Board of Directors
The Board of Directors governs the Chamber, as set out in our bylaws. The Board consists of the Chair, Vice-Chair and 10 Directors. In addition, the immediate Past Chair, Chief Executive Officer and the Treasurer of the Chamber are ex-officio members of the Board.
Each member of the Board has one equal vote in any proceeding of the Board, other than the Chief Executive Officer who is a non-voting member of the Board. Chamber members in good standing who are interested in volunteering for election to the Board, please contact the Chamber office for information.
Meet the 2025 Board of Directors
Jennifer McKinnon
Chair
Director of HR
Manhas Health Co.
Jennifer McKinnon
Director of HR, Manhas Health Co.
LinkedInFor the past eight years, Jennifer McKinnon has served on the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce (TCCOC) board, where she has played a pivotal role in driving economic development and fostering effective communication strategies. Her exceptional leadership skills led her to establish the women in business committee (with her partner in crime, Mary Vellani) back in 2018 which continues to thrive today. For the last 3 years, Jennifer has been active in supporting the membership avenues of the chamber, leading the Membership Experience team and the role of Chief Ambassador, running a committee of 12 dedicated chamber member volunteers to engage, retain, and attain members of the TCCOC. You may also know her as “the official Chamber Greeter” where she volunteers prior to every event to welcome you through the doors.
In addition to her chamber board involvement, Jennifer has also been an active member of the Rotary Club for the past decade, celebrating her 10-year anniversary recently. Her dedication to service and philanthropy is further demonstrated through her role as Vice Chair on the Coquitlam Foundation Board. In this position, Jennifer contributes her expertise to support the foundation's mission and initiatives.
Professionally, Jennifer serves as the Director of HR for a prominent medical facility, Manhas Health, overseeing a team of over 20 admin staff members and managing two clinics. Her expertise in human resources has been invaluable in ensuring the smooth operation and staffing of the facilities and the well-being of its employees. Jennifer has also served as the Executive Director of the Downtown PoCo Business Improvement Association (BIA), where she tirelessly advocated for the interests of downtown businesses.
Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, Jennifer values her role as a mother. She and her partner, Greg, are proud parents to a daughter and “sonish”, both of whom turned 19 this year and attend Douglas College. Their family is completed by a wacky, high maintenance polydactyl cat who brings joy and laughter to their lives every day.
Vivien Symington
Vice Chair
Owner
Club Aviva
Vivien Symington
Owner, Club Aviva
LinkedInVivien Symington has 50 years of gymnastics experience and earned BA/BPHE degrees from Queen’s University.
Established in 1986, Club Aviva is a large family-owned and operated gymnastics facility, offering a wide variety of unique programs to promote healthy physical and emotional lifestyles.
In 2002, Vivien invited the Empowering Steps Movement Therapy Program (ESMT), a unique child centre intervention for children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.
Vivien is an active volunteer with Coquitlam Festival Society (since 1992), Kids Brain Health Network, Gymnastics BC, and Simon Fraser Society. In 2017, she was inducted into the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame as a Community Builder and Club Aviva won the best BC Gymnastics Club of the Year.
She believes that society is vital to building a strong sense of community and shared goals. She strives to provide an inclusive centre in Coquitlam offering a safe and nurturing environment to promote the empowerment and health of all participants no matter what their abilities.
Daniel Richardson
Past Chair
Managing Partner
BTM Lawyers
Daniel Richardson
Vice Chair, 2023 Board of Directors
Managing Partner, BTM Lawyers
LinkedInDaniel Richardson is a lawyer and managing partner at BTM Lawyers LLP. BTM Lawyers is a full-service law firm located in Port Moody. The firm has serviced Tri-Cities businesses and residents since 1979. BTM Lawyers is a longstanding member of the Chamber of Commerce and is very active in the Tri-Cities community. Since Daniel joined BTM Lawyers in 2010, the firm has nearly tripled in size and is continuing to grow.
