The State of Business 2024 - January 25, 2024

The State of Business 2024 - SOLD OUT - Wait List

The North Vancouver business community has been responding to many challenges and opportunities this past year. What is the current state of business in North Vancouver? What will the year ahead bring?

Join us for an engaging and interactive panel discussion at The State of Business 2024.  This in-person event will present a picture of the health and challenges of the North Vancouver business community, setting the tone for the year ahead.

Keynote Speaker
"Economic Outlook 2024" 

Ian Thomas, President & CEO, BlueShore Financial 

Ian joined BlueShore Financial as President and CEO in 2023. Ian has over 20 years of experience as a senior leader, with deep knowledge in areas of strategy development, risk management, retail and business banking, wealth management, and commercial lending. Ian is a Credit Union Central of Canada board member and previously held several executive roles during his ten years at Coast Capital Savings, in addition to extensive risk advisory experience at Deloitte.

Panelists 

Colin Armstrong, President & CEO, HTEC 

Colin is a professional mechanical engineer with more than 30 years? experience in the hydrogen sector. He is a founder of HTEC and the driving force behind the development of B.C.?s hydrogen station network and Canada?s first retail hydrogen fuelling station. Prior to HTEC, Colin led hydrogen initiatives at Sacré-Davey Engineering, including the $21- million Integrated Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project and the fuelling station project for a fleet of fuel cell buses operating in Whistler. Colin has been on the Board of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association since 2011 and currently chairs Hydrogen BC.


James Clarke, Chief Financial Officer, Seaspan

James was appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Seaspan Shipyards in September 2019, bringing more than 15 years of senior finance experience in construction, engineering and industrial sectors to the role. Prior to joining Seaspan, James worked at SNC Lavalin, most recently as the CFO and Senior Vice President of Finance for the Oil and Gas Division with operations in the Americas, Middle East, and Australia. James also gained senior finance experience working at Tenaska?a private equity firm investing in major projects in Power and Oil and Gas?Northstar Financial Services Group, and American Express.


Leanne Johnson, President, Canada GardenWorks 

Leanne leads B.C.'s largest retail garden centre company with 10 locations across the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the South Okanagan. Leanne has served three terms as Retail Chair of the B.C. Landscape & Nursery Association, and currently acts as Vice Chair of Garden Centres Canada. She is also Chair for the 2024 International Garden Centre Congress event, where 200-plus garden centre owners from around the globe will meet for six days this summer in Quebec. After working at KPMG for 10 years, Leanne left the accounting world for a new career connecting plants, people, and communities at GardenWorks. 

Amy Lang, President, North Shore & Mammoth Studios

Amy oversees all aspects of the operations and administration of both North Shore and Mammoth production facilities. Amy is also actively involved in industry-building initiatives and is an executive director for the Motion Picture Production Industry Association and a director on both the Creative BC Board and the Invest Vancouver Management Board. Amy previously held the role of Director of Finance & People at Bosa Development, worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (Vancouver), and has been an adjunct professor in the accounting department at UBC Sauder School of Business.    


Farzad Mazarei, CEO, Cascadia Green Development

Farzad is a serial entrepreneur and is known for his significant contributions to technology and sustainable land development. Farzad's career started in the software and high-tech sector, where he founded and sold several successful companies. In 2003, he transitioned into land development and construction in Vancouver, focusing on multi-unit projects. Since 2009, Farzad has led Cascadia Green Development as CEO, emphasizing sustainable development and construction, especially in the North Shore area. Cascadia Green Development has been recognized for its innovative housing and development solutions, receiving multiple awards. 

Moderator 

 
Patrick Stafford-Smith, CEO, North Vancouver Chamber 

Patrick Stafford-Smith has held leadership roles and business consulting experience across corporate, public sector and small entrepreneurial organizations. He?s provided mentorship to business owners and leaders through his own consulting business, and previously worked in both operations and marketing positions with technology ventures, resource and engineering firms. He?s also actively involved in community-based non-profits. 

Presenting Sponsor 



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