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Originally from Vancouver, having moved to Nanaimo in 2014. Andrea is the Manager, Corridor Development for the Island Corridor Foundation. She is working alongside the CEO to restore Passenger Rail Service from Victoria to Courtenay and from Nanaimo to Port Alberni.

Andrea was a Fine Dining Restaurant Manager and Sommelier in Vancouver prior to working for the Island Railway as well as a freelance Wine Writer. She is an artist and has created many works of art, some of which were donated to the Nanaimo Foundation's Covid Community Response Fund for auction where her 12 paintings raised over $14,000. She serves the community in many ways by sitting on the committee for the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock, fundraising for TdR as well as the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive and is a new member of the YPN Board of Directors.

I have been working in the Insurance & Risk industry for over 10 years. In addition to Corporate Broking, I have also worked as a Claims Adjuster, Underwriter, and Risk Manager. Insurance and Risk Management go hand-in-hand and I am able to apply both of these skills in order to create solutions through almost every industry.

Some of my expertise includes:

- Insurance negotiation and placement
- Placement and coordination of complex property insurance structures
- Navigating complex insurance policy wordings
- Enterprise Risk Management consulting and support
- Identify and quantify loss potential scenarios
- Claims advice and support
- Contract review
- Negotiation with lenders and contracted risk managers as it relates to insurance requirements

I am a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) and Certified Risk Manager (CRM).

Balraj is a mortgage advisor who focuses on developing long-term client relationships built on trust, sound mortgage advice, and exemplary service.

Courtney is a Manager with the Private Enterprise Group at MNP Nanaimo

She works primarily with small and medium sized owner-managed businesses looking to plan for the future (and of course minimize tax & tax audit risk)

She can help with personal and corporate tax compliance & strategic planning, as well as compilation or review engagements and various other tax matters. She deals primarily with the real estate and construction industry, but has experience with companies from a wide variety of other industries

Dale W Wood first began his foray into investing and entrepreneurship when he obtained his Bachelor of Business and Administration in marketing and management from Texas A&M in 1993. To put himself through college, he worked at Cafe Eccell for the duration of his degree program, quickly obtaining his MBA from International Business at the Edwin L. Cox School of Business shortly after 1995. 

Dale Wood then began his career as a marketing specialist for Texas Industries in 1995 after receiving his MBA. He had developed their website, one of the first websites for a company in the construction material manufacturing industry in the early days of the internet. 

Ambitious and ready to leave his mark on the world, Dale Wood went on to prove his abilities in a wide range of positions after Texas Industries. These include job-defining roles like an IT recruiter at Kforce Inc. staffing agency in 1997 and president/CEO of HealthYes! Preventive Screening in 2007. 

Today, Dale W Wood operates a private investment holding group founded in 2017 called Dale Ventures. He invests primarily in industries and businesses like real estate, consumer and retail businesses, financial and business services, and technology and media. 

Danielle is a corporate tax lawyer based in Nanaimo whose practices focuses on resource and international taxation, and public company transactions.

Her expertise includes:
- mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and refinancing involving Canadian corporations and their foreign subsidiaries
- structures for non-resident corporations conducting business in Canada
- structures for Canadian corporations conducting business internationally.

Greg was called to the bar in January 2010. Much of Greg’s practice is Personal Injury and ICBC injury cases. The remainder of his practice is focused on civil litigation and resolving disputes between individuals or businesses, including employment law. He has represented clients at trial in Provincial Court, Supreme Court, and the BC Court of Appeal, as well as at the Workers Compensation Appeals Tribunal. As seen in the selected cases, Greg has an excellent track record of success at trial.

Harry Olson is a brand and service designer with over a decade of experience. He brings a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to design unique to the Canadian and European cities where he has honed his practice. He is passionate about convening community through creative work that advances social change, brings civic history to life, and builds community in the public realm.

