The COEDC has a 40+ member advisory body including key industry leaders representing various sectors including: Aerospace, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Professional Services, Development, Technology and Tourism. The Advisory Board acts as a conduit of community and business information; this information provides staff the ability to identify tactics and partnerships in order to facilitate a healthy, dynamic and sustainable community economy.
New members are highlighted in green.
Directors Representing Industry Sectors
- Jeremy Burgess Pushor Mitchell LLP, Lawyer, Professional Services/Law
- Scott Butler Highstreet Ventures, President Construction/Development
- James Calissi Calissi Farms, Owner Agriculture
- Mike Checkley QHR Technologies, President & CEO Health Care/Technology
- Terry Edwards Decisive Dividend Corporation, Director & COO Professional Services/Manufacturing
- Alex Greer Adaptive Ventures Inc., Founder and Principal Technology/Manufacturing
- Lynn Heinrich Sun-Rype, Business Dev. & Marketing Mgr USA Manufacturing/Communications
- Sharon Hughes-Geekie Bayshore
Home Health, Area Director BC Interior Health
Care
- Keith Inman Pushor Mitchell LLP, Lawyer Professional Services/Law
- Peter Jeffrey Okanagan Peer Mentoring Group, President Manufacturing
- Dr. Douglas Kingsford Interior Health, CMIO & EMD Health Care
- Brad Klassen Troika Management Group, CFO Construction/Development
- Chris Lapointe North Sands Logistics, Principal Aerospace
- Janice Larson Muse&Effect Consulting Professional Services/Life Sciences
- David McDougall Blenz Coffee, Founder and Principal Small Business / Manufacturing
- Karen Olsson Atomic47 Labs, CEO Technology
- Aura Rose House of Rose Winery Agriculture
- Michael Zuk RBC Dominion Securities Professional Services/Financial Svc
Local Government Appointees
- District of Lake Country, Councillor Cara Reed (Alternate Bill Scarrow)
- City of Kelowna, Councillor Ryan Donn (Alternate Mohini Singh)
- Westbank First Nation, Councillor Fernanda Alexander (Alternate Tom Konek)
- City of West Kelowna, Councillor Jayson Zilkie
- District of Peachland, Councillor Mike Kent
- Regional District of Central Okanagan, Central Okanagan East Director Mark Bartyik
Directors Representing Local Government Economic Development
- BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development - Regional Manager Thompson Okanagan Region, Myles Bruns
- District of Lake Country - Manager Community Systems,Jamie McEwan
- City of Kelowna - Director of Business & Entrepreneurial Development, Robert Fine
- Westbank First Nation - Manager of Economic Development, Mandi Carroll
- City of West Kelowna - Economic Development Officer, John Perrott
- District of Peachland - Planning/Economic Development Technician, Matt Faucher
Directors Representing Partner Organizations
- Accelerate Okanagan - Raghwa Gopal, CEO (Alternate Brea Lake, Operations Manager)
- Business Development Bank of Canada - Steve North, Business Centre Manager
- Community Futures of the Central Okanagan - Larry Widmer, Manager
- Greater Westside Board of Trade - Calvin Barr, Vice-President (Alt Craig Garries, President)
- Kelowna Chamber of Commerce - Carmen Sparg, President (Alt Dan Rogers, Executive Director)
- Kelowna International Airport - Sam Samaddar, Airport Director
- Lake Country Chamber of Commerce - Holger Nierfeld, Vice-President
- Okanagan Centre for Innovation - Kelsey Helm, Director at Wheelhouse
- Okanagan College - Phil Ashman, Central Okanagan Regional Dean
- Peachland Chamber of Commerce - Greg Sewell, Director (Alt -Patrick Van Minsel, Manager)
- Tourism Kelowna - Jennifer Horsnell, Director of Bus Devl (Alt Thom Killingsworth)
- University of British Columbia-Okanagan - Phil Barker, Vice-Principal Research Okanagan
- University of British Columbia-Okanagan - Nicole Udzenija, Director – Campus Initiatives
- Women’s Enterprise Centre - Laurel Douglas, CEO (Alternate, Sandra Bird)
The Economic Development Commission Executive
- Lynn Heinrich, Chair
- Brad Klassen, Vice-Chair
- David McDougall, Past Chair
- Mike Checkley
- Alex Greer
- Raghwa Gopal
- Terry Edwards
- Aura Rose
Further information about the COEDC and its programs can be found on the COEDC website at www.investkelowna.com.