Board of Directors
David Shipley
Position on the Board: President 2024-2025 | Company: Beauceron Security Inc.
Mike Melvin
Position on the Board: Past President 2023-2024 | Company: McInnes Cooper
Mike is a corporate-commercial lawyer and a partner with the regional law firm of McInnes Cooper. In addition to his regular corporate-commercial law practice, he is recognized as a leading Canadian franchise lawyer in The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, in the Chambers Canada Guide and by Best Lawyers in Canada. He is also an experienced Registered Trademark Agent.
Mike served as a consulting mentor in the Chamber’s Business Immigrant Mentorship Program from 2011 until it moved to its new home at Ignite Fredericton in 2019. He also sat on the Steering Committee for the Chamber’s Succession Connect program throughout its initial three-year pilot. Mike has experience in the start-up space, having served as a member of Ignite Fredericton’s Start-up Visa Committee and as a participant in office hours at Planet Hatch (giving free legal advice to start-up entrepreneurs).
Originally from St. John’s, NL, Mike studied music before going to law school at The University of New Brunswick. He studied classical guitar performance and music history at Mount Allison University, The San Francisco Conservatory of Music and The University of Arizona.
Outside of work, Mike’s enjoys riding his motorcycle and playing golf. Mike and his wife, Carol Ann, also volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fredericton and Oromocto and love spending time with their little brother.
Sara Holyoke
Position on the Board: 1st Vice President | Company: Delta Hotels by Marriott Fredericton
Sara Holyoke has accumulated 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry after completing her post-secondary Education in Ontario. She joined CHIP Hospitality as Food and Beverage Manager in 1999, and has advanced through the organization, holding the positions of Director of Human Resources, Regional Director of Human Resources (Atlantic Canada), presently General Manager at the Delta Fredericton; a position she has held for the last sixteen years. Sara owned and operated her own business, Tailored Teamwork a custom teambuilding and facilitation organization working with various companies and organizations for over 8 years.
She has sat on many boards within Fredericton and NB including President of the Fredericton Hotel Association 6 years, Co-President of the New Brunswick Hotel Association 3 years, Holds a seat on the voting committee for TIAC, former Fredericton Chamber Director, Vice President of the Marriott Business Council, and plays a role in many other local, regional philanthropic organizations; Nashwaaksis Y’s men, Brain Tumor Foundation, Co-chair Delta Fredericton Golf Classic raising +300K over multiple years for Oncology care in NB and Nova Scotia.
Sara has won various awards for the hotel, TIANB Human Resources Award, Leader of the year for CHIP Hospitality nationally, Hotel Leader of the Year Sheraton/Delta Hotels, Hotel of the Year 2013 Delta Hotels & Resorts, various Best Guest Satisfaction & Employee Satisfaction awards, Serve 360 Award for Marriott Canada 2018 and Platinum Achievement for Business Excellence Canada. Sara was awarded the Opportunities NB Fredericton Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year in 2019.
She recently completed a Strategic Leadership Certificate with Cornell University and Ted Rogers School of Business at Ryerson University.
Sara is a 2 time brain tumor survivor, loves to travel, spend time on her boat and is very close with her family and friends.
Dave Milburn
Position on the Board: 2nd Vice President | Company: Focal Point Landscaping Design and Installation
Dave, owner and operator of Focal Point Landscape Design and Installation is a relentless advocate for the Landscape Horticulture industry. After years of working in the industry he sought further knowledge and attended Dalhousie University (formally Nova Scotia Agricultural College) to study Environmental Horticulture. After completing with honors, his Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Horticulture in 2007, he founded Focal Point in January of 2008.
Dave carries 23 years of landscape contracting experience and continues to be passionate about continued education and horticulture career development. During the winter months he is an instructor for the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist program, is a past president of Landscape New Brunswick and continues to sit on various industry committees. He is dedicated to helping the landscape industry and small businesses thrive through hard work, professionalism, and continued education.
Focal Point Landscape Design and Installation is extremely fortunate to have great people on their team and has been recognized with multiple awards of excellence for their workmanship. Dave and his team continue to strive for excellence and the company has now evolved into a family owned and operated business with Dave’s wife Lesley joining the company in 2019. Dave and Lesley are blessed to have two beautiful daughters, Annie and Maggie.
