Board

The Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of the DNBIA. Elected by its membership, the Board oversees DNBIA staff, sets the policies of the organization, approves the annual budget, and takes positions on political questions of the day, on behalf of its membership. DNBIA Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month.
 

DNBIA Board of Directors

Shari Molchan (Molchan Financial)
President
250-755-4004
www.molchanfinancial.com

Shari Molchan is the owner of Molchan Financial on Commercial Street and is an active member of the downtown business community. Shari joined the NCCA in 2009 and has been at her Commercial Street location for the past 5 years.  Currently president of the Nanaimo Womens Business Network, Shari has also been involved with the Heart & Stroke Foundation with the Big Bike ride every year, Cops for Cancer, and the Dragonboat Festival to name a few. Shari's focus is on maintaining a vibrant downtown core which will support businesses and patrons.

John Cooper (City Appointee)
Vice President
250-619-9207
www.islandlifestyle.ca

John Cooper works as a Real Estate Agent for RE/MAX of Nanaimo (Downtown Office) and also resides in the downtown core with his wife and daughters. John is passionately committed to re-defining downtown Nanaimo in the hearts and minds of those in our city and also in the province, pushing Nanaimo into the forefront of livable cities in Canada. John also has an extensive background in business administration, strategic management, marketing, branding & lifestyle marketing.

Louise Kellow, CA (Meyers Norris Penny LLP.)
Treasurer
250-734-4323
Louise.Kellow@mnp.ca

Louise Kellow moved from Post Alberni to Victoria with her family in 1992 where she worked with both Deloitte & Touche and KPMG. In 2004, while still at KPMG, Louise obtained her CA designation and soon thereafter moved to Parksville. In October of 2005 Louise began working at Meyers Norris Penny LLP in downtown Nanaimo where she has worked extensively on not-for-profit audits and review engagements.  In July, 2009 Louise moved to Nanaimo with her husband. Louise is the Treasurer on the 2010/2011 DNBIA Executive.

Blake McGuffie (City Appointee)
Secretary
250-753-2080
bmcguff@shaw.ca

Blake McGuffie is a long time Downtown property owner and resident. He has served previously as a Director and Officer of both the Nanaimo City Centre Association and the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership.  A business owner in downtown since 1972, Blake presently operates Esplanade Tax, having retired from full time in 1997 with the sale of Budge Tax Service Ltd., which had 14 branches throughout Vancouver Island, with 50 staff and over 7,000 clients. Blake currently serves on the Nanaimo Child Development Centre Board (for over 20 years) and Nanaimo Foodshare Society (over 10 years), and the Columbian Centre Society. He is also an active member of the South End Community Association and member of the Community Plan Steering Committee.  Blake served two terms on City Council in the 1990s and also served on the Nanaimo Regional Board during the same period. He has been a member of numerous City Committees over the past 30 years, including Parks Recreation and Culture, Parking, Grants, Design Advisory, and Heritage. He can be seen walking throughout downtown several times a day, accompanied by dog Billy.

Bill Carter (Bastion Jewellers)
Director
250-754-4531
bastionjewellers@telus.net

Bill Carter has been involved in business in Nanaimo since 1978 – from 1980 to 1985 he was involved as an apprentice goldsmith working at Manfred Mayor Jewellers on Victoria Crescent. In 1985 Bill and his wife started Bastion Jewellers, which they currently operate. Bill is past Director of the NCCA, and is currently involved with the Nanaimo Fish and Game Club as Junior Program Chairman as well as holding the Membership Chair of the Hidden Valley Conservation Club.

John Pollard (The Mortgage Centre)
Director
250-754-1904
pollard.j@mortgagecentre.com

John has lived and raised his family in Nanaimo since 1999 but has been an island resident since moving here from Ontario in 1992.  He is a partner in the Mortgage Centre franchise which has held an office in
the Old City Quarter area of the downtown since 1992.  Before his career in real estate finance, he owned a real estate holding company and worked in the construction and real estate appraisal fields for over 20 years.
When not directly involved with his daughter’s school, dance and horseback riding activities he finds time to be involved in various community organizations and events and held a past position on the
DNIBA marketing committee.  He is also personally active in the design and development of properties in the downtown core and has a keen interest in rejuvenation of the city centre area.
He looks forward to serving the residents, business members and environment of the downtown area with great enthusiasm and urges anyone to contact him at any time with any inquiries they should have.