Daniel’s practice focuses on personal injury, construction and civil litigation. He cares about his clients and is passionate about providing quality service and obtaining great results. Daniel is also a strong believer in supporting local business and ensuring that the Tri-Cities continues to be Metro Vancouver’s best place to live, work, and play.
In addition to being an owner of one of the Tri-Cities’ largest law firms, Daniel lives in Anmore with his wife, three young children, and dog.
Daniel currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Chamber’s Government Relations Committee. He is also a member of the B.C. Trial Lawyers Association, the New Westminster Bar Association, and the Business Networking International (BNI Dynamo, of which he is also past president). Daniel previously acted as the Chair of the Board of Directors of KidSport Canada and was a volunteer Big Brother with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver.
Eric Salvador, CPA
Treasurer
Partner
Rise CPA Inc.
Eric Salvador, CPA
Treasurer, Tri-Cities Chamber Board of Directors
Partner, Rise CPA Inc.
Eric graduated from Capilano University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance. He began his accounting career in 2014 where he worked at a national accounting firm in Calgary providing accounting and assurance services in the private enterprise group. Eric then joined Rise in 2016 due to his passion of building strong relationships with his clients and their businesses to become their trusted advisor. Eric advises on accounting, assurance, tax and other business matters in various industries such as restaurants, breweries, manufacturing, franchises, retail, construction, film, etc.
In addition to assisting his clients, Eric also has a passion for mentoring soon to be CPA’s and business professionals. He often attends campus recruiting events and has mentored individuals under the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Launch2Success Mentorship program.
Outside of work, Eric is a big foodie. He enjoys spending time with his wife trying new restaurants and learning new recipes to cook for his friends and family.
Chris Chong
Director
Owner
Butter Studios
Chris Chong
Owner, Butter Studios
LinkedInOwner of a successful photo/video studio for the past 15 years servicing local, national and international clients.
Previously, I was a director for a national telecommunications company leading up to 500 employees and gained extensive experience in project and people management and consistently exceeded targets in relation to revenue, productivity and quality.
Mohammad Darwish
Director
President & CEO
Aplicata Technologies Inc.
Mohammad Darwish
President & CEO, Aplicata Technologies Inc.
Mohammad Darwish is Aplicata’s Chief Executive Officer and serves on the Board of Directors. He is recognized for his experience, innovative contributions and leadership spanning over 25 years in the computing industry. Prior to founding Aplicata, Mohammad founded AdvancedIO, where he pioneered adaptive wideband network solutions that have become an industry benchmark. Earlier in his career, he worked at Spectrum Signal Processing, developing real-time communication systems for defense and commercial markets. Mohammad taught computer engineering courses at UBC for many years. He is deeply passionate about education and the development of young people. While teaching at UBC, he brought invaluable industry insights into the classroom, enriching the learning experience of his students. Alongside his business achievements, he is an avid community volunteer and serves as an economic advisor to the City of Coquitlam. Mohammad holds a master’s degree in computer engineering from UBC, where he also pursued a Ph.D. degree.
Mike Forrest
Director
Vice President
Forrest Marine Ltd.
Mike Forrest
Vice President, Forrest Marine Ltd.
LinkedInMike Forrest is the co-owner (with his brother Ray) of Forrest Marine Ltd, a third generation river oriented family business in Port Coquitlam, with Tugboats, Fishboats, Log Salvage, Water Taxi, Rescue and more.
Forrest Marine has been a member of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce since 1993.
Mike’s past experience includes serving as a member of the Fraser Panel of the Canada/US Pacific Salmon Commission for 19 yrs.
He also served on the Fraser River Port Authority from 1993-1999.
His community spirit and involvement is shown in having served 18 years on Port Coquitlam city council (2000-2018)
Mike and his wife Karen both have third generation POCO roots, and raised their family here.
Mike believes that Chambers of Commerce are not only an integral part of a vibrant community, but also the best venue for business to share their collective voice with Governments in respect of fair regulation and minimizing bureaucracy!
Adel Gamar
Director
CEO & Co-Founder
GLG Ltd.
Adel Gamar
CEO & Co-Founder, GLG Ltd.