Michelle Paquin
Position on the Board: Treasurer | Company: Spacek Armstrong & Norrad Chartered Professional Accountants
Born and raised in Fredericton, Michelle obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick in 2010. She attended the Atlantic School of Chartered Accountancy, achieving her CA designation in 2013.
After spending a number of years in the not-for-profit industry in senior finance and executive roles, Michelle re-joined Public Practice as a Senior Manager with Spacek Armstrong & Norrad Chartered Professional Accountants, where she works with individuals, small businesses and not-for-profit organizations, providing advisory, tax and assurance services.
Michelle has served in various roles on not-for-profit organizations’ boards and committees through the years. She has a passion for helping small businesses and not-for-profit organizations reach their full potential and enjoys using her experience to help strengthen and give back to the Fredericton community.
Daniel Hoyles
Position on the Board: Acting Treasurer | Company: SnapTrade
Daniel Hoyles is the co-founder of Fintech startup Profitual. Daniel has 10+ years of experience working with early-stage startups, including three years in venture capital, where he has invested over $5M into Atlantic Canadian companies. Originally from Newfoundland, Daniel graduated with his Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2010. In 2015, he became a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada by receiving his CPA designation. Daniel has consulted on a wide variety of financial management and operations issues, including preparing operating budgets, financial models, metric monitoring, board reports, and investment due diligence. Living in Fredericton, Daniel’s favourite pastimes include bike riding, futsal (indoor soccer played on a smaller court), and barbequing on a sunny day!
Jordan O'Brien
Position on the Board: Executive Member | Company: Porter O'Brien
Jordan is a partner at Porter O’Brien, an award-winning, Fredericton-based communications and management consulting agency. Porter O’Brien offers services public relations, management consulting, marketing, government affairs, market research and training. In this role, he has been recognized as one of the top 15 federal lobbyists in Canada.
Prior to co-founding his firm, Jordan worked for over 20 years in the areas of government affairs, communications and management strategy. After a 10-year career with the provincial government, he started a private consulting career.
He has been a member of the Chamber since 2019, and became a member of the policy committee in 2020 and the board in 2021. He also serves on the board of directors of Fredericton Regional Youth Services Inc., an operator of facilities that provide therapeutic services for youth experiencing social, emotional, and behavioral challenges.
Except for a stint of several years in Ottawa, Jordan has resided in Fredericton since 1999.
Fanny Bodart
Position on the Board: Executive Member | Company: The Property Ladies
Fanny is the owner/broker and lead agent of ‘The Property Ladies’ a full service real estate company. She has called Fredericton home since mid-2007 when she immigrated here from Belgium with her four children and has actively been promoting our beautiful city and province ever since.
Over the years, she has built a successful real estate business creating her own brand and running her own independent brokerage. Working with both national, international and local clients, Fanny brings the highest professional standards to the table and has extensive knowledge of the local and provincial real estate market.
With two legal degrees from the University of Brussels, fluent knowledge of English, French, Dutch/Flemish (with a little bit of German and Spanish as well) she created a detailed, structured approach to help you navigate through the buying and selling process and has a long successful track record to show for it.
Passionate about attracting newcomers, talent and investment to Fredericton and New Brunswick in general, she knows and understands the complexity of the business immigration process, having gone through it herself. She is always there to help newcomers during their exploratory visits and at their arrival, working on their behalf with the Chamber’s Immigration Advocacy Committee and now as an Executive Member of the Board of Directors of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.
Fanny is also a Director on the Board of the New Brunswick Business Immigrant Association and very active in several important committees in the New Brunswick Real Estate Association and, apart from her real estate/brokerage license, has a Commissioner of Oaths license as well. Her previous professional experience includes: business consulting, general management, human resources, legal counsel, recruitment etc.
Catherine McLatchie
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: Instant Imprints Fredericton
Catherine attended Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and graduated with a double degree in Business Administration and Arts, focusing on Marketing and Spanish. In her third year of university, she completed a year abroad at the Universidad de La Rioja in Logroño, Spain. This is also where her love of wine blossomed.
After completing her business degree, she worked in various business-related positions in Germany, Australia, Chile, USA and numerous cities within Canada. She also has travelled to many more countries out of love for multiculturalism and the desire to learn more about people and their cultures.