Thomas Robertshaw (Acme Food Co.)
Director
250-753-0042
acmefoodco@shaw.ca

Thomas Robertshaw is a partner in Acme Food Co which he purchased in 2009 nd currently operate with his wife and business partner. Originally from Naramata, Thomas moved to Nanaimo at the age of four until leaving after high school to obtain a degree in Dental Technology. In the dental industry Thomas was Chairman of Education for the DTA of BC for several years before moving into the restaurant industry in 2000. He has always loved Nanaimo and chose to return to raise his family. Thomas hopes to be instrumental in the revitalization of Downtown Nanaimo.

Linda Olson (Island Radiators)
Director
250-754-2251
linolson@msn.com

Linda has owned and operated Island Radiators with her husband and family for over 33 years. They own 4 pieces of property at Selby and Wentworth Streets and welcome the opportunity to actively participate in promoting all the downtown areas evenly and fairly. Linda was born in Nanaimo, has 3 children, and has helped with various hockey, baseball and ballet programs as well as church functions. As a business, her family has sponsored youth sports teams and helped in fundraising events.  

Jerry Hong (Queens Hotel)
Director
250-754-6751
jerry@thequeens.ca

Jerry has been in the restaurant and hospitality industry for 25 years. He owns the Occidental and Queen’s hotels and the Spice Lounge and employs 60 people. He has a B.A. in Psychology from Vancouver Island University and worked for David Spearing Architecture for 8 years. Jerry has fundraised for various organizations and helps new musicians and entertainers break into the business. He cares about all of downtown and wants to make it a better place for all.

Ian Howat (City of Nanaimo)
Director
250-755-4502
Ian.Howat@nanaimo.ca

Ian Howat is the Director of Strategic Relations for the City of Nanaimo. He is a non-voting ex-officio director on the DNBIA board appointed by the city manager.

Warren Cook (London Drugs)
Director
250-753-5566
WCook@londondrugs.com

Warren recently transferred from Campbell River with his family to manage the London Drugs store at Port Place Shopping Centre.  In the short time that he has worked and resided in the downtown core, Warren has seen what downtown Nanaimo has to offer and the potential for growth. As a business leader having worked in many BC communities, Warren is looking forward to contributing to the growth of Nanaimo and working closely with the DNBIA.
As part of this development, he believes we need to build strong partnerships with our friends on Gabriola Island.  As a former President of the Chamber of Commerce’s Recruitment and Retention his experience will be a valuable asset to the Board in promoting future development.  He is fully committed to doing his part in supporting and encouraging consistent and sustainable growth in our community and to ensure that we have a strong plan in place for the future.

Judy Stephan (Nanaimo and Voyager Magazine)
Director
250-741-8801
nanaimomagazine@shaw.ca

Judy Stephan was born in South Africa and lived there until immigrating to Canada at the beginning of 2009.  Judy has a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English and Psychology and holds a higher diploma in Education.  In South Africa Judy was a High School English teacher for 23 years, specializing in the teaching of English literature to Grade 12 students.  She was the head of the English Department of 2 exclusive private colleges during the last 7 years of teaching and was a recognized expert on the teaching of film and assisting second language students, as well as a Cluster Leader within the Provincial Education Department. 
Since Judy’s arrival in Nanaimo and purchase of Nanaimo Magazine, she has joined many community networking organizations, namely Oceanside Rotary (Vice President 2011-2012); Malaspina Toastmasters (Public Relations 2011-2012), Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce (Ambassador since 2010).  Judy has her finger of the pulse of the Downtown, and actively serves to promote downtown businesses within her magazine.  Judy is married with 3 children.