At the 2013 AGM held at the Vancouver Island Visitors Centre in Courtenay/Cumberland on June 28, a new board of directors was elected for the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance.
Dan Smith of Campbell River and formerly with the First Nations Summit is the new chair.
Dave Willie, Town councillor in Qualicum Beach and owner of Black & White Party Rentals in Parksville, is now past chair. The chair-elect is Sandy Herle, former mayor of Parksville and owner of Close to You Ladies Fashion.
Continuing directors include Dr. Pedro Marquez, dean of international business at Royal Roads University; Marianne Stolz, principal, Capital Asset Group; Colleen Evans, president and CEO of the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce;, Rick Roberts, Rick Roberts Consulting; Gaby Wickstrom, Town councillor and owner of Oceanview Driving School in Port McNeill; and Lisa de Leeuw, branch manager, Coast Capital Savings.
Founding directors Bill Benoit, executive officer for the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board; and Russ Burke, VP and branch manager with Canadian Western Bank, have stepped down with many thanks after years of dedication to VIEA's work to help ensure economic vitality and sustainability on Vancouver Island.
Evan Parliament, formerly CAO for the District of Sooke, has also stepped down with regrets as a VIEA director.
New directors elected to the VIEA board include Po Wan, principal, Blackberry Creative; Gilliam Trumper, former MLA, former mayor of Port Alberni and vice-chair for the Port Alberni Port Authority; Lillian Hunt of Alert Bay and Aboriginal Tourism BC; Darrell Paysen, manager, member services, Vancouver Island Real Estate Board;0 Giles Newman, formerly with KPMG and now principal of Baby Bear International; and Ron Cantelon, former MLA and former Nanaimo city councillor.
In keeping with the Alliance's mandate to foster collaboration and economic prosperity throughout the Island region, VIEA is pleased to announce this well-rounded board with broad geographical representation from Victoria to Port McNeill and Alert Bay.
— Vancouver Island Economic Alliance