In 2014, Catherine set sail for Canterbury, England to commence law school at the University of Kent. Upon her return to Canada in 2016, she started working at Foster & Company as a legal assistant while self-studying the National Committee on Accreditation exams to convert her law degree. She was hired as an associate with Foster & Company in August 2018.
Catherine works as a civil litigation lawyer and focuses primarily on personal injury and insurance disputes, professional negligence, CPP disability and long-term disability disputes. Catherine also has experience in employment law and prepares Wills and Power of Attorneys. She is currently on maternity leave but prior to her departure, she was beginning to further her practice into immigration law.
Catherine loves being involved with her community; she has been serving on the Canadian Bar Association’s Access to Justice subcommittee since June 2021. This subcommittee seeks to provide access to justice to all those in need and to implement procedures and frameworks that assist in doing just that. Catherine Chairs of the Chamber of Commerce’s Governance Committee which provides the framework for the Board’s compliance in ensuring we maintain the integrity of the Chamber and how we conduct ourselves.
Catherine loves to spend time with her husband and two children. She can be seen around Fredericton supporting local restaurants, breweries, the markets and lots of other small businesses. She is very honored to be serving on the Chamber’s board for a third year.
Devansh Bavishi
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: IG Wealth Management
“Devansh and his wife Vidhu were born and raised in India, after leaving India they spent 6 years in the United States before immigrating to Fredericton in 2013.
Speaking four languages presented lots of opportunities throughout Canada, but after discovering Fredericton they found everything they were looking for and settled here. They are proud to be part of the exclusive club of “Choose Fredericton,” where they welcomed their son.
Professionally, Devansh is a well-respected Area Leader with IG Wealth Management. He has MSc and MBA degrees and holds RRC, CFP, and CLU designations. The financial industry and IG Wealth Management has recognized Devansh with numerous awards, including the Herbert H Carnegie, and the Dunstall awards. For 8 years he successfully established and ran a personal Wealth Management Practice before transitioning to a leadership role with IG Head Office.
Devansh has a passion to give back to community. He has served on multiple non-profit boards and committees in Fredericton as well as industry organizations. The family are big food enthusiasts, who also enjoy exploring the beautiful province of NB. In the summer, Devansh and family can be found at the splash pad, Garrison or Boyce Farmer’s markets.”
Scott McMullin
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: Covey Basics
Scott, Co-Owner and Operations Manager at Covey Basics. Scott received his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology degree from UNB in 2017 and was a member of the Cross-Country and Track and Field teams during his time there.
Prior to his work at Coveys, Scott worked as a Wildland Firefighter in Western Canada for several years. During this time, Scott had the opportunity to work with various communities in need and gained experience with multiple agencies working together to attain a common goal.
Scott is proud to be a part of his family-owned business of over 75-years. Interacting with his customers and finding solutions to unique customer needs is what he enjoys most.
During his free time, you can find Scott enjoying the outdoors with his wife and daughter, either running, biking or skiing on the beautiful trails around Fredericton
Cameron McNeil
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: Par 94 Golf Inc.
Cam is the founder and co-owner of Par 94 Golf Inc., which opened in Fredericton in 2021 and now has two locations in Atlantic Canada. Cam’s passion for golf started at a young age, however his career within the golf industry started only recently.
In 2017 he graduated from UNB with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, a diploma in technology management and entrepreneurship, and successfully completed the MBA Activator Program. During his time at UNB, he developed a keen interest in entrepreneurship and volunteering with extensive involvement with the UNB and STU Enactus teams. After 4 years in a technical sales role after graduation, he made the exciting decision to start his own business and follow his passion for golf and entrepreneurship.
Cam gained his professional golf status in 2022 and is currently an Apprentice Professional of the PGA of Canada. He works extensively with growing the game of golf at Fredericton Golf Club, Par 94, Golf NB, Golf NS, and other partners.
In his free time off the golf course, you can find Cam cooking, socializing with friends, or sitting down to enjoy a good boardgame or Sudoku puzzle. Cam is excited to bring his personal experience as a young entrepreneur to the Chamber of Commerce and give back to the Fredericton community that helped shape who he is today.
