Chamber Elections 2018

For Director, two year term – choose up to 5 candidates

Shannon Baird
Business Development Bank of Canada

Shannon Baird is Manager, Major Accounts with the Abbotsford Branch of the Business Development Bank of Canada. Shannon has been with BDC in commercial banking for 27 years providing businesses with all types of financing and advisory solutions with a specific mandate to aid growth and create impact. Specializing in mid-market companies, she has been dedicated to the Abbotsford market for the past 5 years where she has built many valuable relationships with other institutions in an effort to provide the best possible solutions to Abbotsford and Fraser Valley businesses.

Shannon is an active committee member with the Abbotsford Chamber Business Excellence Awards and volunteers monthly at the Abbotsford Food Bank.

Karen Baillie
Menno Place

Karen L. Baillie is the Chief Executive Officer of Menno Place, a campus of care that serves more than 700 seniors with a staff of 600. Karen has more than 37 year’s experience in geriatric care. She is currently President of BC Care Providers. In 2015, Karen received the Chapter Award for Distinguished Service for the Canadian College of Health Leaders, BC Lower Mainland Chapter. She was awarded the prestigious Surrey Woman in Business Award in the Professional Category in 2011.

Karen has been a surveyor with Accreditation Canada since 2005. She chaired the Vancouver Community College Continuing Care Program Advisory Committee for 16 years. Karen holds a Masters of Health Administration; a Fellow in Health Administration (with distinction); a Certified Health Executive designation (CCHL) and is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Karen believes strongly in lifelong learning, faith-based service and in volunteering as an educational consultant, preceptor and mentor.

Tim Holloway
KPMG

Tim is managing partner of KPMG’s Abbotsford office. Tim specializes in serving family owned businesses as well as leading KPMG’s charity and not-for-profit practice in the Fraser Valley leveraging 17 years of experience to provide clients with quality and timely assurance, tax and advisory services. He holds a bachelor of commerce from the University of British Columbia (2000) and obtained his CPA, CA designation in 2003.

Tim and his wife Whitney live in Abbotsford with their three young boys with the next addition joining their busy team shortly. Tim is active in their local church serving on the board and as Treasurer.

The prospect of joining the board of Abbotsford’s Chamber of Commerce is an exciting opportunity. Tim would like to leverage his experience to help businesses in Abbotsford grow and thrive.

Jason Lepp
Lepp Farm Market
Jason has been working at Lepp Farm Market which is our family business since 2009. Jason grew up on the farm raising hogs commercially and picking and selling sweet corn in the summers.
Construction on the market started in May 2009 and completed in November of that same year. With the training of experienced meat cutters, Jason learned the trade and now manages the meat department. Jason’s and his wife Megan are busy raising daughter Wynn who is 2 years old and are awaiting the arrival of a new family member in April.

Through the market Jason has had the opportunity to be involved with the incredible not for profits that we have in our community like Run for Water; Matthews House and local 4H groups. Jason loves the city and is excited about the direction that our local business community is going. Living near the downtown core has given him the chance to get involved in groups such as A & Co and to attend many local events. It’s an exciting opportunity to work with the Chamber of Commerce and he looks forward to contributing to an already fast growing, progressive group of businesses.

Karin Massar
Abbotsford Hospice

Karin has over fifteen years of experience working in the non-profit sector as a Fundraising professional. Her career path connected her to charitable work through her desire to support her community. She elevated her skills with a postgraduate diploma (Honours) in Fundraising and Resource Development. Her professional and educational background also includes; Advertising, Marketing, Promotions Director, Retail Management and Business owner.

In 2011 she moved from ON to the Fraser Valley with her husband Mark. Karin is happy to call Abbotsford home and to be working at Abbotsford Hospice Society as the Development Officer of Community Giving.

Karin really enjoys meeting people, building lasting relationships with peers, corporations, community groups, donors, volunteers and staff.She is a long-standing member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and recently joined the Business Professional Women of Abbotsford.

An avid volunteer she served as Secretary on the Barrie Community Foundation Board of Directors. She has dedicated her time as a committee member and volunteer with the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce, Barrie Dragon Boat Festival and Georgian College Development Foundation.

Karin would be honoured to serve the community on the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. It would be a great opportunity to be part of the growth and development of Abbotsford.


Kevin Mierau
Mierau Contractors Ltd.

Kevin is the President of Mierau Contractors Ltd and continues the operations of the successful Abbotsford based company that his father Larry Mierau founded in 1970. Kevin graduated from Abbotsford Senior Secondary in 1993 then completed his Red Seal Certification in Carpentry in 1996.

Kevin is actively involved in the construction industry and serves on the Board of Directors at the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, BC Construction Association and the BC Construction Safety Alliance. He is looking forward to the possibility of working with the Chamber of Commerce and continues his participation within the Abbotsford community.

Kevin and his wife live in Abbotsford and have two girls who attend MEI Middle and High School.

Erin Nesci
Prospera Credit Union

Erin is the Head of Corporate Affairs and Corporate Secretary at Prospera Credit Union and is responsible for governance, communications, public relations, planning and administration. She works closely with the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team to align the credit union with principles of good governance. Her career history includes event production, marketing, communications, public relations, community investment and corporate governance.

Erin is also a trustee on the Credit Union Foundation of BC, which provides grant funding to students from across the province. She received the Certified Credit Union Director (CCD) designation in 2016 and a Masters of Business Administration from Cornell University and Queens University in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Rick Nickelchok
Board Matters Consulting

Rick is the owner and principal of Board Matters Consulting. With 30+ years experiencein the not-for-profit (sport and health) and academic sectors, Rick has developed a high level of expertise in organizational management and community engagement.

Rick and his family moved to Abbotsford in 2007 to take a job at UFV. Since then, he has been engaged in the community through volunteering with Healthy Abbotsford, Pacific Sport Fraser Valley, and recently, the Chamber of Commerce Not for Profit Committee.

Rick’s personal attributes and attitude will serve him well in supporting the Abbotsford business and not-for-profit community.

Craig Toews
University of the Fraser Valley

Recently appointed VP External at the University of the Fraser Valley, Toews has been with UFV for 30 years and brings extensive experience and a deep understanding of the post-secondary environment and the Fraser Valley to his leadership role. Responsible for fostering the UFV brand and heading up key areas including government, community, and corporate relations, Toews also oversees community outreach, alumni relations, communications, marketing, business development, fundraising and property development.

Involved in many initiatives in the Fraser Valley, Toews also serves on the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation Board, the Mission Economic Development Committee, and Abbotsford’s Development Advisory Committee.

Steve Yap
Hub Sports

Steve is the owner/operator of Hub Sports in Abbotsford and Belles Sports in Mission. Steve also owns and operates residential and commercial properties in the Fraser Valley.

Steve graduated from the University of Oregon (MSc.) and from the University of North Dakota (MBA). He taught business courses at the Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the University of the Fraser Valley in the 90s. He is a frequent guest speaker on the subjects of business and real estate management.

Steve and his family live in Mission. Steve was on the board of directors for the Abbotsford Airshow, a long standing member of the Abbotsford and Mission Downtown Business Associations, and sits on the Board of Directors for the Mission Community Skills Society.