The DSBIA is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of local business people and property owners. Board members formulate and oversee implementation of policies consistent with the purpose of the Downtown Surrey BIA. At the Annual General Meeting held Tuesday, February 24, 2009, the following members were elected to the Board:

Bill Rempel (Director) Vice President & General Manager, Blackwood Partners Management Corp., Central City

After 25 years with an award-winning BC real estate portfolio of downtown offices, mega shopping centres and industrial properties, Bill joined Central City in early 2010. His pivotal involvement in the Metrotown development and his CGA, BOMI Canada RPA, and Queens University Leadership education, have been invaluable assets to the business community.

Bill’s numerous business and community-related board positions include Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association President, Burnaby Board of Trade President, International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) provincial chair, BC Shopping Centre Association Treasurer/Director, and RCMP Advisory Council. He sees that many of the challenges and opportunities he worked with in Vancouver and Burnaby are present in downtown Surrey.

As a local resident and equestrian for nearly 30 years, he looks forward to being a part of the process during a very exciting period in Surrey’s development.

Charan Sethi, Tien Sher Group of Companies.

After working as a licensed Machinist in England and BC Charan became first a successful realtor, beginning in 1985 and then added property development beginning in 2001. Since then he has done of single-family and multi-family residential developments and subdivisions in Surrey, Richmond, North Delta and New Westminster, totaling over 1,400 homes. He is a member of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association and the Urban Development Institute. Charan has been a member of the DS BIA’s Land Use and Economic Development Committee for two years. Charan feels that it is important to be involved in the BIA to ensure that the focus and energy required to create a vibrant downtown is maintained.

David  C. Halkett, McQuarrie Hunter

An associate in McQuarrie Hunter since 2003, David brings a wealth of legal, commerce and directorial experience to the board. Specializing in family law for the past 20 years, he is a member of several professional associations, authored a chapter in the British Columbia Family Practice Manual and is a past president of the Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce. He gives legal seminars to a variety of social organizations, served on several chambers of commerce and co-founded two BIA’s in Vancouver.

An experienced lobbyist, David has served on the board for two years as a Director at Large and on the Safety Committee with a view to civic government relations. Besides legal expertise, he offers an exceptional ability to analyze situations and create the best possible solutions for everyone. A baseball buff, he writes a regular website column for the Montreal Canadiens.

David Pel (current board treasurer) ~ CGA, David Pel & Company Inc.

CGA in 1983 in the top one percent in Canada

David joined the Whalley BIA in 2001 in the second wave of foundation members and has always believed that real change in City Centre can only be affected by commercial development. He has served on the board since its inception in 2003, functioning as Treasurer, Vice-president, Finance Committee member and membership community liaison person. He is most passionate about engaging membership through networking events and introductory sessions for non-member businesses to encourage involvement.

He opened his thriving local accounting practice in 1991 and was soon at work on his legendary garden. David also serves his community on the SFU Advisory Board, and as Treasurer of Classis and the Ministry of Seafarers for over 12 years. Along with economic development he looks forward to continuing positive social change in the city core.

Elfie Stumpf (Secretary), Whalley Optical Centre Ltd.
Elfie is a founding director of the BIA. “I am a proud owner of a small business for the past 19 years and enjoy working in Whalley. Contrary to what people will say this is a wonderful community full of diverse families that have lived here a long time. There is a lot of history here and we should be proud of it. As a director and member of the Management committee and chair of the Safety committee and “ I have met countless business people of small and large businesses who all have their own views about how to help the BIA area grow. The BIA is still growing and always changing.”

Garry Romanetz, PEng (Director) Managing Senior Principal, Stantec Consulting Inc.

From Vancouver’s Olympic Village, to the Millenium Skytrain line, to the Seymour Capilano Water Filtration System, this 25-year veteran of major civil engineering contracts brings projects in on time, on schedule, and on budget. With a gift for ‘engineering’ and manifesting great ideas, Garry skillfully leads his teams to keep our City’s inner workings and roadways running smoothly.

As a Senior Managing Engineer in a continent-wide consulting firm, he balances the concerns of feasibility, planning, and maintenance within an urban setting, and brings his multi-sector connections and in-depth local experience to his practical and proactive approach to Surrey’s development.

