Kelly Darwin | President. ​ Kelly is a committed entrepreneur and community advocate, deeply passionate about supporting local businesses and promoting regional growth. He proudly owns several successful ventures, including his latest project,​ Ryes & Shine Craft Distillery in Langford.

Kelly strongly believes in the power of collaboration and networking to create positive change and drive economic development. Whether he’s sponsoring local events, mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs, or volunteering for charitable causes, Kelly is always seeking opportunities to give back to the community that has helped him succeed.

​Chris Burdge | Vice President.  Chris is the owner of bWEST Interactive, an award winning online marketing firm based in Langford.  An active entrepreneur, Chris was on the board of the WestShore Chamber from 2017-2022 before returning in 2024. He has proven unflappable while MCing the Best of the WestShore Awards, or when speaking notes vanish part-way through an online all-candidates forum (true story). Chris is an avid supporter of the West Shore community and JDF Minor Hockey. When not working he can be found playing hockey, cycling, or paddle boarding.

Danica Straith | Secretary. Danica is the Director of Community Learning Partnerships at Royal Roads University (RRU). In addition to her efforts to enhance community-university collaborations, she is a Certified Executive Coach (CEC) and the Founder of Flight Coaching. 
​
​Her career has grown with a focus on social innovation and change management across Canada as well as internationally with organizations like Ashoka, the McConnell Foundation, Evergreen, and the Institute for Ecological Economics. She is the co-founder of StreetSuds transitional employment enterprise in Montreal and, in addition to her CEC, holds a HBA and a MSc from McGill University.

​Clark Lawrence | Treasurer. Clark is Chartered Professional Accountant and Principal at Baker Tilly Victoria Ltd. and has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a Concentration in Entrepreneurship from the University of Victoria. Since joining the firm in January 2003, Clark has focused on providing assurance, accounting, Canadian tax, and business advisory services to a wide range of clients including for-profit businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and registered charities.  Clark has had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors of both the Victoria Hospice Society and the Victoria Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation for six years from 2015-2021.  Clark now serves on the Victoria Foundation’s Audit Committee as a community representative.  A proud Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow, Clark also serves as a member of the Rotary Club of Victoria.  Clark resides in Colwood with his wife and two children and enjoys coaching minor hockey and baseball as well as playing hockey and golf.

​Mike Reilly |  Past President.  Mike was raised in Kitchener-Waterloo, and graduated from the University of Victoria with a degree in biology. He worked for several years as a habitat consultant for forest companies in the BC Interior but gradually shifted to more IT management as the industry changed. After working as a project manager with a division of Hewlett-Packard, Mike changed careers in 2012 to start his financial advising practice with Freedom 55 Financial. IN 2022, Mike incorporated his own firm Gaining Altitude Financial. He is excited to help his clients reach their financial destination despite life’s turbulence. 
Mike and his wife Karen have six adult children who require very little parenting these days (and wouldn’t accept advice anyway). His non-working hours are spent in numerous community endeavours including the WestShore Rotary, 100 Men Who Care Victoria, UVic Rowing Alumni, Advocis and Junior Achievement.

​Janelle Anderson| Director. ​Janelle is an inspirational leader who tells stories that inspire action while at the same time is grounded in financial information that levers business. She takes a vision and makes it a reality through sound and strategy development. Currently, as Sales Leader at Combined Insurance, a company that provides very unique coverage for individuals and families when they become injured or sick, Janelle oversees a team of 10+ agents. Along with being passionate about helping those with a peace of mind, Janelle is also passionate about quality time with friends and family. When not at work Janelle loves spending time doing yoga, playing the piano, going for walks by the ocean and being an active member in the community. 

​Brittney Ashley | Director.  Brittney Ashley is an inspiring Métis entrepreneur and a mom of two young kids. As the founder of Creative Dynamics, a Canadian-based agency, she is dedicated to supporting service-based businesses through both "done-for-you" and "done-with-you" solutions—going beyond traditional virtual assistant services. Driven by her passion to help moms work from home and sustain their families, Brittney launched Creative Dynamics to fill a unique gap in remote business support. The agency offers a comprehensive range of services, partnering with business owners from startups to enterprises to alleviate stress and streamline their operations.

Brittney also hosts Breaking Norms, Building Dreams, a radio show dedicated to encouraging individuals to embrace their worth and challenge societal norms that hold them back. Deeply committed to her Métis heritage and community, Brittney balances her work with family life, inspiring others to redefine success on their own terms

​Jeffrey Denissen | Director. Jeffrey Denissen, CPA, CA, CIA, is the owner of Profit Guard Consulting, a firm dedicated to supporting SMEs with expert On-Demand CFO Services. As a Chartered Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, and Chief Financial Officer with over 25 years of experience in the financial world, Jeffrey is a seasoned business and management advisor. He mentors and guides entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized business owners to achieve success and make a positive impact through data analytics. The result: business owners exactly know what to do to have a growing, more profitable, and successful business.​

Adam French | Director (he/him). Adam is currently a Real Estate Consultant at Newport Realty. Adam has a special passion for Real Estate, business/economic development and the sustainable economic independence and social well-being of Indigenous groups. Adam attained his Masters in Management right here at Royal Roads University, and his Master of Business Administration in Munich, Germany as well as his professional designation in Project Management. Adam spent many years partnering with Indigenous groups on the island and in Western Canada on major Real Estate projects on behalf of ATCO. Overseas, he has led Economic Development and Real Estate projects in Kosovo and North Africa.

Adam sits currently as the Treasurer for the Pacific Centre Family Services Association, and the new Westshore Community Health Centre. He is immersed in supporting the people of Victoria/Westshore by assisting them in their Real Estate needs, drawing on decades of real estate & business negotiations experience, and a love of community. In his spare time you can catch Adam golfing, gardening, boating, and hiking on our beautiful island with friends, family and his new pup, Charlie.

​JRR (Reggie) Létourneau | Director.  ​A relative newcomer to Vancouver Island, Reg has a wide variety of business experience from across Canada, in fields of endeavor that range from the geomatics engineering and environment sectors, to participating on First Nation land claims projects.  At the Board level Reg has experience as a School Board Trustee (Oromocto, NB), was a founding member of the Calgary Geomatics Cluster, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of a private company (Stromtech Energy Services Ltd), and is Managing Partner for the Hunter Spirit Energy Group consortium based out of Calgary, Alberta. Reg also works for Island Tigers Energy Corporation, which is a proud WestShore Chamber Member. Reg is excited to be a part of the thriving WestShore business community during these most challenging times.

​James Ramsbottom | Director.  James is a Registered Patent Agent and Partner at Merizzi Ramsbottom and Forster. James holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in life sciences and was a doctoral graduate student in molecular pharmacology at the University of Trieste in Italy. After developing an interest in intellectual property, James went on to manage and enforce the patent portfolio of a life sciences company in Toronto. Since then, James has worked with scientists and engineers of all disciplines—from biofuels to medical research, in both public and private sectors. He is the inventor of several Canadian and American patents, as well as author of numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications.  James resides in Langford with his wife and two children. When James is not working, you will find him skiing or paddle boarding.