Danielle Pelletier
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: VIVA Therapeutic Services
Danielle grew up in Balmoral, a small community in northern New-Brunswick and moved to Fredericton approximately 30 years ago. Danielle is the founder and owner of VIVA Therapeutic Services, a company that provides evidence-based services to preschool children with autism spectrum disorder. VIVA Therapeutic Services went through a large expansion 5 years ago, becoming the service provider for the whole province, employing over 350 individuals.
Danielle has a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from University of Montreal and is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. When asked “Why does she do the work that she does?”, her response is that she likes to make a difference in children lives, one little person at a time. Danielle believes in team work and in empowering others to be the best version of themselves.
In her free time, Danielle likes to practice yoga and to walk her dog, Wallace. She also has a passion for traveling and exploring the world. She is the proud mother of a son, AJ and has two granddaughters, Adelyn and Mabel.
Kelsey Seymour
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: CC Goodwin Consulting Inc.
Kelsey Seymour is a marketing communications professional with a passion for building strategy, creating content, helping others and achieving results. She specializes in strategic engagement, marketing communications, digital marketing, public relations and copywriting. She has more than 10 years of sector experience in non-profits, higher education, IT and government, including the University of New Brunswick, the University of British Columbia, Mitacs and the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE).
As Director, Communications & Engagement with CCGoodwin Consulting, Kelsey has led marketing communications projects for Fredericton clients in the housing, innovation, research and education sectors, as well as corporate plans, communications and engagement strategies for several national clients in the research, education and cybersecurity sectors.
Kelsey’s big-picture, data-driven mindset is complemented by her collaborative approach and creative talents. Her creative vision, direction and leadership have won her teams numerous awards for digital annual reports, websites, videos and social media ads.
Kelsey holds a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from the University of New Brunswick and certificates in Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta) and Change Management (PROSCI).
Stanley Barnaby
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: JEDI (Joint Economic Development Initiative)
Stanley Barnaby is the CEO of the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI), a leading Indigenous organization dedicated to working with partners to foster Indigenous economic development in New Brunswick. With a passion for Indigenous business and economic development, Stanley also took on the role of President at the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) in 2021. CANDO is a national organization dedicated to leading community economic development.
Proud member of the Mi’gmaq Listiguj First Nation in Quebec and born in New Hampshire USA, Stanley chose Fredericton as his home while studying Business at the University of New Brunswick. In addition to his B.A, Stanley also holds a First Nation Business Administration certificate, Technological Aboriginal Economic Development certification, Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer certification, Management Development Program certificate, and a master’s certificate in Project Management.
Community is at the heart of Indigenous business and economic development; therefore, wise practice includes planning with the next 7 generations in mind. Stanley supports future business development and capacity building by supporting mentorship for youth and by including elders and knowledge holders into his planning.
Residing in Sitansisk First Nation, an Urban Wolastoqey community situated on the banks of the Wolastoq river, Stanley, his fiancé Megan, and their sons enjoy taking in the music and food scenes that the Capital city has to offer.
Stanley is looking forward to representing Indigenous business alongside allies and neighbors at the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.
Kaziya Chanda
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: Eastern College
Kaziya comes from Zambia, currently, he is an Employment Specialist at Eastern College in Fredericton, New Brunswick, dedicated experience and dedication to empowering students in their career journeys. Previously, he served as Permanent Secretary and Labour Commissioner at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Zambia, where he developed labor policies, mediated disputes, and fostered employer-employee relationships through a Tripartite Consultative framework. In the roles above he worked with the International Labour Organization, (ILO) International Organization for Migration (IOM)The African Union (AU) Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) on specific projects and programs
Kaziya also held the role of Director of Human Resource and Administration at Zambia’s National Prosecution Authority, focusing on HR strategies and workplace culture. His earlier work as Principal Labour Officer involved supervising labor and employee relations department.
He holds a Master’s in Human Resource Management from the University of Regina, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Zambia, and a Diploma in Education, along with various HR certifications. His board contributions include roles with the Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc, National Pension Scheme Authority. Workers Compensation Fund Control Board and the Zambia Development Agency, providing strategic guidance and enhancing organizational efficiency and transparency.
He loves sport and outdoor fishing
Cory Clark
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: Marwood Ltd.
