Connections. Resources. Advocacy.
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David RooperChair 2019 - 2023 David’s diverse and productive career in hotel management has brought him to the UK, across Canada and back to his native Vancouver Island. Previous GM assignments parachuted him into PEI at the Best Western Charlottetown, where he was a founding GM of O’Neill Hotels & Resorts/CHIP REIT. In Alberta, he managed the Ramada Edmonton Hotel & Conference Centre and the Red Deer Lodge, and right here on the Island he has served as GM of Harbour Towers Hotel and Conference Centre, the Coast Bastion Hotel and Conference Center and Courtenay’s Westerly Hotel and Conference Centre. He’s held senior management positions with The Executive House Hotel in Victoria, The Excelsior Hotel in Heathrow, The Wedgewood Hotel in Vancouver, Painter’s Lodge in Campbell River and brands such as Coast Hotels and Fairmont Hotels. Deeply involved in the tourism industry for the last 25 years, David has been Vice President for Tourism North Central Island (TNCI), Ad Hoc Director on the Tourism Association of Vancouver Island Board of Directors and a SICAN Rep for Skål International Victoria. A lover of the outdoors, he is a big advocate of environmental responsibility within the hospitality industry.
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Caroline CodyVice Chair 2020 - 2024Caroline Cody is a professional services consultant with 20+ years’ experience. Caroline’s consulting business focuses on business development and revenue growth strategy, business and strategic planning, client relationship management, market research, corporate communications, proposal writing, public and media relations, community investment/strategic alliances and event planning. Caroline also provides coaching to professionals to improve their profile, practice management, and financial performance.
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Laurie ShambrookPast Chair 2017 - 2022Laurie was born and raised on Vancouver Island and had been in the financial services industry twenty seven years prior to opening the Courtenay Septen Financial office in July 2015.
As a Registered Retirement Consultant, Laurie’s clients can be sure that she provides expert advice in all areas of their finances. She creates strong, trusting relationships each day that positively affect her clients’ financial wellness. Whether it’s saving for their retirement or their children’s grandchildren’s education, structuring tax efficient retirement income solutions, or partnering with her colleagues to provide insurance protection for their families and assisting with their estate plans. As a long term Comox Valley resident, Laurie feels fortunate to have raised her 2 children here, as well as take advantage of the lifestyle the area provides. Laurie leads an active lifestyle which includes yoga, skiing, and hiking. |
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Donna CloutierTreasurer 2011-2022 (Appointed)Donna was a meteorological technician for the Canadian Armed Forces and moved to the Comox Valley in 1990. While still in the military, she continued with her education in the accounting field at North Island College, obtaining her chartered accountant designation in 2000. Today, Donna is a partner at Cloutier Matthews LLP. She recently completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountant’s In-depth Tax Course, the most complete and comprehensive tax-training course available in Canada. Being a business owner and advisor, she understands the needs of local businesses and is committed to community building. Donna is currently serving as treasurer for the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society. In her spare time you will find her enjoying a number of recreation pursuits including: cross-country skiing, yoga, swimming, basketball
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Bill AnglinDirector 2018 - 2022Bill is a partner with the Courtney & Anglin Real Estate Team. Prior to taking on his new career, Bill served for 25 yrs. in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Flight Engineer. Since retiring he has been actively involved in both the business, local government and non-profit sectors. After his term as a City Councillor and Regional District Director he has focused his time between his business and supporting community organizations. Currently, he is the Vice President of the Comox Valley Community Healthcare Foundation, Director of the North and Central Vancouver Island United Way, Sid Williams Theatre Society and Chairman of the Comox Valley Destination Marketing Committee. Bill and his wife, Chris, are fortunate to have their children and grand children reside here in the Valley as well. After his hiatus from the Chamber Board, Bill looks forward to bringing his experience to assist the Chamber in its many endeavors.
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Naomi CarmichaelDirector 2018 - 2022Naomi has been played an integral role in the business community as well as a volunteer with the Courtenay Rotary Club, she is a Past President of Courtenay Rotary and lends her hand and time at many projects Rotary undertakes. Naomi has been a partner of OnDeck Systems for over 20 years and possesses a wealth of business experience. With the recent merge of OnDeck and F12.net Naomi is leading the team through transition. Naomi is looking forward to investing in the Chamber and in the role of Director on the board.
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Lieutenant-Colonel Andrea DaweDirector (Appointed)Born and raised in Newfoundland & Labrador, Lieutenant-Colonel Dawe joined the Air Reserves at 9 Wing Gander in 2005 and, subsequently transferred to the Regular Force in 2007.
