|
Patricia Sapielak
President
Bank of Nova Scotia
604-870-3224
Having spent 32 years as both an Abbotsford resident and a Scotiabanker, Pat balances managing the Business Banking team with community involvement.
Also recognizing the importance of continuing education she successfully completed her Financial Planner designation in 2007 |
Patricia has served as Chamber 2nd Vice President for the past year, Director for 4 yrs and has been chairing the Member Services Committee for 7 yrs. She has previously been involved with fundraising for Hospice and the Campaign for Health Care Excellence and currently sits on the Restorative Justice board.
An active member of the Abbotsford Curling Club, Pat also enjoys golfing, working out, walking her dogs and gardening.
|
Patrick Giesbrecht
Vice President
Pacific North Marketing Ltd.
604-557-1227
Patrick was born and raised in Abbotsford and is currently building his results-based marketing business here and raising a family along with his wife Ellie.
Owner of Pacific North Marketing Ltd., Patrick sits on a number of boards and committees in Abbotsford; including sitting as a member of the Abbotsford-Mt. Lehman riding association for the BC Liberals.
|
He has been active in the local Chamber since 2004 and currently chairs the Government Affairs Committee. Patrick has been involved in local politics for a number of years, and enjoys snowboarding, music and spending time with his wife and two sons, Parker and Nash.
|
|
James Barlow
Past President
Chair, Board of Governors
Bell
604-626-6178
James, born in the UK, now lives in Abbotsford with his wife, Sylvia. His career includes Welding Engineering, Hotels and Restaurant management, Teaching, Corporate sales with IBM and now Bell Canada. He is VP of the Galapagos Islands Conservation Trust and vice chair of his Church Board of trustees. |
 |
Doris Woodman-McMillan
Treasurer
Numbers Unlimited Bookkeeping
604-852-0188
Doris is originally from Alberta, and has been a resident of Abbotsford since 1988. She started her business, Numbers Unlimited Bookkeeping, in November 1999. The company provides bookkeeping, income tax, Simply Accounting training, and business consulting services. Doris is married to Bill and they have four children.
|
|
Bruce Beck
Director
Manulife Securities
604-504-7526
Bruce Beck has been an active part of the Abbotsford Chamber since 1996.
Bruce was a keynote speaker in three consecutive annual Economic Forecast lunches from 1996-1999. In 2000, he co-authored the Chamber’s “Charter of Sustainability” which was adopted by the City. In 2001, he chaired the Chamber’s taskforce on the “Community Charter”, making Abbotsford |
the only BC Chamber to make a formal submission to the Province. In 2001, Bruce served as a Director of the Chamber.
From 2002-2008 Bruce served as a member of Abbotsford’s City Council. During that time, he served as the City’s representative to the Chamber for three years. As a City Councillor, he insisted business groups be consulted in the work of the Red Tape Taskforce, the Sign Bylaw review, DCC’s and other issues at City Hall affecting the business community.
Bruce is a self-employed Certified Financial Planner, Certified Senior Advisor, Fellow, Life Management Institute. He is a licensed insurance and stockbroker. His business, Manulife Securities Inc., offers specialized financial planning to small business owners and seniors. He is a member of the Abbotsford Rotary club. Bruce and his wife Lois are proud of their two teenagers in public school in Abbotsford.
|
Trey Bell
Director
Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre
604-743-5020
Trey is the General Manager of the AESC
and is responsible for all aspects of operations at the 7000 seat facility which opened in may of 2009. His day to day responsibilites include the recruiting of staff, booking and marketing the facility, and implementing operational and financial procedures.
|
Trey has a BA in Communications from the University of Corpus Christi with a minor in radio/television/film. He enjoys being involved in the community and is a member of Abbotsford Rotary and the Internatioal Assoc. of Assembly Managers.
|
Suzanne Blakey-Oaks
Director
Community Futures
604-864-5770
Suzanne is a Business Advisor with the Fraser Valley Self Employment Program for Abbotsford Community Futures South Fraser. She advises, coordinates and mentors business clients to become self employed, facilitates monthly Networking Breakfasts and Exploring Self Employment workshops as well as manages the workshops and Video Conferencing for Community Futures.
|
Suzanne has owned her own business, sold real estate for 10 years and developed community outreach programs utilizing government funding.
|
Doug Edgar
Director
Compass Strategies
604-755-7644
Doug is an active member of the Chamber and believes the Chamber serves an essential and effective role in keeping the needs of the Abbotsford business community in front of local, provincial and federal governments.
