Career History

 

British Columbia Technology Industry Assoc.                 2015 - 2018

 

The BCTIA is a member-based not-for-profit association that works to make BC the best place to grow a technology based company. For more than 20 years, BCTIA has been providing opportunities for the tech industry to collaborate, learn, and grow together. To further those goals, in 2015 the BCTIA opened The Innovation Hub; a 26,000 square foot multi-tenanted co-working space.

 

Hub Operations Manager

• Work with tech companies from initial tour of the space, through their tenancy to graduation to their own space.

• Create contracts, collect rents, and work with tenants to make the Hub the best place to grow a business.

• Coordinate and hire trades for repairs and maintenance. Manage renovations.

• Provide logistical support for the 75+ events we put on or sponsor in our Event Space and at remote sites.

 

Bill Goold Realty                                                   2010 - 2014

 

Bill Goold Realty is the pre-eminent multi-unit residential realty company in British Columbia. For the last twenty years, the team at Bill Goold Realty has worked to establish long term relationships with apartment owners and managers, providing investment analysis, statistics, and resources for landlords. BGR maintains a website, and directly connects with its current and potential clients through mail and newsletters.

 

Staff Writer

• Participate in planning sessions for upcoming newsletters, emails, and blogs.

• Interview industry experts, write and edit newsletter articles on technical topics including HVAC, building envelope, roofing, tenant relations, property tax, market analysis, etc.

• Edit and repurpose articles for different media.

 

The McTavish Apartments                                                2004 - 2016

The McTavish is a 100 year old apartment building just off of Commercial Drive.  It was purchased in 2004 as a long-term active investment. 

Owner
 

• Researched the multi-unit real estate market including view 50 potential properties and speaking with industry experts before purchasing the McTavish. Created the financial vehicles for the purchase and subsequent refinancing of the building.

•  Interviewed, background checked, and managed 10 key lease holders, as well as roommates and guests of tenants

• Repaired minor problems, sourced, hired and managed tradespeople for larger issues.

• Manage rents, accounting, and taxes for the business. Maintained a positive cash position for the 11 years that I owned the building. Sold it for a profit.

 

Delta Optimist                                                              2009 - 2011

 

The Optimist is a twice weekly community newspaper owned by LMP Group covers local news for the communities of Ladner and Tsawwassen.

 

Columnist

• Wrote a series of columns on the environment and climate change with an emphasis on how local initiatives can contribute to the greater goal of energy sustainability and harm reduction.  The columns approached problems from a personal point of view with an emphasis on gentle humour.

 

Vancouver Coastal Health                                             2013 - 2014

 

VCH serves over a million BC residents providing emergency and long term health care. More than 13,000 professionals provide more than two million patient days of care per year.

 

Program Assistant, Adult Older Adult Team, Casual

• Provide on-call administrative support to 20 professionals across four disciplines; nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nutrition and case management.

 

BC Associations’ Co-op of Small Wood Businesses               2008 - 2010

 

The BC Associations’ Co-op of Small Wood Businesses, known better as The Wood Co-op, was an association of woodworking guilds that came together to create the world class artisan gallery on Granville Island. Featuring works by Wes Geisbrecht, Arnt Arntensen, and David Gilmour, the Wood Co-op provided a collaborative venue for woodworkers to sell their work. In addition to the gallery, the Co-op advocated for wood technologies, created opportunities for design students at Emily Carr, and initiated a licensing and production arm to manufacture CNC furniture.

 

Executive Director

• Developed documentation for the management and control of the organization.

• Established an expanded membership structure, and cleaned up the existing membership databases to include only active members.

• Co-ordinated and facilitated events, including monthly director meetings and the AGMs.

• Liaised with accountants, landlords, and lawyers as required for the smooth operation of the organization.

 

Vancouver Long Bikes                                                         2009 - 2014

 

In urban environments around the world, the cargo utility bike is used as the SUV is used in North America. Whether it’s transporting kegs of beer through the narrow streets of England, or delivering three or four children to school in Amsterdam,  the cargo utility bike has earned a reputation for reliability and versatility. Vancouver Long Bikes was created to introduce Vancouver to the potential for increased personal mobility. VLB imports and sells the Yuba Mundo and Boda Boda cargo bikes, as well as other specialized bicycle solutions from around the world.

 

Owner

 

• Create marketing materials, websites, organize promotional events for the advancement of VLB specifically and cargo bikes in general.

• Source, inventory, and warehouse bikes and accessories for sale. This includes preparing documents to clear customs, managing cash and accounts receivables, filing documents and maintaining accurate records.

• Work with clients to choose the correct bike and accessories for their specific needs.

 

 

Synex Systems - F9 the Financial Reporter                      1989 - 2004

 

F9 the Financial Reporter is a software that allows accounting professionals to report on their GL files from inside their favorite tool, Excel. The company started in 1988 and after gaining a substantial market share was sold to offshore interests in 2004. Originally designed to work with a single accounting system, the product was expanded to work with 30 PC and mainframe based accounting systems.

 

Channel, Business Development, Operations, Training, Marketing Management

 

During my 14 years with the company I was promoted several times and held several positions. They included:

 

• Channel Management —  Responsible for a $1.5 million dollar channel with 20 distributors. This was a very hands-on position. I drew up and signed all contracts, directed all marketing, participated in all trade shows, scheduled product development and delivered product training to both end-users and value-added resellers. Created and managed fulfillment practices to reflect contracts.

• Business Development — Key point of contact for all new business creation. Initiated contracts, decided pricing and fulfillment logistics.  Directed programmers in creating compatible products. Managed the relationships.

• Operations Management —  Managed all facets of a 25 person office. Responsible for a 30 computer, multiple topology network, including a NT based digital PBX. Managed procurement and fulfillment. Created training on new systems for employees. Hired and managed administration staff. Wrote and administered company-wide policy directives. Outsourced support services. Liaised with landlords and building maintenance people.

• Marketing Management — Allocated and managed $250,000 marketing budget. Conceived and communicated new marketing strategies and branding programs to the sales and marketing staff. Created telephone scripts. Set pricing. Liaised between clients, sales staff and programming staff to determine new feature sets for the product. Hired design and sales staff.

• Training Management — Managed one in-house and several remote training facilities across North America. Directed curricula and designed the course materials for delivery.

 

Volunteering and Community                          

 

• Green Party Candidate for two provincial and one federal election in Ladner/Tsawwassen

• Earthwise Garden Society,  Volunteer President of the Board

• Canadian Cancer Foundation - Canvasser in Ladner

• Canadian Kidney Foundation – Canvasser In Ladner

• Hawthorne Elementary (Ladner) Gardening for Children Program – Facilitator

• Hawthorne Elementary (Ladner) Art Program - Facilitator

• BC Summer Games for the Disabled - Marketing Liason

 

Communications and Public Relations

 

• Organic Lifestyles Magazine – Writer

• Bill Goold Realty - Contract Staff Writer

• Delta Optimist News  - Environmental Columnist

• Kelowna Daily Courier – Reporter

• About My Planet - Blogger

 

Education

 

• University of Victoria - B.Sc. in Biology/Environmental Studies

• Norm Wright and Associates Ltd. - Dale Carnegie Course for Public Speaking

• Richmond Continuing Education – Advanced Woodworking

• Vancouver Art School - Sculpting the Figure

• Pentiction School of the Arts - Photojournalism