includes: new business initiatives, development opportunities for airport lands, leasing, cargo facility expansion and long range planning, export distribution and logistics activities and strategic planning of YVR lands. |
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Councillor Bill McNulty
Ex Officio
A long-time Richmond resident who worked as a counsellor in a Vancouver secondary school, Bill has served on Richmond City Council since 1993.
Better known as "Richmond's Man in Motion", Bill has been active as a community volunteer in Richmond for many years, especially in sports-related activities. He has served on Sports B. C. for six years, was a member of the committee which organized Richmond's bid for the 1994 Commonwealth Games, and has been extensively involved in local community television broadcasting.
Bill has been involved in track and field for six decades and is a life member of Richmond's Sports Council and the Richmond Lawn Bowling Association. He has been a Past President of B. C. Athletics and the Canadian Track & Field Association. For many years he was a B Director of the Canadian Olympic Association. He has been a coach, manager, administrative leader and Chef-de-mission of many Games teams and touring Canadian track and field teams around the world. Bill is also a long time serving Rotarian.
A past president of the U.B.C. Alumni Association, Bill is currently serving his seventh three-year term on the Senate of the University of British Columbia. He served on Richmond's Advisory Planning Commission for six years from 1986-1992, five of them as a Chairman.
Bill currently represents Richmond as first alternate to the first Director and second alternate to the second Director on the Metro Vancouver Board. He is also Richmond's representative on the Board of E-Comm.
Bill is a member of the following Standing Committees of Council: Finance (Vice-Chair); General Purposes; Community Safety; Planning (Vice-Chair) and Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services.
He is a Council representative to the following advisory committees, organizations and community associations: the Aquatic Services Board; the Olympic Business Advisory Committee; the Richmond Sports Council; the Arenas Community Association; the Steveston Community Society; the Richmond Chamber of Commerce; the Richmond Intercultural Advisory Committee; and the 2009 Richmond BC Seniors Games Board. |
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