Robert Scales, 1st Vice President

Bob was born and raised in Cobble Hill where his family had operated a family bake shop and general store since 1925.  In 1965 Bob joined Bank of Montreal and estimates that he has worked with over 2,000 small and medium size business clients.  While he has never owned his own business those experiences with that many clients have served to educate him as to business operations.  Bob has worked in most areas of the Province and moved to the Comox Valley in 1994 where he retired from Bank of Montreal in 2008.  Bob is currently a contract instructor with Community Futures a couple of days a month.  Bob is active in other community groups including the Comox Valley Monarch Lions Club, Comox Valley Family History Society, Courtenay Low Income Housing Society & Glacier View Lodge Society.

Bill Anglin, 2nd Vice President

Bill was born and raised in Ontario but after joining the Air Force he spent the rest of his life west of Alberta.  Bill, his wife Chris, and daughter Stephanie first came to the Valley in 1990.  They were lucky enough to spend nine years here before leaving for a short four year stint in Yellowknife.  Escaping the frozen tundra - they now call the Comox Valley their home.  After retiring from the military he embarked on a career as an Investment Advisor and is now working as a Real Estate Agent for Royal LePage.  Bill has served as Secretary and Director for the Glacier Greens Golf Course Board of Directors.  Bill brings a fresh perspective on new business concerns as well as insight into local economic issues.

Sean O'Gorman, Past President

Sean was born and raised in Victoria where he went to the University of Victoria and majored in visual and performing arts and minored in education.  Sean moved to the Comox valley in 1976 with his wife Chris and raised their family here.  Sean went to work for Glenn's Small Car in 1977 and consequentially bought the business changing its name to Glenn's Import & Domestic Parts & Repair.  Sean has been active in industry associations helping to promote an ethical and healthy business environment in the automotive trade through discussion, lobbying and education.  Sean feels that the Comox Valley is a diverse and wonderful area to live in and promotes a sustainable, healthy business environment to ensure that this community can grow responsibly and flourish in the coming years.

Linda Graceffo, Director

Linda has lived in the Comox Valley since 1988.  Her commercial albacore fisher husband, Joe, and two teenage boys love the Comox Valley and all it has to offer.  Since 2003 Linda has been operating a small graphic design business in downtown Courtenay called Sparkling Graphics & Design, successfully helping business owners create an image that is uniquely their own.  This is achieved by listening to every business owner’s wants and needs and then creating marketing material to suit that need. Linda publishes a bi-monthly pet publication called The Scoop on Pets which is distributed throughout the Comox Valley and Campbell River.  The Scoop on Pets regularly supports Kitty Cat P.A.L. Society and the St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog program.  Linda has three years of previous executive board experience with the Comox Valley Home Based Business Association and has served as an active member of the Comox Valley Chamber Marketing committee and serves as Chair of the Programming Committee.  Linda looks forward to the teamwork involved in working with other directors representing the Chamber in these exciting times.

Tracey McGinnis, Director

Tracey and her husband John relocated their family to the Comox Valley in the spring of 2004 from Southwestern Ontario.  John grew up in Courtenay so after visiting for family occasions and summer holidays, the decision to move the the valley was not a difficult one.  The idea for Blinds, Billiards and Baubles was developed from Tracey having grown up in a family that owned a chain of window covering stores in Ontario called Slats Blinds.  Bringing over 25 years of experience with the business helps to ensure that the choices made with the client are going to be the best possible.  A love for meeting new people and always learning new things keeps Tracey excited for the future of both their business and being a part of the dynamic group with the Chamber of Commerce.

Gen McNamee, Director

Gen has been in the general insurance industry since 1988 and is the manager of insurance for Coastal Community Insurance Services on 4th Street in Courtenay.  With insurance being a service based industry, Gen has many years of relationship building experience to bring to the Chamber of Commerce Board.  Gen is a Past President of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce.  She grew up in the Comox Valley and lives in Courtenay with her husband, Steve, and two children, Madeline and Conner. Community involvement is important to Gen and she is an active member of the Courtenay Rotary Club and a Director on the Comox Valley Community Foundation board.

Philippa Berg, Director

Philippa has been working as a Professional Realtor in the Comox Valley since 2005.  She takes pride in providing professional, accountable & commendable service.  Philippa relocated to the Comox Valley with her husband Paul in 2000 from Vancouver where she worked for 10 years in Marketing Management & Event Planning.  Prior to this she completed a degree in Urban Planning/Geography from the University of Victoria & a two year Diploma in Marketing Management from BCIT.  Philippa actively volunteered her time in Vancouver, as the Director of Event Planning for Sales & Marketing Executives Association Vancouver, Chairman for the Event Committee for the 1999 BC Export Awards, Director, Steering Committee for the 1998 BC Business Summit & active member of the American Marketing Association.  Prior to moving into Real estate she spent 2 years working with the Comox Valley Economic Development Society, successfully planning & executing local events, conferences, trade missions, public announcements, workshops & seminars.  She is the proud mother of a dynamic 6 year old daughter & has a passion for her career in Real estate. Philippa looks forward to getting involved in the local community once again!

Kip Keylock, Director

Kip, his wife Catherine and son Chad moved to the Comox Valley in 2005 from Calgary.  He has since founded Ocean Estates Developments, a company specializing in sustainable communities and developments.  His experience in land development, condominium projects and home building has been recognized in Alberta, British Columbia, and as far as the Islands of Hawaii.  He is an active participant in the Regional Growth Strategy and currently serves as a Board Member for the Comox Valley Francophone Association.  He has also served as a National representative for the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) President of the Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance (CMBA), Alberta BMW Car Club President, and High performance driving instructor with various BMW and Porsche clubs.  Kip is passionate about the future of the Valley and looks forward to the opportunity of serving the Chamber and its members in any way he can.  I look forward to the opportunity if elected, to serve as one of your Directors.

Robin Rivers, Director

Robin Rivers is the Publisher and Executive Editor of Our Big Earth Media Co. Founded in 2008, Our Big Earth is the leading online resource for families on North Vancouver Island. While online at ourbigearth.com, Our Big Earth also creates rich and engaging community programming including its popular NeighbourWood Walks, co-sponsoring events such as Earth Day Family Festival and the 30-Day Food Challenge as well as creating programming through partnerships with the Comox Valley Regional District and the Filberg Lodge and Heritage Association. Rivers, a veteran journalist with more than 20 years experience writing for daily newspapers and magazines across North America, made the Comox Valley her home in 2006 when she and her business partner/husband, Ken Henderson, knew it was time to get back to the Island after years of Big City commutes in Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco. There shared home offices let them raise their daughter, Mhari, together, lower their carbon footprint and savor the sweetness of working in their pajamas.

Nathan Weathington, Director

Nathan grew up in rural Georgia in the southeastern United States.  He received a bachelors degree in civil engineering from Auburn University.  After working as a developer and involved with economic development, he took a break to travel and fish.  While on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas he was hired to help build and run a conservation-based high school, which he did for four years.  At the Island School he met Morgan Black and they were subsequently married and moved to Victoria, BC. While in Victoria he received an MBA in entrepreneurship from the University of Victoria.  Upon graduation he began work with Black Press where he acquired and ran their UsedEverywhere.com division – the largest Canadian-owned free classified site.  He is now the publisher of the Comox Valley Record. Morgan and Nathan have two sons, Hudson who is three years old and Hank who is eight months old.

Board Calendar