Board of Directors

Board of Directors

• President: Rob Waters
• Vice President: Rhonda Shirley
• Treasurer: Michael Furlot
• Secretary: Cyndi Beaulieu
• Director: Linda Donohue
• Director: Nita Grant
• Director: Kathy Holmes
• Director: Rod MacNeil
• Director: Paul Nettleton
• Director: Simon Warne

President: Rob Waters

Rob Waters is general manager of Ladysmith Marina.

He has served in management roles focusing on sales and operations in tourism and marine tourism businesses since moving to the west coast from Edmonton in 1968.

Rob has been employed by the Oak Bay Marine Group for over 25 years.  He presently sits on the board of the Pacific Salmon Foundation.

 
Vice President: Rhonda Shirley

Rhonda is co owner/ operator of Hawley Place B&B for the past 6 years.  Happy to be serving her second term on the Chamber Board. Currently Secretary for the Ladysmith and Area Accommodation Association and Former President of the Chemainus and Area Bed and Breakfast Association.  Other interests were Ladysmith Women’s Business Network, canvassing for Cancer Society,  helping with Festival lights and promoting Ladysmith and the Cowichan Valley.  Believes in our community and the strength of working together for growth and sustainability.

Treasurer: Michael Furlot

Michael Furlot is a certified senior advisor and a retirement and insurance advisor with 25 years of business-management experience. He is based in Ladysmith and has been a member of the community since 2000.

Furlot has been a part of many different community groups including the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, is the past president of the Rotary Club and is a board member for the Ladysmith Resources Centre.

Secretary: Cyndi Beaulieu

Cyndi has lived in Ladysmith for the last 16 years and has been a part of Royal LePage for the last 15 years.

During her time in Ladysmith, she has been a part of the advisory planning commission and is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Ladysmith Golf Course and the Chamber of Commerce.

Cyndi has worked everywhere from the office to the coal industry and has even been a disk jockey at a radio station in Nelson, B.C.

Director: Linda Donohue

Linda has spent much of her life on Vancouver Island and is now enjoying life in the Cowichan Valley. She recently oversaw the building and opening of her new bed and breakfast on Panorama Ridge Road just south of Ladysmith.

Linda enjoys marketing and fundraising work and looks forward to bringing her organizational skills to the Chamber board. She has served on many volunteer boards including the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts, Sea Cadets, Transplant Society of B.C., Saanich Volunteer Society and is the present vice-chair of the Chemainus Area B&B Association.

Director: Nita Grant

As owner of Grant Jewellers, Nita has been an active member of the Ladysmith business community for more than 30 years. During this time, she served on the board of the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, the Boys and Girls Club, as well as the Heritage Commission.

Nita was integral in introducing heritage revitalization to the Ladysmith area. More recently, Nita has studied many facets of the jewelry industry at the Gemological Institute of America.

Nita is also involved in a number of organizations on a volunteer basis.

Director: Kathy Holmes

Kathy Holmes has been a resident of Ladysmith for 15 years after living in northern Alberta for 25 years. Her business experience includes running five businesses. Holmes volunteers for the Art Council of Ladysmith, Arts on the Avenue, The Ladysmith Tourism Advisory Committee and the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association. Kathy has served on the chamber of commerce board in the past and has enjoyed her time as a member. She believes the chamber is an integral part of the community.

Director: Rod MacNeil

Rod MacNeil is a Ladysmith resident and the founder of Homesafe Inspections Ltd. He has served the B.C. real estate industry for more than 30 years. During that time he has gained experience in residential and commercial real estate sales and new home construction.

Rod has his home inspector’s accreditation.

Rod has also served as the director of many non-profit societies and was a member of the board of trade in the Lower Mainland.

Director: Paul Nettleton

Paul Nettleton is a partner in the law firm of Robson O’Connor with offices in Ladysmith (1987) and Chemainus (2011).  Paul’s background includes almost a decade in provincial politics, and several years working for government having served as the Executive Director for Legal Services in the Eastern Arctic before returning to his hometown, of Ladysmith in 2009. Contact Paul at paul_robcon [at] shaw [dot] ca or view the Home Page of Robson O’Connor at: www.robsonoconnor.ca

Director: Simon Warne

Simon Warne is currently pursuing opportunities to grow a business in the Ladysmith area and sees great potential for growth in Ladysmith. Simon is also looking to follow his passion of fine art.

Simon, originally from the UK, has a lot of experience behind him as he has worked with such agencies as McCarthy and Stone Plc., a major developer of retirement complexes in Europe, and was also the creative director and founder of Chandler-Warne Associates, a three-year partnership providing graphic design and advertising services to a variety of clients in the UK.