People on the Move
Education
Leonid Chindelevitch, assistant professor, computing science, Simon Fraser University, has received a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Chindelevitch is among 126 outstanding early-career scientists and scholars from 52 colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada being recognized for their performance and substantial contributions to their fields. Chindelevitch uses mathematical modelling and big data to understand and predict the development of infectious disease epidemics, such as human immunodeficiency virus, tuberculosis and Lyme disease.
Finance
Venus Duplin and Cher Wood have become shareholders at RHN Chartered Professional Accountants. Duplin joined the firm in 1998 and was promoted to manager, client services, in 2008 and appointed director in 2011. She has extensive knowledge and experience serving strata corporations, First Nations, non-profit and for-profit organizations. Wood joined RHN in 2008 as manager, client services, and was appointed director in 2014. Wood has extensive experience and knowledge in personal and corporate taxation and tax planning.
Tony Vardy and Mary Lynn Tardelli have joined Progressa as chief operating officer and chief financial officer, respectively, while Michael Jover has moved from chief operating officer to chief revenue officer. Vardy previously held key roles at CIBC, Home Trust and, most recently, Financeit. Tardelli was previously CFO at Red Robin. Prior to joining Progressa, Jover was founder and CEO at Right Credit Solutions.
Industrial
Chris Baby has been appointed CEO of SureWerx (formerly JET Group), a supplier of professional tools, equipment and safety products for workers across North America. Prior to this appointment, Baby held the position of president and chief operating officer of JET Group. He previously served as general manager for Canfor LP and Weldwood of Canada, respectively.
Legal
Lori Mathison, managing partner, Dentons Canada LLP’s Vancouver office, has been elected to fellowship by Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. Fellowship is awarded to individuals whose outstanding professional and community achievements have brought great distinction to the accounting profession.
Elysha Pel has joined Kornfeld LLP as an associate following the completion of her articles.
Christopher Bettencourt has joined the partnership at McQuarrie Hunter LLP. Bettencourt joined the firm in 2009 and supports individuals and firms with legal advice and expertise for their real estate and business needs. He acts for purchasers of businesses and is also experienced in the acquisition, development and sale of residential and commercial real estate.
Resources
Bruce Colwill, chief financial officer, Entrée Gold Inc., has resigned to pursue another business opportunity, effective March 22.
Doug Whitehead will step down as Finning International Inc.’s chairman of the board at the company’s annual general meeting on May 4. Whitehead, who has been chairman since 2008 and a member of the board since 1999, will remain on the board of directors, subject to his re-election. Mike Wilson will succeed Whitehead as chairman, also subject to his re-election. Stuart Levenick has been appointed to the company’s board, effective March 1. Levenick brings a wealth of corporate executive experience gained over the course of his 37-year career at Caterpillar, which included 10 years as group president prior to his retirement from the company.
Sales/Marketing
Joanne Henderson and Sherry Jang have joined Carter Hales Design Lab as studio manager and senior designer, respectively. Prior to this appointment, Henderson worked at Unisource, Wasserman + Partners Advertising, Hangar 18 and Edelman Public Relations. Past clients have included Canadian Pacific Railway, Hewlett-Packard and Teck. Jang’s past clients include Boston Pizza, Canadian Cancer Society, Vancouver International Airport and Richmond Centre. Jang’s illustrations have been sold by major retailers, including Crate & Barrel, Simons, Stokes Inc. and Stonewall Kitchen.
Hats Off
Business in Vancouver welcomes submissions from local small businesses and large corporations alike that demonstrate examples of corporate philanthropy and community involvement in the Vancouver area. High-resolution images are also welcome.
Port Coquitlam’s Meridian Arms Pub donated $10,000 to Crossroads Hospice. Funds were raised by pub patrons during the pub’s recent second annual football pool.
Manulife Financial donated $8,160 to Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. The funds were directed towards 2015’s volunteer recruitment marketing.
Bank of Montreal has contributed $25,000 to the Surrey School District’s Clubhouse 36 program. Clubhouse 36 provides year long, out-of-school support to more than 150 vulnerable students at three elementary schools. The program builds academic, sport, art and life skills while also increasing confidence, leadership abilities and peer mediation capacity.
RBC Foundation donated $5,000 to Rumble Theatre in support of its 2016 Directors’ Lab – a week long intensive workshop for emerging theatre directors in Vancouver led by Siminovitch Prize-winning director Kim Collier.
Westminster Savings donated $65,000 to Arts Umbrella. The funds will go towards two much-needed arts education programs that benefit Surrey children and families.
Mission Health Care Auxiliary Society donated $300,000 to Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation. The funds will be used to purchase a new ultrasound for the medical imaging department at Mission Memorial Hospital.
Steve Nash Fitness World & Sports Club donated $10,000 to the Adoptive Families Association of BC as part of its ongoing commitment to support the association in its efforts to provide education, counselling, advocacy and events for B.C.’s adoption community as well as supporting foster kids who age out of government care at 19. •
