CYPE Council
Sam Varing
Chair, CYPE Council
Sam Varing is Legal Counsel for First West Credit Union. She is also our founding Chair of the CYPE program and is a Director on the board of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce.
Sam is passionate about creating opportunities for others to grow within Abbotsford and beyond. She strongly believes that the CYPE program is an excellent conduit to allow for organic growth, development and mentorship among local professionals and entrepreneurs.
Outside of her involvement with the Chamber, Sam sits on the Development Committee for Junior Achievement of British Columbia (JABC) and is a member of the Fraser Valley Events Committee with the Association of Women in Finance (AWF).
Lauren Olynick
Vice-Chair, CYPE Council
Lauren Olynick has been working in local government for 13 years and has held various positions in a variety of departments. She is currently the Deputy Corporate Officer for the Fraser Valley Regional District and prior to this role she was with the City of Abbotsford for 11 years. Within this time, her passion for local government administration, board governance, and serving her local community has continued to grow.
Lauren is a founding Council member of CYPE and currently holds the position of Vice Chair. Lauren’s involvement stemmed from the desire to create an environment where young professionals could connect, collaborate, and grow.
Outside of work and community involvement you can find Lauren on the beautiful Fraser Valley trails with her husband, 3 children and golden retriever.
Khurram Javed
CYPE Council Member
Khurram is an experienced commercial banker, working at RBC Royal Bank as a Senior Relationship Manager Commercial Financial Services in Langley and Fraser Valley. In this role Khurram is a trusted strategic advisor to a diverse portfolio of mid-market commercial clients in the valley.
Khurram is founding council member at CYPE and is always looking to create opportunities for young professionals and entrepreneurs to grow and prosper. Being a firm believer in giving back to community Khurram continues to work with different organisations and community stakeholders to create awareness, mentor young professionals, arrange workshops, increase community engagement and is also currently serving a not for profit organisation as Treasurer.
Harman Rathore
CYPE Council Member
Harman Rathore is the Manager & Advisor of RBC On Campus at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), where he leads a team of advisors who are committed to providing financial literacy, career coaching & wellness advice for all students of the UFV community. Harman has worked in the banking industry for the past nine years holding positions in Financial Advising and Branch Leadership. Harman holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from UFV and a Personal Financial Planner designation from CSI. Harman also serves on a Board of Directors for the UFV Alumni Association with a goal of advocacy & engagement among UFV students & alumni. As a CYPE council member, Harman aims to learn, connect & grow with young professionals in the business community through mentorship and community engagement. In his spare time, Harman enjoys being outdoors and exploring hikes. He is passionate about playing golf & cricket.
Jasmit Singh Phulka
CYPE Council Member
Introducing Jasmit Singh Phulka, a Canadian freestyle wrestler and community leader. With a remarkable wrestling career spanning over 16 years with the Canadian National Team and boasting over 20 international medals. Beyond his athletic achievements, Jasmit is deeply involved in community initiatives, mentoring at-risk South Asian youth, volunteering at Canucks Place Children's Hospice and the Salvation Army, and leading efforts during critical times like floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also has an annual toy drive that has raised over $100,000, in 4 years. His values of diligence, integrity, and sacrifice make him an invaluable asset to the community. He is inspiring others with his commitment to making a positive difference.
Taylor Carlson
CYPE Council Member
Taylor Carlson is currently completing her final year of her undergraduate degree at Simon Fraser University, working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a Minor in Business and a focus in Marketing. Outside of CYPE, Taylor advocates for the growth of the Abbotsford Community by sitting on the board of the A440 Foundation, a charitable organization focused on dedicating resources towards opportunities that positively affect local community, specifically through causes such as food sustainability, musical creativity, mental health, and innovation in other relevant sectors.
As a self-proclaimed young person, Taylor is passionate about inspiring confidence within young people to seek out opportunities and initiate change. With her professional experience in marketing and communication strategies, Taylor hopes to positively contribute to CYPE by encouraging young people to take initiative in the community and promote the growth of Abbotsford for generations to come.
Whitney Fordham
CYPE Council Member
Whitney Fordham is the Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and the Executive Director of the UFV Alumni Association, where she fosters a sense of community and builds lifelong relationships between the institution and its alumni. She is dedicated to meaningfully connecting others with opportunities and with each other, as well as celebrating their accomplishments and unique gifts. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing with a Minor in Economics from UFV and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.
Whitney joined CYPE to meaningfully connect with like-minded individuals, share her expertise, and contribute to the growth and development of young professionals in the community. Outside of her work and community involvement, she enjoys staying active by playing soccer and fastpitch, hiking, snowboarding, paddle boarding, kayaking and dabbling in an assortment of other fitness activities.
James Kehler
CYPE Council Member
James Kehler is the founding partner of Kehler Capital, as well as an Investment & Insurance Advisor with Portfolio Planning INC, a local financial planning firm based out of Abbotsford. James has worked in a financial advising role for the past three years, most of that time being spent at a local credit union. He holds the Responsible Investment Specialist (RIS) credential and is actively working on obtaining the Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designation. With James’ passions for business and helping others, joining the Company of Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs council was an ideal decision. James’ involvement in the community extends to volunteering with Junior Achievement of British Columbia (JABC) to facilitate business-focused learning in the local school districts, volunteering with Abbotsford Christian School with coaching their Track & Field program, as well as volunteering with the middle school youth at his local church.
Gurnoor Sidhu
CYPE Council Member
Gurnoor Sidhu is an active participant in her community who works with the BC Public Service. She ran for council in the 2022 municipal election and was 1,973 votes away from earning a seat on council. She has varying community leadership experience and is on the City of Abbotsford's Public Safety Advisory Committee. Her educational background includes Bachelor of Arts specializing in Criminal Justice and Sociology (Honours: with distinction), Liberal Arts Diploma, Professional Communication Essentials Associate Certificate and Media Literacy Certificate (Honours: with Distinction). Gurnoor’s involvement in the CYPE program and its council allows her to foster the growth of young professionals and increase their engagement in the business community. This is accomplished by creating compelling networking opportunities that stimulate participation and facilitate meaningful connections.
Peter Stauffer
CYPE Council Member
Peter is a real estate and business lawyer at the local law firm of Linley Welwood LLP. Peter earned his law degree from Peter A. Allard School of law at UBC and has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Trinity Western University. Peter’s law practice involves advising clients on a range of real estate and development, corporate/commercial, and estate planning matters, including setting up appropriate corporate structures, asset and share transactions, shareholder agreements, and the acquisition, financing, leasing, development, and sale of commercial and residential properties. Aside from his work with the CYPE Council creating a place for the next generation of professionals and businesspeople to network and grow together, in his spare time Peter enjoys cycling, hiking, volunteering with his church, and spending his time with his wife and three sons.