LinkedInAdel Gamar is Cofounder and CEO of GLG Ltd., a boutique management consultancy launched at the Harvard Innovation Lab and headquartered in Vancouver. He manages the delivery and implementation of the firm’s leadership development and change management services.
Over the course of his career, Gamar has advised senior leaders of Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, and governments worldwide. He served as Education Specialist at UNESCO and Policy Fellow at Harvard Law School. While at Harvard, he taught adaptive leadership and negotiation. In 2015, he advised the Co-Chair of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
Gamar is an Adjunct Professor at UBC Sauder School of Business where he teaches leadership and management. He cofounded The Gamar Foundation—a nonprofit that aims to inspire, empower, and connect young people to enhance the public good in their communities.
He serves on various boards, including Douglas College and the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce where he is the Chair of the Economic Development and Government Relations Committee.
A father, husband, and relentless optimist, Gamar holds an MPA from Harvard and a B.Ed. from the University of Calgary.
Ryan Jamieson
Director
Deputy Executive Director
Coquitlam Public Library
Ryan Jamieson
Deputy Executive Director, Coquitlam Public Library
LinkedInRyan Jamieson is passionate about creating welcoming, inclusive communities, helping people and organizations develop and expand lasting connections, and supporting future-focussed conversations around strategies and goals. Ryan believes strongly that inclusivity, collaboration, and education drive sustainability and success communities and business.
Ryan spent several years in South Korea before completing his MBA at Simon Fraser University. He then joined Community Living BC. He has sat on over 50 working groups and task forces with a wide variety of stakeholders. These groups have tackled topics including analyzing data and trends, developing practices and policies, and working towards vibrant and inclusive business communities.
Ryan is currently the Deputy Executive Director at Coquitlam Public Library. Ryan has been engaged in the Chamber of Commerce, at first with the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, and then being elected to the Board of Directors where he is currently Chair of the newly formed DEI Committee.
Katherine Kim
Director
Senior Account Manager
Business Development Bank of Canada
Katherine Kim
Senior Account Manager
Business Development Bank of Canada
Katherine is a Senior Account Manager with the Business Development Bank of Canada, BDC, with more than 8 years of experience in the financial industry. Specializing in advising business owners and commercial relationships, Katherine uses that experience to deliver a value-add component to every interaction she has with her clients, network and stakeholders.
Katherine possesses a unique blend of professional expertise and a passion for community development. Her track record of successfully leading initiatives within the region, combined with her strategic thinking and collaborative approach, makes her an ideal candidate for a leadership role.
Katherine's ability to inspire and mobilize teams toward a common goal is truly remarkable. Her strong communication skills, attention to detail, and unwavering dedication make her an asset to any organization.
Furthermore, Katherine's deep knowledge of the Tri-Cities area and her extensive network of connections within the local business community would undoubtedly benefit the Chamber's mission and objectives.
Justin Levine
Director
Lawyer
Golbey Levine, Lawyers + Advisors
Justin Levine
Lawyer
Golbey Levine, Lawyers + Advisors
Justin Levine practises business and real estate law with Golbey Levine, Lawyers and Advisors . Phrased pretentiously, he helps clients identify and manage their risks to help accomplish their goals. Justin is passionate about local business and thinks Main Street trumps Wall Street. One of his greatest work accomplishments is PROTECTED BY SOLICITOR-CLIENT (that's a joke). He is an advisor to boards and a past director of a non-profits and a charity. Justin used to be actively involved with the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce as a member of the Government Relations Committee and the initial TCYP steering committee. He used to volunteer with Douglas College's self-employment program. He provides some pro bono legal work for people and organizations in need. He was raised in Port Coquitlam, with a stint in Maple Ridge, and currently lives in Coquitlam with his spouse, two children, and a dog that eats everything.
Reihaneh Mirjani
CEO, Sole Bite Food and Vice President, Immigrant Link Centre Society
LinkedInReihaneh is a resourceful and reliable professional who has excellent interpersonal skills across all levels including stakeholders and government. She has received her Women Influencers Award from Women's Collaborative hub in 2019 and her society received a Business Excellence Award from the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce. She has a Bachelor's degree in English literature and is working as Vice President in Immigrant link Centre Society and also as CEO of Soul Bite Food Inc.
