HBBA Executive 2007/2008
Below, you will find the Comox Valley Home Based Business Association Executive for the 2007/2008 term. Each of our Executive members are dedicated to the HBBA and to their own home based businesses.
Carol Elliot, President
In 2002 Carol and husband Edd, I moved to the Comox Valley where her hobby became her job. She became a full-time artist and Edd started doing substitute teaching in the local schools. So, you may rightly ask what happened that they thought about baking doggie treats.
A BIG factor in their decision to start this type of bakery was the list of ingredients in commercial pet treats. They have four little 12pound wonders – a terrier named Spike, a bichon frise/shih tzu named Rocky, a calico cat named Stinky, and a chocolate brown cat with a white bib and white toes named Foxxy.
Carol and Edd decided that their four-legged friends deserved to have treats – but awesome treats that were good for them! And so they started baking!
They create all of their own recipes using only human grade ingredients and old fashioned good home cooking – done by hand, with care. In addition, the simple, high quality, ingredients are all purchased right here on Vancouver Island. Their products are available at the finer pet food stores on Vancouver Island, including five outlets in the Comox Valley. They are also registered vendors at the farmers’ market each Saturday in Courtenay. You are welcome to contact them if you would like more information or to pass on your opinions about their treats:
Pet Treat Bakery
(250) 702-1086
6381 River Avenue S. Merville
Courtenay, BC V9J 1N5 Canada
pettreatbakery@telus.net
Please note they do not sell their products at this address, nor are they able to offer a mail-order service at this time. They do encourage you to contact one of their suppliers direct to buy their natural, wholesome treats.
Keith Oslund, Vice President
Keith comes to the CVHBBA with a wealth of experience and training to help facilitate the growth and development of individuals and organizations with his business, Touchstone Coaching and Counselling, using neuro-linguistic programming techniques. Keith is a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Master Trainer, Professional Development Coach and has over 20 years of experience in training individuals that want to be at the top and stay there. This includes sports, sales, management, health care professionals and teachers.
It doesn't end there! Keith has a varied background which has helped him develop a unique, powerful public presentation style that gets results. He gets a huge thrill when clients and students are able to improve their life and develop a strong independent attitude that has successful outcomes for the long-term.
Keith's varied background includes: 5th degree black belt Tae-Kwon Do Master Instructor (training/coaching Canadian National TKD team for the Olympics), certified therapeutic massage, TV and radio broadcasting, life management skills leader trainer, fitness and nutrition, adult psychology, adult educator, personal fitness trainer, Chan international professional actor (movies and stage), talent management, D.J., first-aid/CPR instructor.
Wow!
Keith Oslund
Touchstone Coaching and Counselling
361 Urquhart Ave.
Courtenay, BC
V9N 3K2
(250) 338-0719
Email: touchstonecc@shaw.ca
Randy Komar, Past President
Randy Komar has been in a variety of businesses over the years including the newspaper industry. He is proud to have been with NSA and Juice Plus+ for the last 17 years. He and his wife Maggie feel very lucky to have discovered the beautiful Comox Valley in 2003. Maggie is his partner in the Juice Plus business and together they have enjoyed meeting many people and have formed many friendships through their various involvements in community organizations such as Toastmasters, Comox Valley Recovery Centre, Crimestoppers, Ducks Unlimited and The Sid Williams Theatre Society. They believe strongly in giving back to the community they live in and it is their dream to make a significant impact on the health of people everywhere through education about whole food nutrition and Juice Plus+. Even though their home base is in the Valley, their business has spread to many countries around the world. Randy's long-term plan is to continue living here and to never ever retire!
Juice Plus
335-1772
kjuice@shaw.ca
Clint Burnell, Treasurer
Clint arrived in the Comox Valley in the fall of 2004 after spending the previous thirty plus years in Calgary. He and his wife Elaine came for the climate and to be near the water and neither can imagine living anywhere else now.
Clint started home based business Burnell Accounting Services in early 2005 and has built up a small client base consisting mostly individuals and businesses needing help with income tax matters.
Elaine and Clint are involved in various community groups and keep busy meeting new people, trying to see more of the island and spending way too much time with the newest addition to their life, Bodie (arguably the brightest miniature poodle of all time).