Live in Fredericton for the past 34 years, originally from Truro NS.
Went to St Thomas University
Have one Child who still lives in Fredericton
Have played and coached many sports in Fredericton.
Am VP of Sales at Marwood LTD, and have been working there for 24 years.
Enjoy art, fitness and like to read in my spare time.
Renna Eliakis
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: Cox & Palmer
Renna is a corporate lawyer with the regional law firm of Cox & Palmer in the Fredericton office. Renna joined Cox & Palmer in 2019 while completing her law degree at UNB, following a career as an Environmental Consultant with a national firm, after which time she joined the Province of New Brunswick working with the Ombud’s office and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. Renna has been a co-coach of the UNB Canadian National Negotiation Competition competitive moot team since 2020, after serving as the competition’s administrator in 2019/2020.
Originally from Fredericton, Renna lives on Fredericton’s north side with her husband Shayne and her three children. Outside of work, Renna spends her time at various rinks, courts, soccer fields or mountain biking trails watching her children participate in one of their many extracurricular activities. She also enjoys spending time with friends, family and traveling.
José Poirier
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: New Brunswick Multicultural Coucil
With over a decade of diverse experience spanning finance, human resources, and administration, José is a seasoned professional known for her strategic leadership and meticulous attention to detail. Holding a degree in Business Administration, with specializations in Human Resource Management and Sociology from the University of New Brunswick, alongside a Diploma in Business Administration specializing in Law from Cambridge College, José brings a multifaceted skill set to her roles.
José’s commitment to community service is evident through her volunteer roles, including serving as Secretary and then Chair for Special Olympics Dartmouth, as well as Treasurer for the Dartmouth Cadets, where she played a role in governance, planning and financial oversight.
Known for her collaborative approach and dedication to continuous improvement, José is poised to drive organizational success through her blend of strategic vision, financial acumen, and people-oriented leadership.
José moved to Fredericton in 2018 and has worked in the immigration sector since that time, and is happy to call Fredericton her home.
Pat Price
Position on the Board: Board Member | Company: Neil Squire Society
Patricia Price is a seasoned Career Development Practitioner and certified Human Service Counselor with over thirty years of unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of adults with disabilities. Throughout her extensive career, Patricia has seamlessly woven together leadership, management prowess, and community engagement to create lasting impacts. Her tenure as an Executive Director of community residential agencies underscores her exceptional leadership skills and her innate ability to cultivate meaningful connections with clients and stakeholders alike.
With a remarkable track record in staff supervision, budgetary management, and securing successful proposals, Patricia has become synonymous with excellence in the non-profit sector. Beyond her professional endeavors, she has ventured into entrepreneurship, operating a successful publishing company while also serving as a mentor to budding authors seeking to navigate the self-publishing landscape. Patricia’s enduring dedication to community service, evidenced by her extensive volunteerism and executive positions on various boards, epitomizes her unwavering commitment to social betterment.
In her role as a Job Developer and Career Facilitator at Neil Squire in Fredericton, NB, Patricia continues to leverage her wealth of experience and expertise to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their professional aspirations. reflect her versatility and adaptability in diverse work environments. Patricia’s educational background, which includes specialized certifications in counselling at-risk youth, serves as a solid foundation for her holistic approach to supporting individuals facing various challenges. Through her multifaceted career journey, Patricia embodies the essence of compassion, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to driving positive change in the lives of others and a commitment to fostering a world that is inclusive and equitable for everyone.
Chris Hotchkiss
Position on the Board: Board Member| Company: Hotchkiss Home Furnishings
Chris is a true Entrepreneur at heart. He is the founder of Hotchkiss Home Furnishings, with stores in Fredericton and Grand Falls NB. He also is the majority shareholder of Sunpoke Energy Systems that specializes in Hearth, Fireplace, Patio, and, BBQ products which is located in Hanwell NB. More recently Chris has found a passion for the Coffee business and now co-owns Freddy Bean Roasters (Coffee Roastery) and the Tipsy Muse Café that is in the heart of downtown Fredericton NB.
His passions in life include spending lots of time with family and friends, making music with his band, and coaching basketball and baseball. Chris currently lives in Fredericton NB, with his wife Elise, his son Max and daughter Evie.