Doug's business background includes senior management positions in the food industry, most recently serving as General Manager of Abbotsford Growers Coop. |
In 2008, he founded Compass Strategies to provide business planning and advisory services that help clients indentify and accomplish what really matters to them.
|
|
Amelia Kennedy
Director
Crosspoint Communications
604-302-9707
Amelia is the owner of Crosspoint Communications, a full-service communications firm that focuses on public relations, event planning, strategic communications, web development and design. After seven years working in the public relations industry, Amelia established Crosspoint Communications from a grassroots level in 2007.
She believes joining the Chamber was absolutely instrumental in a successful first year in business and provides valuable networking and business opportunities. |
|
Deb Lowell
Director
Salvation Army - Centre of Hope
604-852-9305
Deb is currently the Public Relations Director for The Salvation Army in Abbotsford but has spent her entire career dedicated to their mission of providing hope and practical assistance and to be a transforming influence on the frontlines of need.
She is an active Rotarian and dedicates much time to committee work and meetings establishing viable programs and solutions for the marginalized in our community. |
She is nearing her 25th Anniversary with husband Ben and together they have three great kids, a recent son in law and 2 Schnauzers.
|
Marc Misner
Director
MacAdams Law Firm
604-850-1675
Marc Misner first moved to the Abbotsford area with his family in 1994. With the exception of a three year stint in Edmonton to attend law school, Marc has lived in the Fraser Valley ever since. Marc attended undergraduate studies at the UFV before heading off to Edmonton to study law at the University of Alberta. After obtaining his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), he returned to the Fraser Valley and was called to the B.C. Bar in May of 2006 and practices law in Abbotsford.
|
Marc was born in Ontario but has lived in the Maritimes, Central Canada and the West. He has also traveled extensively in the United States. After high school he traveled to India with Canada World Youth, spent a year backpacking around Europe and also visited Israel. Marc is married with two children who attend school in Abbotsford.
Marc would be honoured to serve on the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. Abbotsford is on the verge of great things but that growth also brings with it significant challenges. Abbotsford businesses are among the best in the country and are truly world class. The city is aggressively developing its infrastructure and amenities while protecting its natural beauty and agricultural roots. The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce has already proven itself integral to the continued development of this community. Marc would consider it a privilege to serve this community as a member of a Chamber that has already proven itself dynamic and productive.
|
Sandra Arthur
Director
Fraserway RV Limited Partnership
604-850-1976
Sandra Arthur works for Fraserway RV LP and has been with the company for 16 years in various positions; she is currently Inventory Manager. Sandra graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts and swam on the university swim team. She also coaches the Masters Swim Program at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre. Sandra made Abbotsford her home in 1990 and continues to enjoy our City in the Country with her daughter.
|
Sandra has been involved with the Chamber for approximately 11 years.
|
|
Rick Rake
Director
Click Media Works
604-302-9173
Rick is a retired newspaper editor turned entrepreneur and is recognized as a passionate community builder, communicator and volunteer. The married father of three now works with a team of award-winning writers and editors at Click Media Works. He has served on the Chamber's Business Excellence Awards committee since 1996.
|
The avid sailor, guest lecturer and world traveller enjoys developing a strong network of positive people, and also volunteers with Big Brothers, Mission Institution and the Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards.
|
Mike Welte
Director
Farm Credit Corp.
604-870-2417
Mike is an Account Manager with Farm Credit Canada in Abbotsford. A UFV graduate with a bachelors of business administration, Mike was born, raised and educated in Abbotsford.
Previous to his banking career, Mike has over six years of experience in small business management and understands the importance of fostering a vibrant business community right here in Abbotsford. |
Mike is a Rotarian and believes it is very important to give back to the community. He remains actively involved with many community events and organizations including the Abbotsford Airshow.
Mike has been involved with the Chamber for over 4 yeas and is the Chair of the Chamber's Agricultural Committee and is the Chamber's representative on the City's Agricultural Advisor Committee.
|
Contact Us