He has searched for just the right fit to give back to his community, and believes he has found it in the BIA Board. A long-time Surrey resident, Garry loves to work on his “own little version of Stanley Park”.
Glenda Sawatzky (past president, current board) Vice President, Property Management Western Canada, Dundee Realty

A founding member of the Whalley Business Association Society (now the Downtown Surrey BIA), Glenda has been a key player in commercial real estate for 25 years. She has overseen Dundee’s Western Canada operations from Station Tower since 1997, a flagship asset of a one billion dollar portfolio.

She believes that creating a major business hub south of the Fraser River is important to the overall region’s growth, sustainability, and livability. Providing Surrey residents and others with the opportunity to work, live and play in Surrey’s downtown is critical.

A Surrey resident for 20 years, Glenda is actively involved in the community through numerous social and athletic organizations and has two children in the Surrey school system. Professionally and personally, she has a keen understanding of the issues facing Surrey and its downtown core.

Henk Veldhuis, Common Exchange.

Henk Veldhuis born in the Netherlands and graduated in 1975 from the University of Hengelo with degree in Civil Engineering. Since then he has taken courses on business administration and economics. Henk worked in the Netherlands as a construction manager for a mid-size developer for 5 years and as a V.P. operations for a social work shelter for 2 years. In 1982 he moved his wife and 4 kids to Canada. Since then Henk worked as an independent construction manager for 10 years and slowly ventured into small development projects through his own company, Monaco Development Corp. He has founded several other successful ventures including: Upton Capital Corporation, a Langley-based mortgage investment corporation; Blackstone Capital Partners, a venture capital company that provides seed capital for oil and gas start ups, with its office in Vancouver; Credilogic Inc. an on line payday loans provider based in Surrey; and17 years ago he founded Common Exchange Ltd. which has grown from two stores in Surrey into a franchise of 10 lower mainland pawn-broking stores.

Henk has been a Rotary member over 25 years and has  been involved extensively in local community and international humanitarian projects. Henk is a recipient of the 2007 Surrey Board of Trade Business Excellence Award. Henk and his wife Dini are extensive world travelers.

Why has he put his name forward? “Very simple, I love Surrey and strongly believes that you can’t only take, you also must give back.”

Jay Redmond (Immediate Past President, current Director) ~ Lawyer, Campbell Redmond, Barristers & Solicitors

With a BA in Economics and Business from SFU and an LLB (legal degree) from UBC, this born-and-bred Surreyite represents community and small business, bringing its voice to the table for the past four years as a BIA board member and past president.

He has practiced law in Surrey since 1991 and in 1994, along with three partners, built the local property where his offices are still located. Jay has served in numerous charitable organizations including the Surrey Food Bank, Surrey Christmas Bureau, two years as a director on the Surrey Memorial Hospital Board, and is currently an active member of the North Surrey Lions.

Jay sees downtown Surrey becoming the next great commercial centre and believes that with a strong, diversified board, the BIA will be a major change agent and force for local redevelopment and growth.

Joanne Curry, Simon Fraser University – Surrey
As executive director of the Surrey Campus Joanne has overall responsibility for campus operations, facilities planning and community relations. Prior to joining SFU Joanne also held positions in the banking, consulting and biotechnology sectors. She worked for a national research centre of excellence. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba and a Masters of Business Administration degree from SFU. When she is not working she plays hockey to relax. Joanne as been a director with the BIA since 2005 and, in addition to her current role as chair of the Communications committee (which also oversees marketing, special events & member services) she has also been on the Government Relations, Management and Nominating committees
Kelly Botchar, ScotiaBank.

Kelly is the manager and a personal financial planner at the Scotiabank .branch at King George & 102 Avenue. She has been in the Surrey/White Rock area for most of her 30 years with Scotiabank. Through the bank she has participated in numerous fundraising events for various local charities including the Surrey Food Bank and the BC Cancer Foundation – Fraser Valley. Recently Kelly joined a community advisory council for the BC Cancer Foundation and looks forward to raising funds to help improve care for patients from Surrey and the Fraser Valley. Kelly has lived in Surrey since 1965. “I have seen a lot of positive changes in our City and am looking forward to participating on the BIA [Board] in support of future initiatives.

