CYPE Program

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

Second 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.

Hardeep Braich

CYPE Council Member

Hardeep Braich is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and works as a Director, Commercial and Alternative Financing at Axium Capital Inc., providing commercial business and real estate lending solutions. He achieved his CPA, CGA designation from the University of British Columbia, and has extensive experience in the finance industry. 

Hardeep joined Company of Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (CYPE) in 2021, with hopes of helping grow the program which provides mentorship to other CYPE members, and young professionals and entrepreneurs in the community. Outside of CYPE council, Hardeep is a passionate basketball fan and assists with setting up community basketball tournaments and volunteers his time coaching kids in his free time.

Ravi Sidhu

CYPE Council Member

Ravi has over 15 year’s experience in Marketing and Digital. Ravi has worked in various industries such as telecommunications, real estate, sports, food and automotive. Currently he is the Director of Marketing for FSH Design.

Along with his professional career Ravi sits as a Director with the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and also the President of the Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association. 

Ravi is always looking for new and creative initiatives to be part of and feels CYPE is a great way for young people to meet and network to grow their businesses while meeting like minded individuals.

Komal Gill

CYPE Council Member

Komal Gill is an accomplished legal professional with a passion for justice and advocacy. She completed her undergraduate studies at Simon Fraser University before pursuing her law degree at Thompson Rivers University. With a solid foundation in legal education, Komal embarked on her professional journey at Baker Newby LLP, where she articled and honed her skills under the guidance of experienced mentors.

In 2020, she was admitted to the bar, marking a significant milestone in her career. Recognized for her dedication and expertise, Komal has continued her association with Baker Newby as an esteemed associate. Her commitment to delivering exceptional legal services and her unwavering commitment to her clients make her a trusted and valuable asset to the firm. 

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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 a Licensed Life 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 and has varying community leadership experience. She ran for council in the 2022 municipal election and was 1,973 votes away from earning a seat on council. She is currently working as an Administrative Assistant at Kosmetae Academy. 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.