Cheri Mactier, Realtor, EXP Realty
President
Hi there!
I’m Cheri Mactier, an accomplished Vancouver Island Real Estate Agent who brings a strategic, yet personable approach to the home buying & selling process.
Drawing from years of experience as a Ladysmith entrepreneur, I have built my reputation on refreshingly friendly client care. With my passion and sharp attention to detail, I help buyers in a highly focused search for their new house, and help sellers get the most value for their home.
I have extensive knowledge of the different cities and neighbourhoods across the Cowichan Valley and Mid Island. I specialize in home buying and selling of residential properties, luxury homes, and multi-residential properties.
The Best Service! The Best Results! I love the real estate business and have been a full-time agent since 1999. I have the experience and local know-how to help you make the best possible decisions.
Love where you live!
Cheri Mactier
Tammy Leslie, Partner, Palmer Leslie Chartered Accountants
Past President / Treasurer
Tammy Leslie is the newest partner of the Palmer Leslie firm, having received her CA in the summer of 2009. A favourite part of her job is helping her client’s overcome the Income Tax Act and all of its resulting complications. She would happily spend hours researching a tax problem just to learn the answer. Explaining it in terms a client can understand is always one of her goals and she tries very hard to achieve this.
Tammy was born and raised on the West Coast. Her family lived in a logging camp up Indian Arm when she was born and moved to various logging communities on the West Coast including Courtenay and Oyster River on Vancouver Island. Her family also spent over two years living in a logging camp at the top of Toba Inlet eventually settling in Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast.
In high school Tammy always found Math was her strongest subject and Algebra just seemed to make sense to her so an accounting career was an easy choice. Tammy attended Capilano College in North Vancouver, BC graduating in 1985 as class valedictorian for Business Management Diploma. It was during this time that she fell in love with accounting, and specifically, The Tax Act. After college she returned to Sechelt and commenced her first job in public practice working for Cameron & Associates CGA for the next 15 years and earned her CGA in 1989 while working there.
Tammy worked for several public practice firms in Nanaimo before pursuing her goal of becoming an owner in a public practice. In 2006, she obtained a position as a senior manager at Atchison Palmer Chartered Accountants in Duncan. Not satisfied to hold just one accounting designation, Tammy went back to school to obtain her Chartered Accountant’s designation. The whole family (and most of the neighbourhood) cheered when she found out she had passed the 3 day Uniform final exam in 2009. This opened the door for her partnership in the firm that now bears her name.
Tammy lives with her family in Yellowpoint, north of Ladysmith. When not at the office, Tammy spends her time riding horses with her fellow horse lovers, running, walking her dog, driving her two antique Camaro’s during drag race/car show season, and training and teaching at the local Taekwondo School in Ladysmith. She can also be found driving her two children to various activities like hockey and dance.
Tammy’s volunteer activities include Director duties for a variety of local community organizations such as the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, Ladysmith Show and Shine Committee, and Ladysmith Festival of Lights.
Martin Sanderson, Lawyer, Robson O’Connor Law Offices
Vice President
Martin Sanderson Bio
Martin attended the University of British Columbia where he obtained a B.A. in psychology and philosophy. In 2014 he received his J.D. and Health Law and Policy certificate from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.
After working as a research assistant with Dalhousie’s Health Law Institute in the summer of 2015, in 2016 Martin joined the in-house legal team at Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, as a student-at-law. In February 2017, he was called to the Bar in B.C. after returning to the west coast to join the Robson, O’Connor family.
Martin’s practice is currently focused on wills and estates, incapacity planning, and family law.
Bailey Dill, Owner, Juniper & Sage Decor
Secretary
I am fortunate to have been born and raised in the town of Ladysmith, BC, where the local community is known for its warmth, hospitality, and unwavering support for its members. This inclusive environment has provided me access to vital resources such as education, nutrition, and social groups. Access to these essentials allows individuals to thrive and surpass their potential. I aspire to foster and promote the same sense of community connection within our society.
My previous experience in the aerospace industry in Victoria involved overseeing technical project operations with the objective of optimizing production efficiency. I have also travelled extensively, gaining diverse skills and perspectives that I hope to bring to the table.
Recently, I co-purchased a home decor store in Ladysmith with a business partner. We are committed to expanding the store’s inventory, focusing on sustainable and eco-friendly products, and contributing to a better future for our community and the environment.
