Board of Directors
Edward Archibald
Accorde Properties Corp + Naked Beauty Squamish
President
Edward adopted Squamish as his home and a place to raise his son in 2015. Since then he has been actively and passionately involved in the community through a number of non-profits. As President of the Downtown BIA, Edward is a passionate supporter of small businesses, shopping local, and finding new ways to support and promote our members.
Cedric Edmund Rolf Carter "Eddie"
Race & Company LLP
Secretary
Eddie grew up in Vancouver, enjoying the surrounding outdoors in Squamish and Whistler. After graduating from Bishop’s University in Quebec, he worked in the tourism industry in Whistler for several years before attending law school at the University of Saskatchewan.
After moving to Squamish in 2010 and articling at a local law firm, he worked at a boutique North Vancouver law firm specializing in solicitors’ practice. Eddie joined Race & Company LLP in January 2020, and was extremely grateful to cut out his commute to spend more time in his adopted hometown. He’s passionate about helping his clients navigate buying their first home, scaling up their business and making important decisions about their estate planning.
When not working, Eddie can be found (laboriously) towing his two small children in a chariot while nordic skiing, backcountry snowboarding, mountain biking, and playing hockey. He is a proud and active member of the Squamish business community, and is a director of the Squamish Food Bank and Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association. He also spent five years as a volunteer firefighter with Squamish Fire Rescue.
David Sweeney
Sweeney Bride Strategic Wealth Advisory
Treasurer
Dave is a long-term local and for many years has volunteered with various organizations. Dave served 35 as a Firefighter (Volunteer) with the Squamish Fire Rescue. He has also served on numerous volunteer boards, including the Sea to Sky Community Services and the Squamish Hospital Foundation, along with coaching a number of junior soccer teams. Professionally, Dave is a Certified Financial Planner and is a principal at Sweeney Bride Strategic Wealth Advisory.
Chad Hubbs
The Crash Hotel & Goat Pub
Director
Chad moved to Squamish in 2018, to work on the revitalization of the Chieftain Hotel and Pub, opening the CRASH Hotel and the Goat Pub, in the role of General Manager and Operating Partner. He enjoys spending time in the community and volunteering his time to support local events and initiative sin Squamish. During his free time, Chad enjoys the outdoors and appreciates the town of Squamish and everything it has to offer.
Susan Chapelle
Aligned Collective
Vice President
Susan Chapelle EMBA, is an inventive leader with a highly successful career building businesses, leading as a two-term elected politician, and influencing changes that improve organizations and emergent industries. Susan has scaled businesses in healthcare, technology and collaborative workspaces. She has advised global technology companies on development of online platforms and integrations. She is a keynote speaker on digital innovation and smart cities technology and a published researcher in the fields of neuroscience and wound healing mechanisms. Susan has presented her studies and consulted across the globe. Susan is the Chief Operating Officer at Purdenza group of biotech companies, harnessing the power of plant medicine through technology, R&D and innovation. She is the founder and CEO of Aligned Collective Coworking in Squamish.
Susan hopes to be utilizing her expertise in both the public and private sector to help businesses in Squamish thrive through both advocacy and policy at the Squamish Business Improvement Association.
Robyn Kelly
SWTCH HOUSE VENTURES & Nate Grooming
Director
Robyn Kelly is an award-winning entrepreneur that grew up in Squamish.
She attended BCIT’s Professional Sales & Marketing Management Program and spent nine years in the Vancouver Tech industry as a sales & marketing professional. When that tech company sold back in 2016, she took her shares, experience and knowledge to launch a digital marketing agency with her husband.
As a Co-Founder of SWTCH HOUSE VENTURES, a digital marketing agency, Robyn and her team specialize in helping organizations make noise with their brands.
Melissa DeWolf
The Hive – Home & Gifts & Queen Bee Boudoir
Director
Melissa and her husband decided to escape the city 8 years ago and move to a small town they knew nothing about, and 2 weeks in, they fell in LOVE! After a couple years, an opportunity (that she just couldn’t pass up) came Melissa’s way…and she became the 3rd owner of The Hive – Home & Gifts which has been downtown since 2005. Since then, Melissa has expanded the business to carry lingerie and costuming & putting on events to raise money for local charities. Melissa loves Downtown Squamish, the community and the potential of what the town has to offer. And for this, Melissa is thankful to be on the Board for the BIA and represent downtown businesses.
Jamie Brandon
Sunflower Bakery
Director
Jamie has been in Hospitality in the Sea to Sky for over 15 years. He moved to Whistler in 2005 and started with Whistler Blackcomb in the Bike Park & different ski shops. Worked with Gibbons Hospitality for 11 years where he managed Tapley’s Pub during the 2010 Olympics and recently managed Norman Rudy’s in Squamish. Also spent 2 years commuting to Vancouver to work for the Vancouver Canucks as a Manager in their Hospitality Department.
Most recently Jamie has taken over the historic Sunflower Bakery with Chef Ryan Newton & together they have given the 25 year old Bakery a refreshed menu & makeover. With a simple idea of great coffee & amazing food that you can pick up quickly with great service & atmosphere.
Cece Roach Leclair
Cliffside Cidery
Director
Cece moved to Squamish from Ontario in 2018 to chase her love for snowboarding and live in the Outdoor Recreational capital of Canada. Since then, she has passionately supported local business and integrated herself into the awesome community that Squamish has to offer. She is the General Manager at Cliffside Cider – The first-born Cider House in Squamish. In her free time, you can catch her drinking lattes at one of our many cafes downtown and finding new adventures here in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Gena Belanger
Random Clothing & MacDonald Realty
Director
Gena has been on the board of directors for the Downtown Business Association for 10 plus years.
Since joining the Real Estate Profession in 1992, Gena has become recognized as one of Squamish’s number one Realtors. Her extensive knowledge of the market is unsurpassed. Gena is well known as one of the most versatile and “Go To” Realtors in the Sea to Sky Corridor, because of her extensive experience in all aspects of the Real Estate market including new home construction and project marketing.
Gena also is the co-owner of Random & Co, on Cleveland Ave. Having the personal experience of being a local retailer and a ”Realtor” allows Gena to bring to the table a different perspective.
Gena has raised her family in Squamish and has always been an active and enthusiastic member of the community.
Kerry Neil
Executive Director
Kerry moved to Squamish in 2019 to pursue her family’s love of mountains and the outdoors and realized very quickly it was a great decision. Kerry joined the BIA team as the Events Manager, planning the 2019 Santa Claus Parade which was the most successful Santa Claus Parade to date and took over the Executive Director role in Summer 2020. Kerry has a number of strings to her bow and having owned her own business in the past she can totally relate to the ebbs and flow of owning a local business.
Kerry is a keen runner, mountain biker and enjoys any time spent in the outdoors. Kerry is a huge advocate of supporting local and does her utmost to buy and support local businesses.
