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For the record, May 1, 2018

Email your For the Record information to: [email protected]. Please include a high-resolution, colour headshot where possible. Photos appear in the print edition only. Development/Construction Peter Odegaard has been appointed principal at MCM.
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Email your For the Record information to: [email protected].
Please include a high-resolution, colour headshot where possible. Photos appear in the print edition only.

Development/Construction

Peter Odegaard has been appointed principal at MCM. Since joining MCM in 2009, Odegaard has worked on a number of the firm’s most high-profile and awarded projects, and he has significant experience in mixed-use, office, residential and retail projects.

Economic Development

Northern Development Initiative Trust has elected new officers to its board of directors. Gerry Thiessen, currently serving a third term as mayor of the District of Vanderhoof, is the new chair; he has been a board member for six years and chair of the Prince George regional advisory committee for three years. Thomas Hoffman, manager, external and stakeholder relations, Tolko Industries Ltd., is vice-chair and has been a provincially appointed member of Northern Development’s board for five years. Wendy Benyk, chief executive officer, Lakes District Maintenance Ltd., a highway road and bridge maintenance company, has been appointed finance committee chair and has been a provincially appointed member of Northern Development’s board for four years.

Energy

Hart Starr Crawford has been appointed general manager of Fenix Energy, a Vancouver-based clean-technology firm with a mission to create the greenest cities across North America, one highrise building at a time. Starr Crawford joined Fenix in 2011. Prior to that appointment, he was a team leader and project engineer with Integral Group; he has been a part of delivering multimillion-dollar projects for utilities and international commercial real estate developers throughout his career.

Finance

Merri Jones has joined Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd.’s advisory board. Jones has more than 40 years of experience in the Canadian investment industry, holding presidential and executive roles at numerous high-profile companies including GBC Asset Management, AGF Private Wealth Management, TAL Private Management, CIBC Trust Co. and First Interstate Bancorp – where she was Canada’s first female to lead a Schedule 2 bank. Most recently, Jones served as executive vice-president of private wealth for Fiera Capital, and she currently sits on the advisory board and board of directors for Data Group and Sentry Investments Inc., respectively.

Anders Nilsson has been appointed a director of iMining Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Inc., formerly Parlane Resource Corp. Nilsson, a resident of Stockholm, Sweden, is a certified systems engineer who provides management and technology consulting services; he is presently engaged by the largest helicopter operator in Sweden to develop and implement a safety and operations management platform for compliance with European legislation. He also mines for cryptocurrencies on his own behalf, having researched and implemented a business model for his operations. Nilsson’s appointment follows the resignation of Ken Sumanik, who has served the company for the last five years and is now retiring.

Non-profit

Vicki Raw and Lisa MacDonald have been appointed divisional director of development and major gifts officer, respectively, at the Salvation Army divisional headquarters in B.C. Raw is responsible for all fundraising programs and areas of development within the division, while MacDonald will plan and implement all areas of major gifts fundraising for the division.

Sales/Marketing

DDB Canada has welcomed a new client to its roster, Emerald Health Therapeutics Inc., a licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis. Emerald Health owns 50% of a joint venture with Village Farms International Inc. that is converting an existing 1.1-million-square-foot greenhouse in Delta to grow cannabis.

Stefan Hawes has been appointed president at Wasserman + Partners Advertising. Hawes has more than 20 years of local and international experience running creative and digital agencies. His roster of clients have included Nikon, Nike, Michelin, P&G, BC Lottery Corp., Overwaitea Food Group, Telus and Asics. Prior to this appointment, Hawes was in Shanghai, managing digital agency AKQA’s relationship with Nike China. Prior to that he spent five years in the Netherlands overseeing the Blast Radius operations there.

Technology

 Tyler Hatch has been appointed managing director at TCS Forensics Ltd., a digital forensics and data security firm.

Andreas Gruber has been appointed president and CEO at PayByPhone, the global leader in mobile parking payments, effective June 1. Francis Dupuis, former president and CEO, will take over a position in Germany with parent company Volkswagen Financial Services AG. Two new board positions have been created: Maggie Clay, CFO, and Catherine Scott, legal counsel, will be appointed effective June 1. Gruber, a former board member of PayByPhone, has nearly 20 years of international experience in the original equipment manufacturing business as well as in strategy and business development.

HATS OFF

Business in Vancouver welcomes submissions from local small businesses and large corporations alike that demonstrate examples of corporate philanthropy and community involvement in the Vancouver area. High-resolution images are also welcome.

Jim Belsheim, president and CEO, Neptune Bulk Terminals, was recently recognized with United Way’s 2017 President’s Award of Distinction. Belsheim has served on the United Way Campaign Cabinet, as vice-chair on United Way’s board and as a leader in the Waterfront United initiative.

RBC donated $9,800 to Decoda Literacy Foundation. The funds are in support of Syrian families with young children attending the Immigrant Parents as Literacy Supporters program at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House.

Rexall Foundation donated $6,540 to Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland’s Go Girls! program. These funds will match at-risk girls with a supportive mentor to promote physical activity, balanced eating and self-esteem.

Telus Vancouver Community Board donated $15,000 to Dan’s Legacy in support of the charity’s therapeutic counselling program for students enrolled in the Coast Mental Health culinary skills training program.

Walmart Foundation donated more than US$830,000 to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank in support of Goodly Foods, a social enterprise that addresses wasted food in B.C. The grant is part of Walmart Foundation’s US$15 million (C$19 million) commitment to prevent food waste and support food banks. Goodly-branded soup will be distributed to members of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and offered for sale to food services and the public later this year. The pilot program, a broad collaboration between private equity firm Fulmer Capital Partners Inc. and local non-profit organizations, takes food that may otherwise go to waste and turns those items into delicious and nutritious soups, sauces and more. Additionally, the program provides training and employment to individuals with barriers to employment, by partnering with Potluck Café Society.•