LCol Dawe began her career at 8 Wing Trenton, first as the Administration Officer for the Wing Logistics and Engineering Branch; then as a newly promoted Captain, she was the Administration Officer at 424 (T&R) Squadron and had the opportunity to participate in SAR exercises and deploy on a major SAR operation; and in 2011, she was the Administration Officer at Wing Headquarters. The following year, posted to CANOSCOM (now CJOC), she worked in J1 Honours and Awards and Expeditionary Operations. Promoted to Major in 2014, she continued to work as a lead Desk Officer in J1 Exped Ops until moved into Pers Policy where she was responsible for the Deployed Operations Unit Records Section (DOURS) for small missions, training and policy. In 2016, she attended the Joint Command & Staff Program (JCSP) at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. On completion, she assumed the role of Formation J1 for the Canadian Forces Joint Operations Support Group (CFJOSG) in Kingston, ON. Her operational deployments include: Deputy CJ1 for Commander Kandahar Airfield (COMKAF) in 2011; Logistics Officer at the Third Location Decompression (TLD) Centre in Cyprus in 2013; Technical Assistance Visits (TAVs) to CCTM-A, Op ARTEMIS and, Op REASSURANCE; and, most recently, A1 for Task Force Mali, Op PRESENCE, Roto 0 in 2018-19. She has a Master’s degree in Education Leadership from the University of Calgary, a Masters in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Human Resources Management. LCol Dawe is a proud mom to daughters, Amber and Aimee, and ‘brand new’ grandma to Baby Isabelle. Both Amber & Aimee reside in Ontario to continue post-secondary education. |
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Kelley GiorgianniDirector 2019 - 2021Kelley Giorgianni is a Work Experience/Careers Program Worker with School District 71. Kelley has worked in private Post-Secondary education in Admissions and Career Departments. Professional as a Certified Career Practitioner, Kelley is integral to the Work Experience, Grad Transitions and Career Exploration for students within School District 71. Kelley has created several new programs and initiatives over her career utilizing her skill set from her background in marketing and sales. Kelley has been an active member of the Chamber of Commerce for several years and has made lifetime business connections. Kelley is excited to take on the new challenges and opportunities offered in the role of Chamber of Commerce Board member.
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Montana PistellDirector 2020 - 2022Montana, was born and raised in the Comox Valley and is the Marketing/Design Specialist and Executive Assistant at Excel Career College. At 18 she started as administrative support, and within 2 years was leading the administrative team. Now 23, Montana has found her ‘happy place’ doing graphic-design, marketing, and executive-level administration.
Montana loves helping others and enjoys being involved in community projects. As a singer, she has a history of volunteering with fundraising groups: most recently the Rotary Dinner Theatre, as a starring cast member of the Beach Street Players. She is also involved with a few local churches as a worship singer, nursery volunteer, and volunteer for charity drives and events. Montana was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 2016 by the Courtenay Rotary Club and received the #YouRock Youth Award at the 2019 Chamber of Commerce Awards. Montana spends free time with loved ones, exploring photography, and painting. |
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Pam WilliamsDirector 2021 - 2023Pam is the Practice Manager for Holland and Company Barristers & Solicitors in Comox BC. Pam was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta and has over 25 years of business management knowledge. She started and operated her own catering and event coordinating company in Alberta. Through contacts in the public and Catholic school divisions, Pam implemented healthy, made-from-scratch meals. She also taught students cooking skills and other duties required with running a business. Those skills have been put to use in the Comox Valley, primarily through volunteer efforts with Rotary and LUSH. Pam believes in sourcing products and services locally. Her commitment to small business and entrepreneurship helps her make a community unique and special. She has a tireless work ethic and exceptional skills in team management, business promotion and planning. She moved to the Comox Valley in 2018 and is proud to call Vancouver Island her home. |
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Ramon RamirezDirector 2021 - 2023Ramon Ramirez has over 22 years of banking experience; a career that started in South America. He held roles in Vancouver, Bermuda, Southern Alberta, and Vancouver Island; working in several areas of banking including Operations, Payments and Cash Management, e-Commerce, and Commercial Banking. He holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Capilano University. He worked for BDC, HSBC, Costal Community Credit Union, Citibank, and owned a retail business. He worked with companies of all sizes, from start-ups to large multinationals. He has experience with a wide a range of banking services including Commercial lending, Trade Financing, Leasing, International Banking, FX, Treasury, and Payments and Cash Management. Outside work, he is a fully certified firefighter with Comox Fire Rescue, a member of the Rotary Club of Courtenay, an avid cyclist, and competes in long distance triathlons. He lives in Comox with his wife, Amy, and two children, Lane and Sebastian.
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Robyn ClarkeDirector 2021 - 2023A longtime resident of the Comox Valley, Robyn has been working in media, marketing, and management roles in the valley for the past 15 years. She’s managed a local small business with a staff of 10 - which has given her an in-depth understanding of what local businesses face in the Comox Valley. She’s managed the marketing campaigns of an automotive dealership, and primarily as an on air personality and sales and marketing representative with Jet FM. Working in Radio has been especially personally rewarding for Robyn, as it has given her a passion for seeing local businesses thrive and succeed, and being one of the key voices of her community. Robyn has developed lifelong relationships with local business owners, she appreciates their challenges and successes, and helps many of them on their paths to growing and maintaining their businesses. Robyn and her husband Mike and their daughter Sofija love living in the Valley, spending their free time camping and exploring the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island.
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A volunteer board of officers and directors—comprised of up to 12 business leaders from our community—provides governance for the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. Board members typically serve a two-year term starting in April. Chamber members interested in serving on the board of directors in the future are encouraged to contact the current chairman of the board by email.
