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.
Leanne Michelin, Financial Advisor, Island Savings a division of First West Credit Union
Secretary
Leanne started her career in Financial Services in 2004 on Salt Spring Island briefly with the Bank of Montreal and then to Island Savings for just over 5 years. After moving to Vancouver Island she worked again at the Bank of Montreal in Ladysmith for many years and was approached by the Manager at Waypoint Insurance to make a career move to Insurance. 5 years later she has come back to her true passion of helping Members and Communities thrive as Senior Financial Advisor at Island Savings.
Community involvement is important to Leanne. Whether it’s volunteering at the Harvest House food bank, organizing toy drives, fundraising for the full cupboard, or setting up clothing drive for women entering the work force.
Born on the east coast of Labrador and raised in northern Alberta, Leanne moved to Salt Spring Island at 19 and then Vancouver Island. She lives in Ladysmith with her 2 children. She loves to spend time on the water in her Kayak with her children and would love to spend more time on the golf course.
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.
Bailey Dill, Owner, Juniper & Sage Decor
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.
John Manuel, Financial Services Advisor
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, Ladysmith / Chemainus Chronicle, Black Press
To Follow
Alissa Laurin Stewart, WorkBC Centre Duncan & Ladysmith – Community Engagement & Marketing, ETHOS Career Management Group
Director
Alissa is a creative and enthusiastic marketing & communications professional with over a decade of experience managing projects, campaigns, marketing/branding strategies and events for coveted brands including, Bell Media Victoria, CTV Vancouver Island, CFAX 1070, 107.3 KOOL FM, and most recently, WorkBC Cowichan. Recognized for strength in the areas of collaborative leadership, community relations, brand management, and promotions, Alissa is thrilled to bring her passion and commitment to community and serve on the Ladysmith Chamber Board. Alissa was born and raised in Victoria and currently resides in Cowichan Bay with her husband and their golden retriever, Sunny.
Millie Stirling, Commercial Accounts Executive, Ladysmith Insurance Agencies
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 (as of October 3rd 2023)
Bio to follow…