Why me? I’m able to make sense of complex data and distill key insights into producing a solution that drives effective change. I’m able to understand the business context of my work and develop the process and approach for tackling a problem.

Harry Olson is a brand and service designer with over a decade of experience. He brings a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to design unique to the Canadian and European cities where he has honed his practice. He is passionate about convening community through creative work that advances social change, brings civic history to life, and builds community in the public realm.

Why me? I’m able to make sense of complex data and distill key insights into producing a solution that drives effective change. I’m able to understand the business context of my work and develop the process and approach for tackling a problem.

What I offer:

Branding and Service Design in:
• Public Service (Design for organizational change, local municipalities, government)
• Climate research and science organizations that have a positive impact on a better planet
• Agriculture (Food systems)
• Renewable Energy (Wind, solar, water)
• Education (Up-skilling)
• Community (Co-housing, Facilitation)

Specialities: Business Consulting, Creative Strategy, Branding, Experience Design and Service Design.

Henry Yuan is a business account manager at RBC Royal Bank with many years of successful business results and strong relationships within the community. Henry has also provided personal financial advice to his clients before taking on the current role at RBC. He actively attends community events and Young Professional Nanaimo networking sessions. A strong believer in travelling makes one modest, Henry has studied, worked and travelled many places around the world. His travelling journey will continue with his professional development. Henry enjoys a good Netflix binge but can also be found on tennis courts and bowling alleys during the weekends.

I’m a certified health and nutrition coach. I primarily help women who workout breakaway from tracking precise calories/macros to listening to intuitive hunger cues, so they can change their shape while increasing food peace and decreasing cravings. I also help them build foundational skill sets through habit-based practices and mindset tools.

Julien is Realtor at RE/MAX and is excited to be a part of the next generation of real estate professionals poised to lead the industry for years to come. With the goal to build lifelong clients, Julien concentrates on providing information/advice as well as an exceptional client service experience.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor working in private practice in Nanaimo BC. I work with children, youth, adults, and couples with client centred approaches to improving mental health. I love working with people and feel very grateful to hear my client's stories.

When I am not working I love spending time outdoors exploring this beautiful island or hunting down the best ice cream in town.

Lindsay is an enthusiastic young professional with experience and expertise in commercial lending and treasury solutions. Born and raised in Nanaimo, Lindsay is passionate about volunteering with local organizations and giving back to her community.

Residents in Nanaimo and surrounding area have trusted Norms with all their plumbing, heating, and air conditioning needs. Norms is family owned and operated, and is focused on providing you superior, fast service at competitive rates. Whether you have a leaky tap, or you’re upgrading your home to save money, trust the family that’s been with you since the beginning.

Mandy is a REALTOR and the Team Lead for Team Invest West partnered with RE/MAX of Nanaimo. Mandy was born and raised in Nanaimo with a background in Property Management starting in 2008 & is now entering her 10th year as a local REALTOR.

After being a part of the YPN for many years, Mandy is happy to bring her drive & knowledge joining the YPN Board as it's 2023/2024 Events Director.

Mandy has a proven track record for success in business, frequently featured as a RE/MAX Top 100 Team & a recipient of numerous awards - but she is most proud of creating a repeat and referral business & the growing list of 5 star team reviews as a result. Aligning with some of the best local professionals from lawyers to contractors, many of which she's met through the YPN, your full power team is covered.

As a mom of 2 busy boys, dog-mom to a water loving Duck Toller dog named Beretta, building investments alongside her Carpenter husband plus a love for snowboarding & beaches - Mandy has a passion for life, people and new experiences.

A Registered Representative with Aligned Capital Partners Inc. and specializing in personal and corporate insurance solutions, Sarah graduated as co-valedictorian from Vancouver Island University with a bachelor in Business Administration (Finance). Sarah collaborates with clients on life goals and creates financial road maps to get clients 'on track' via cash flow management. She also gives back to her community actively via boards such a the Young Professionals of Nanaimo.