Devin Sharma
Director
Principal Consultant
Swanky HR
Devin Sharma
Principal Consultant
Swanky HR
I'm Devin Sharma, a results-driven and passionate Senior HR Professional with a proven track record of elevating companies to new heights through strategic human resources management. With over 15 years of experience in the field, I have developed a deep understanding of the pivotal role HR plays in shaping an organization's success.
🔹 Talent Acquisition Expertise: Leveraging my keen eye for talent, I have successfully led and executed comprehensive recruitment strategies to attract top-tier professionals across diverse industries. My ability to identify the right candidates, streamline recruitment processes, and conduct thorough assessments ensures that the best-fit talents become integral parts of the team.
🔹 Employee Development Advocate: I strongly believe in empowering employees through continuous learning and growth opportunities. My dedication to fostering a culture of learning has resulted in the design and implementation of robust training programs, enabling employees to thrive both personally and professionally.
🔹 HR Strategy and Planning: As a strategic thinker, I have crafted and executed HR initiatives that align with business objectives, contributing to increased productivity, employee satisfaction, and overall organizational effectiveness. I am adept at analyzing HR metrics to drive data-based decision-making for sustained business success.
🔹 Change Management and Employee Engagement: Navigating organizational change is critical for success, and I take pride in my ability to lead change management efforts smoothly. By promoting open communication and active employee engagement, I have fostered a positive work environment where everyone feels heard and valued.
🔹 Cultivating Collaborative Relationships: My approachable demeanor and excellent interpersonal skills have allowed me to build strong partnerships with key stakeholders and cross-functional teams. By fostering collaboration, I have facilitated effective communication channels that foster organizational synergy.
🔹 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion: I am committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that celebrates diversity and values individual contributions. By developing and implementing diversity programs, I have helped organizations build stronger, more resilient teams.
I thrive on the challenges presented by the dynamic HR landscape, and I am eager to apply my expertise to drive transformative change in an organization that values innovation, growth, and its employees' well-being.
Pulkit Sharma
Project Manager, Peter Kiewit Sons ULC
LinkedInPulkit is a Professional Engineer and currently working as a Project Manager with Kiewit, a local contractor with a history of building projects in the Tri-Cities area and an employer to residents of Tri-City region. Pulkit graduated with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia and joined Kiewit soon-thereafter as a Field Engineer.
Pulkit and his family established roots in the Tri-Cities area of Coquitlam to enjoy the beautiful landscape and bountiful parks, Pulkit is an active member of this vibrant, multicultural community. He is also an angel investor and partner of multiple local businesses and encourages business owners to take root and grow within the community.
Pulkit and his wife are pro-actively involved within their community and promotes fellowship by connecting residents to community resources, mentorship and aids international students with career advice and assist assimilating into the community.
Leslie Courchesne
Ex-Officio, Non-Voting
Chief Executive Officer
Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce
Leslie Courchesne
Chief Executive Officer, Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce
LinkedInA seasoned leader with a proven track record in board operations, organizational leadership, policy and program development, as well as government and stakeholder relations, Leslie Courchesne has nearly 30 years of experience in the public sector.
The former Executive Director, British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Alumni Association and Director, Alumni Relations, BCIT, Courchesne has also held the roles of Executive Director, University Relations, and Director, Marketing and Communications with the University of the Fraser Valley, in addition to spending the first decade of her career in BC Government communications.
With a diverse background, Courchesne has a strong passion for building community and developing relationships around meaningful conversation.
As Chamber CEO, she works closely with the Chamber’s Board of Directors, members, government officials, and stakeholders to advocate for and prioritize the needs of the Tri-Cities business community.
Courchesne holds a Bachelor of Arts (Communication) from Simon Fraser University, and a Master's in Marketing from Heriot Watt University. She has lived in Port Moody for 20 years with her husband and two children.