After joining the HBBA in 2005, he decided that accepting a position on the board of directors would be interesting. It has also enhanced the benefits of belonging to the association by getting to know fellow board member better and meeting many of the other members and guests at the general meetings. He has never regretted the decision and continues to promote the HBBA and be as involved in the association as time will allow.
Alice East, Secretary
Alice came to the Comox Valley in the 1970's with her parents and left after graduation to go to the University of Victoria and "see the world". Her passion for music took her to the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California where she obtained her Bachelor of Music degree.
She has worked from home for over 30 years teaching private flute lessons. When her own children were small, she ran an accredited Family Day Care and was one of the only Family Day Care's selected as a training site for Early Childhood Education Practicum students. She returned to the Valley for good with her husband, Chris and two of her four children in 2001 to live near her aging parents. She found work with an aromatherapy supply business and took the first of two courses toward an Aromatherapy Certificate.
An injury at work forced her to re-evaluate her options. In 2004, with the help of Community Futures, she started Dress This House Home Presentation Services. She dresses one house per month and considers herself fortunate to work with and study design with Judith Moore of Judith Moore Interior Design.
She came to her first HBBA meeting in September of 2005 and was so impressed she became a member the same month. Whether she is playing or teaching flute, blending essential oils, or dressing houses for sale, the need to create drives. Alice says, "HBBA is a vibrant bunch of people who are supportive in ways that only fellow entrepreneurs can be. I'm honoured to be able to serve on the Executive Board." and adds"elbow grease, professionalism and fun. Just the way I like it!"
Jane Neve, Marketing Director
Jane’s lifelong dream of living in the Comox Valley was realized when she and her partner Dave bought almost 3 acres in Black Creek. The dream has always been to open a dog training facility to teach people how to speak dog. Canine Conduct Training Solutions is more than just dog obedience - it is about opening the lines of communication between dogs and their people to create a positive relationship.
As with most dog trainers, Jane Neve has been involved with dogs her whole life. Jane began formal training as an assistant instructor in 1981 but found the "traditional" methods disheartening.
While running a municipal animal shelter for eight years and a humane society for two years, Jane immersed herself in the study of dog behaviour by attending talks, workshops and seminars searching for and finding a positive approach to training.
During the lead up to Canine Conduct's inception in 1993, Jane's search for positive motivational trainers introduced her to the likes of Suzanne Clothier, Dr. Ian Dunbar, Karen Pryor, Jean Donaldson, Turid Rugaas and many others. It is from these influences that Canine Conduct was born and continues to flourish.
Jane's goal is to share with other dog lovers and owners her skills of training in a compassionate, respectful, fair, and above all, fun way.
Since February 2007, the first Thursday of every month is one of Jane’s favourite calendar entries as that is when the HBBA members get together to chat, network and learn.
Jane Neve – Trainer
Canine Conduct Training Solutions
“Teaching the Human End of the Leash”
www.canineconduct.ca 250-898-3173
Linda Marinus, Membership Chair
Linda's business, Hill's Top Computer, was originally called Panic Computer. She started Panic in 1992 as a mobile computer cleaning business with a SEA grant of $300.00 per week. Six months of pounding the pavement, giving out "Panic" buttons and introducing herself to a lot of sceptical businesses, she had enough business to put lunch on the table for her family. Now how the heck was she going to manage supper and the mortgage?
Linda added teaching to her bag of tricks, and then repairs. Now customers wanted her to help them shop for computers ... OK, we can do that! It grew. The kids ate. The bank let her keep the house ... All was well.
After many business plan changes and many, many long days of hardwork it all paid off and an honest-to-goodness business emerged! Her clients recommended her to their friends and colleagues, and to this day her happy clients are her best advertising tool.
Linda continues to help her clients with computer shopping, repairs, training, and troubleshooting. Her reputation as a tenacious technician who finds the problem and gets it fixed is well founded. She gets the job done and you can tell she loves her job.
Newsletter Editor
This position is currently empty.