Sandra Day, Wealth Advisor, Designed Wealth Management
Director
Bio coming soon…
Dave Devana, President, CEO Nanaimo Airport
Director
Dave Devana is a CPA, Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of senior management experience as a Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer within municipal government prior to being appointed as President and CEO of the Nanaimo Airport. Dave is well known amongst his peers as an innovator with a focus on environmental stewardship and economic development. Dave lives in North Nanaimo with his wife and is looking forward to providing exceptional service to our partners and customers at the Nanaimo Airport Commission.
John Manuel, Financial Services Advisor
Director
John is a past member Langley Chamber, past member Abottsford Chamber, past president Langley Lions club and past director Langley International Foundation. He is a sole proprietor, business owner /operator for 40+ years, married with 2 kids & 3 grandkids.
Kara Olson, Marketing Specialist, Ladysmith / Chemainus Chronicle, Black Press
Director
I started with Black Press Media in 2010 at the Nanaimo News Bulletin as Receptionist/ Ad Controller. I then transferred to the Ladysmith Chronicle/Ladysmith Press in 2016 as Office Admin. In 2021 I took on the role of Multimedia Marketing Specialist. I was born and raised in Ladysmith and am lucky to still call it home. My husband and I also raised 2 amazing children here. In my spare time, we love spending time with our families and our 2 grand babies, going camping, doing road trips, and sitting back and relaxing. I take a lot of pride in my job and community and look forward to continuing for many years.
Marina Sacht, Editor/Publisher Take 5 Print & Digital Media
Director
Marina has a diploma in journalism and is the editor/publisher of TAKE 5 Print & Digital Media and the annual
Explore Ladysmith, Cedar, Chemainus, Saltair Guide.
Along with experience in book publishing, video production, photography and writing, Marina is passionate about heritage and tourism and our communities. When she isn’t home on her small farm in North Oyster, she’s travelling by camper van or boat because life is an adventure.
Millie Stirling, Commercial Accounts Executive, LCU Insurance Agencies Ltd.
Director
My career started as a legal assistant in Vancouver. I was fortunate to experience most areas of law as my life took me from Vancouver to Victoria and eventually the Cowichan Valley. After taking time off to raise two of my girls to school age, we moved to Saltair and I headed back to the office, working in administration for Vancouver Island Insurance Centres. I loved my insurance career and was grateful for the opportunity to work my way up from administration to Management and learning all aspects of insurance. I built and amazing team and we had amazing clients. A life change prompted a professional change and I left the community for a different insurance role. This change was untimely when the world was turned upside down by the pandemic.
I was a member of the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors during my insurance career and had developed a relationship with the team at the Chamber. I was approached about an Economic Development Contract for Ladysmith and I was hooked! I remembered how much I love this community and I enjoyed the EcDev work involved in the Contract. When Mark accepted a new role, I applied for his Executive Director position. I am grateful for everything I learned in the Executive Director role, I love the community, I love the work the Chamber does, I loved working with Executive Directors all over BC and I love to facilitate connections within our business community. I found my time as Executive director very rewarding.
Recently, I made a difficult decision to leave my Executive Director role and return to insurance. I accepted a position as a Commercial Account Executive at LCU Insurance where I will continue to support our business community by assisting them with their insurance needs. LCU Insurance is a community minded organization and is very supportive of me continuing to work with the Chamber, by sitting on the Board. In some ways it is the best of both worlds!
I have lived in Saltair since 2000 and have raised my three daughters here. After living in several communities on this Island and on the mainland, I am very happy to be settled in Ladysmith. My two older daughters are grown and have made their lives in large cities. My youngest daughter and I share a passion for horses. When I am not in the office, you will most often find me with our horses. We are both competitive barrel racers and enjoy our horse community and travelling to races on and off island.
Roberta Bowman
Executive Director
Roberta Bowman is the Executive Director with the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, with over 15 years experience in the Chamber Organization. Roberta’s past experience in the Chamber Organization stems from Prince Rupert to West Vancouver to the Surrey Board of Trade, and most recently Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. Having worked for several different sized Chamber’s, Roberta brings in-depth knowledge and perspective to the Ladysmith Chamber with her. Roberta has a passion for everything marine, and spends her downtime on the water on her sailboat with her husband.
