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

Bill Carter (Bastion Jewellers)
President
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. Bill Carter was elected President of the 2010/2011 DNBIA Executive.
 

George Ewing (G.E.M. Fabrications)
Vice President
250-754-5174
geroge@gemfabrications.com

George Ewing is a lifetime resident of Vancouver Island. He has been a Nanaimo based Business owner/operator for 24 years and, most recently, an investor in and developer of two downtown Nanaimo heritage properties. As a member of the DNBIA Board of Directors George is looking forward to having a positive influence upon the growth and development of Nanaimo. George is the Vice President on the 2010/2011 DNBIA Executive.
 

Louise Kellow, CA (Meyer 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.
 

Kevan Shaw (Property Owner)
Secretary
250-714-1891
dnbiasecretary@shaw.ca

Kevan Shaw and his family have owned property and lived in Downtown Nanaimo for over 63 years. Kevan fought for the restructuring of the DNBIA Board and continues to work hard in the continued revitalization of downtown Nanaimo with the goal of making it more vibrant so businesses will prosper, property will become more valuable, and more residents and tourists will come to enjoy, shop, eat and live here. Kevan is the Secretary on the 2010/2011 DNBIA Executive.
 

Bonnie Butler (Island Lotteries & the Smoke Shop)
Director
250-754-2622
b.butler@telus.net

Bonnie has been a downtown business owner since 1988 and has owned and operated Island Lotteries / Smoke Shop for the past 22 years. Volunteering has always been an integral part of Bonnie's life including two years as the organizer for the Downtown Nanaimo Bathtub Street Festival. Passionate about the rebirth or our downtown core, Bonnie is excited to sit on the 2010/2011 DNBIA Board of Directors.
 

John Cooper (City Appointee)
Director
250-619-9207
john@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 daughter. 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.
 

Malcolm Johnson (Coast Realty)
Director
250-716-7001
emailmalcolm@gmail.com

Malcolm Johnson is a Realtor with Coast Realty in Downtown Nanaimo where he has taken an active role in marketing downtown developments including most recently Studio NA. Malcolm is also working on other multi- family projects in the downtown which he feels strongly will benefit the revitalization process.

Malcolm has been a director with the Nanaimo City Centre Association and has also been involved with the DNBIA (then DNPS) since 2005 where he sat on and chaired numerous committees. Malcolm was the Vice President of the 2009/2010 DNBIA Executive.
 

Blake McGuffie (City Appointee)
Director
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.
 

Shari Molchan (Molchan Financial)
Director
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.
 

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.
 

Julie Romanyshyn (Garden Gate Holistics)
Director
250-618-5736
ggh@shaw.ca

Julie Romanyshyn is a resident of the Old City Quarter of downtown Nanaimo as a business owner/operator within the Old City Quarter for seven years. She enjoys being an active participant and contributor to the positive growth and development of Nanaimo's downtown.

As an active board member for the Old City Quarter Association and various committees relating therein, Julie believes in the downtown revitalization and its continuation. Julie has also volunteered with the "Relay for Life" and the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festivals.

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.