Jessie Randall, Program Director
Jessie Randall is an independent consultant with Arbonne International. She spent the last 10 years working as an Agricultural Sales Account Manager in Alberta, until she fell in love with the amazing herbal, botanical, certified vegan products from Arbonne. Arbonne offers premium skin care, aromatherapy, weight loss, cosmetics and nutritional products! Since discovering a business that has allowed her to be home with her son, help others achieve their dreams and the flexibility to focus on what is truly important in life, she has no intention of ever going back to corporate America! A ‘newbie’ to the island, Jessie’ along with her young son, have only lived in the Comox Valley since January 2007 and it is the best move she has ever made! The Comox Valley is one of the most beautiful places on earth and there are so many wonderful people here. She is very blessed!
Involvement in the community is key in Jessie’s life. She is actively involved with the elementary school, organized sport and the Soroptimists. Arbonne is also very involved with helping others and making this world a better place. Their latest initiative is partnering with an organization called ShelterNet, which is dedicated to helping women and children leave abusive situations. Jessie is so proud to be apart of such a forward thinking company that truly wants to change the lives of people across the globe.
The CVHBBA was the first organization that Jessie joined since arriving in the valley. Becoming the program director is such a privilege! She is dedicated to helping the membership with workshops to improve skills and find new ideas for their businesses; as well as promoting the businesses in the membership with our spotlight speaker program every month! The HBBA is a phenomenal group of people. If you own your own home based business, you want to be a part of this group! Jessie can’t say enough great things about the HBBA…it has helped her personally as a business owner as well as increase the visibility of her business in the Comox Valley!!!
Jessie Randall
250-336-8510
www.jessierandall.myarbonne.com
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ~Winston Churchill
Sarah Brune, Public Relations
Sarah arrived on these shores 14 years ago from England where she was born and raised. Before moving here she had travelled extensively in Ontario, BC and the NWT doing voluntary work building houses and working on organic farms. She started out living in Kitimat for 7 years, and then she and her husband decided to move to the Comox Valley where her husband is from.
Once her children were in school she took some business and Bach Flower courses, where shortly after Inner Harmony Healingwas born in 2003. Since that time she has become a Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner, and works hard to promote and spread awareness of the benefits of the Bach Flower Remedies. 2007 has been a year of growth for Inner Harmony Healing, firstly the website www.bachflowerscanada.com was launched which is a rescue remedy store and more; and secondly this summer Sarah is going to learn to be an educator for the introductory course to the Bach Flower Remedies.
Through the promotion of her study groups, talks, and magazine articles she is gradually getting the word out there. She was pleased to receive the Media Star Award for three years in a row.
For the fourth year in a row Sarah is on the Executive, having been the Program Director for two years, and now the Public Relations Director for a second term. She is once again excited about being the Public Relations Director and will do her best to promote the HBBA tothe community and beyond.
Mark Erickson, Website Director
Mark Erickson was born in Germany, while his dad was serving in the Canadian Forces. He eventually moved to the Comox Valley when he was four where he was raised and educated. He had high hopes in the field of optometry and pursued it by attending the University of Victoria. Instead of continuing in optometry, which required only two years at U.Vic and many more in Ontario, he graduated from U.Vic in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Neuropsychology.
In the same year, he married his university sweetheart, Kathy, and began blue-collar work with a medical lab company, based in Victoria, in hopes of advancing to work in his field. Instead, a few years later, he had the opportunity to move back to the valley within the same company. In 1998, Mark joined the CVHBBA around when it first began, with the idea of turning a hobby into a business.
He has dabbled in computer programming since 1980 and thus was interested in starting a software development company, called Norse Code Technologies, in 1999. He added other functions to his repertoire to keep busy, such as compiling music from vinyl records and tapes on CDs. In 2002, he began providing web development, all the while still working his day job.
Early in 2006, the day job was eliminated and Mark decided to dedicate his energies to his company full-time. Since then, he has experienced more growth. Since the beginning, Mark has always wanted to see the CVHBBA grow to about 500 members and have it be a significant driving force in the valley's business community. Mark advises everyone to embrace technology, not fear it, for it is a powerful tool in the way we do business and the way we keep connected to everyone important to us. This is his second consecutive term as Website Director.
