BOARD of DIRECTORS  2011-12

RANJIT DHAMI, President

Ranjit is the Branch Manager for CIBC bank in Duncan. I grew up in the Valley and am involved in many local organizations from charity to sports. My goal is to create a vibrant and resourceful Chamber for our members and the Community in large. We want to be the focal point for every visitor into the Cowichan Valley and the success of every business in the Valley. I welcome every opportunity with anyone to discuss any topic.

GEORGE GATES, First Vice President

George owns Nu Tech IT Solutions, is a fantastic chef, generous chamber supporter and all around happy guy. George chairs the Black Tie Banquet Committee.

JANET ROWE, Treasurer

Janet is a senior manager at Hayes Stewart Little & Co., where she specializes in small to medium sized owner-managed businesses. Her work has included corporate and personal tax planning and compliance, financial analysis and accounting. Janet grew-up on the Island, but left after graduation to travel and work abroad. After settling in Vancouver and becoming a CA, Janet returned to Vancouver Island in 2004 in order to raise her family in a smaller community and be closer to her family and friends.

As well as volunteering as Treasurer for the Chamber, Janet is very involved in the accounting profession, where she has volunteered for seniors and low-income tax preparation, provided tax tips during tax season, and volunteering on various CA boards. She currently lives in Maple Bay with her husband and two young children.

BILL MACADAM , Director

Bill has served on Chamber Boards as varied as Port Mc Neil and Victoria before arriving in the Cowichan Valley in the spring of 2007.  Heading up the award winning team at the Cowichan News Leader & Cowichan Pictorial (honored as best in Canada 2007) Bill and his wife Amber and 3 teenaged children have settled into a place to call home. Bill heads up the Transportation Portfolio on the Chamber board

DAVE CLARK, Director.

Dave Clark is the CEO of Chances Cowichan, a community gaming centre, operated by Duncan Dabber Bingo Society, a non-profit society providing bingo, slots and food and beverage services to the Cowichan Valley. Dave became CEO in May, 2007 after 40 years of real estate appraisal on Vancouver Island, the last 20 years in the Cowichan Valley. This is his way of "slowing down". He has been an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Duncan since 1991, served on the boards of the BC Assessment Authority, the Real Estate Institute of British Columbia, Duncan-Cowichan Summer Festival Society, Duncan Dabber Bingo Society and the Duncan Kiwanis Village Society. On the Chamber board, Dave is the chair of the Graffiti Task Force and The Relocation Committee.  .

MARCIA RUTLAND, Director

Marcia of Marcia Rutland Counselling Services is a family counsellor in private practice. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and is a member of the British Columbia Association for Clinical Counsellors. Her experience spans 16 years of career, employment and personal counselling. She assists couples, families and individuals, both adults and youth/children, to make changes in their lives.

Marcia moved to Vancouver Island in 1998. Since moving to the Cowichan Valley in 2003, she has provided counselling in private practice, at Cowichan Family Life Association, Shore Counselling, and Cowichan Career Centre, and has enjoyed serving on business and education boards.

JEAN CARDNO

Appointed Director, Downtown Duncan Business Association

CATHY ROBERTSON

Appointed Director, Community Futures

She has also been an associate in a Cowichan Region marketing firm managing a variety of marketing programs for a number of diverse clients; operations and Marketing Manager for both Cherry Point Vineyards and the Quw’utsun Cultural and Conference Centre.

In addition to her involvement with the Chamber, Cathy has volunteered with the Cowichan Hospital Foundation, and contributed to projects of Social Planning Cowichan, the Seniors Foundation and United way.

CORRINE THOMPSON, Director

Corrine is the Branch Manager at Royal Bank

RUTH HARTMAN, Appointed Director, District of North Cowichan

Ruth has been a community member since 1963 and graduated from Cowichan Senior Secondary School 1972. She and her husband own and operate Hartmann Electrical and Hartmann Interior Design. Very involved in community support, Ruth coached soccer, field hockey and baseball, was president to Mother's Morning out and Brownie leader. Elected as a North Cowichan Councillor in 2002, Ruth was appointed by the Mayor, to the Chamber Board in 2003. Ruth's personal passions are family, travel and yoga.

KEITH CHICQUEN, Appointed Director Vancouver Island University

Keith Chicquen moved to the Cowichan Valley in 2001 from Montreal. He has spent his career in education, administrating and instructing in three provinces and two countries over the past 20 years. Keith is currently the Instructional Director for Vancouver Island University, Cowichan Campus. He has two young sons, McLean and Jack, whom he coaches in ice hockey. Keith and his wife Aimee, an educational consultant, reside in Shawnigan Lake. Keith holds the Education Portfolio for the Chamber.