Melissa Bailey (Director) ~ President/Founder,BASE Investment & Immigration Corp.

Melissa’s journey to her own thriving Mergers and Acquisitions company has taken her through mortgage and account management in the banking industry, residential real estate sales, manufacturing sales and marketing, and finally into consulting. In its eleventh year of operations, BASE locates businesses across North America with $10 million-$200 million in sales that are interested in selling or merging with other companies. BASE has a contact base of over 1500 private equity buyers and 900 private investors. An Immigration Consultant is on-hand to assist with offshore negotiations.

After years of growing her career and business, Melissa is excited to bring her proactive approach, strong background in sales and marketing, and diversified contact base to attract businesses, industry and investment to the area. A Surrey resident for almost 30 years, she is inspired by her wonderful family and father-in-law Chuck Bailey, famed Whalley Little League supporter, to make a significant contribution to her community.
Michael Nielsen (current board) ~ General Manager/founder, Express Computers

Michael has been a City Centre merchant for almost 20 years and is proud to represent small business and the “regular folks” of the community. A major supporter of local development and business growth balanced by healthy neighbourhoods, he has served the community on the BIA board for the last four years.

His cyber-savvy, computer expertise, and web design skills are invaluable in his plans to help the BIA embrace some of the newer technologies and social networks like Twitter and Facebook to spread the good word about City Centre. With strong partnerships with the City and Surrey Board of Trade, he is working hard to increase awareness of the BIA and the phenomenal potential of downtown Surrey, regionally and globally.

He carries his message of pride, strength, and focused action into every aspect of his daily life in the community.
Michael Wilson, Phoenix Centre

Michael is the founder and executive director of Phoenix Drug an Alcohol Recovery and Education Society. Michael has a MA and is currently a PhD candidate in Human and Organizational Development from Fielding Graduate University. His interests include community development, urban planning, co-operative economy, social housing, workforce development, poverty reduction and social inclusion. He is involved in several professional groups, community committees and task forces on health, housing, crime reduction and education in order to enhance the health and wellness of the community. Michael views the opportunity to join the BIA Board “as an opportunity to bring my strong interests and expertise in the areas of poverty reduction, social housing, substance misuse and workforce development to contribute toward building a safe, healthy and sustainable community”.
Robert Dominick (current board president) ~ Vice President, Sales and Acquisitions WestStone Properties; President & CEO, Lightyear Digital Theatre (Canada) Ltd.

First as a major force in residential real estate development and then as BIA board President, Robert has lent his considerable voice and expertise to the evolution of City Centre. Along with WestStone’s $1-billion Urban Village he heads a leading-edge digital theatre company based in Beverly Hills and downtown Surrey which has created a world-class theatre in SFU, making Surrey a future hub for a national and international digital broadcast network.

Robert is also BIA board Chairman of the Economic Development and Land Use Committee and a Director of the Arts Council of Surrey. He is a strong advocate and tireless supporter of the community and the exceptional investment potential of downtown Surrey as it steps onto the world stage as the next great metropolitan centre of the Lower Mainland.

Wolfgang Degemann (current board) ~ founder/business consultant, Eurocan Industries

For over fifty years, this extraordinary businessman and visionary is the quintessential immigrant success story, balancing phenomenal success with commitment to culture and community. A co-founder of the Langley BIA, Wolfgang has built a business legacy in large-scale construction and business/real estate development, consulting and liaising with top international financial and business institutions. He was instrumental in Whistler’s early development and in bringing Vancouver’s Expo 86 to fruition.

City Centre has been his family home and business location for decades. The numerous awards, gifts, and commemorative plaques in his office speak of his lifelong love of soccer, which he still actively plays and promotes locally and around the world. Now semi-retired from his family business, he is a major supporter of local business development through his world-wide contacts and is currently working on creating a European Cultural Centre in the Fraser Valley.

James Stewart

Barbara Steele (Ex-Officio Director), Councillor, City of Surrey

Linda Hepner (Ex-Officio Director), Councillor, City of Surrey