Tammy Leslie, Partner, Palmer Leslie Chartered Accountants
President
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.
Shelley Rickett, Assistant Manager, Ladysmith & District Credit Union
Treasurer
Bio to follow…
Cheri Mactier, Realtor, EXP Realty
Secretary
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
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.
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.
John Manuel, Financial Services, CPCA
Director
Bio to follow
Kara Olson, Multimedia Marketing Consultant, Ladysmith Chemainus Chronicle
Director
I was born and raised in Ladysmith and now raising my family. I have worked for Black Press for 7 years. I am very community oriented and take great pride in my community. I have been a member of the Ladysmith Festival of Lights for over 25 years at which I held a directors position. I was a member of the Ladysmith Ambassador Committee as well as the Tour de Rock. I was fundraiser coordinator for Ladysmith Pre School, Ladysmith Primary School and the Rhythm Dance Academy Performing Company. I look forward to serving our community for several years to come.
Andrea Rosato Taylor, Publisher, Ladysmith Chronicle
Director
Andrea Rosato-Taylor is the Publisher of the Ladysmith Chronicle and Group Publisher of Cowichan Citizen.
She has been working in media for 25 years. In her various roles with newspapers in San Francisco, Vancouver and Vancouver Island – she has created and implemented many multi-media products that vary from event marketing, airport signage, creating new digital products for the recruitment category, specialty features, magazines etc.
Her “Why” is” you get the community you want by participating in it.”
She is not only passionate about newspapers and multi- media but is passionate about community.
She has been the Chair of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, Director on the Dragon Boat Society, Board of Trustee of the NCID Water Board, “Woman of Note” and Chairperson for fundraising for the Vancouver Island Symphony, and is currently the President of the Downtown Ladysmith Business Association.
William Sumsion, Business Banking Advisor, Island Savings Credit Union
Director
“I’m a believer that anyone can make a difference, but that difference can be much more significant if we work together as a team”
I moved to Vancouver Island about 16yrs ago from Saskatchewan and have been in love ever since. As a child my grandparents always lived in Duncan and I was no stranger to this paradise, I knew at an early age that this was where I hoped to one day call Home. I can officially say that dream has come true and here I am today with a family of my own in Ladysmith we have 3 beautiful Children (2 Daughters and a son) and are very proud to be part of this community. This is also why I joined First West Island Savings Credit Union as their principle was more aligned with my own in giving back to the communities in which we live. I have been involved with LaFF through Island savings as well The Full Cupboard which raises food, funds, and awareness about the critical issue of childhood hunger in the communities where Island Savings operates. I love spending time with my family, golfing, fishing as well as a passion in helping people figure out what is important to them and assisting with setting plans in place to achieve those goals.
In an everchanging environment we can lay the groundwork for future generations to come.
