Dave Eto

Dave started his career 21 years ago as a Quality Assurance Supervisor with Mrs. Willman's Baking. He moved to The Gourmet Baker after four years to progressively more senior positions that culminated with responsibilities for numerous manufacturing plants in Canada. Seeking new territory and experiences, Dave then joined The Great Little Box Co for 18 months as Operations Manager. He returned to the Gourmet Baker and eventually joined the Bread Garden (owned by The Spectra Group of Great Restaurants). As General Manager of the Bread Garden Commissary, he had an opportunity to restructure and create a new organization that would serve Food Service, Retail and Convenience store accounts with a focus on installing new management/labour practices and a vision for market share growth. Since 1994, Dave has also been actively involved with the BC Centre for Quality, including on the Board. Formerly known as the Quality Council for BC, the BCCQ is a not for profit organization that "fosters and promotes organizational excellence".

Jorgen Rohweder

Jorgen was born in Denmark. He worked for 18 years for The East Asiatic Company Ltd. (EAC), an international Danish shipping and trading company with offices worldwide, before settling in Canada in the early 1980’s. He has worked in Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa, can speak multiple languages and has a natural ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds. Jorgen’s forte is his ability to bring a fresh mindset to any situation or challenge, and together with clients come up with solutions which are tailor made to their particular circumstances. His aim is to make good organizations even better and, in the process, help them achieve their goals profitably. In 2004 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), through a nationwide interview and review session, selected Jorgen for its pre-qualified list of consultants for CIDA financed development work in Eastern Europe routed through EBRD. Jorgen actively contributes to many volunteer boards, such as The Scandinavian Business Club of BC, and Vancouver Mokuyokai Society (a Canada-Japan related society) where he in both cases has been president. He holds diplomas from Canadian Institute of Management (C.I.M.), as well as from Capilano College in Accelerated Computer Systems Management.

David Kaplan

David is a graduate of Columbia University Business School in New York City, an alumnus of Ernst and Young Corporate Finance M&A, and a Senior Executive and Director of multi-national companies.

Mr. Kaplan is an authority on R&D tax credits, company finance, and profitability improvement. Revenue Services Group is a specialist SR&ED tax credit advisory employing the most qualified R&D tax credit experts. Customers include some of BC’s largest food processors.

Michael Boehm

Mike joined KPMG Enterprise as Manager, Business Development in January 2006. Prior to this, Mike was employed by one of the Big Five Canadian banks for over 20 years and had various postings in Commercial Banking throughout the Lower Mainland. Mike has significant experience within the food processing sector both from his banking background and now with KPMG. He also has extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector with various business, community and sporting groups including past Director of the Burnaby Board of Trade; Past President of Richmond Chamber of Commerce; Past Director and member of the Executive Committee of the BC Chamber of Commerce and current Director and Treasurer of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Surrey Board of Trade Environment Committee.

Rahim Talib

Rahim Talib is Owner and CEO of Meadowfresh Dairy Corp., a local Port Coquitlam based 16 plus year old full service dairy processor and distributor.  Rahim is a corporate lawyer by profession.  He left his practice and acquired Meadowfresh in 2004.  Rahim is also a member of the Board of Directors of the BC Dairy Council.  Meadowfresh operates out of its high tech 25,000 square foot plant and specializes in processing and distributing a wide variety of dairy products which range from conventional and organic fluid milk, cream, a variety of cultured dairy products (yogurts, sour creams, cream cheeses, mascarpone cheese), ice cream mix, eggs, butter, buttermilk, soy products and cheese.  Meadowfresh’s customers are generally restaurants, hotels, food service distributors, coffee shops, delis, food manufacturers for its wholesale and bulk dairy product offering, convenience stores and retail outlets.  Meadowfresh is one of the few dairies in Canada that provides dairy co-pack and private label dairy processing services and R&D dairy services.

Chris Ball

Chris began his insurance career working with his father at Reliance in 1995 where he handled auto and homeowner clients. To gain a better understanding of how insurance companies function in 1997 Chris joined a leading Canadian insurance company where he worked as a commercial underwriter and claims adjustor. To further broaden his experience in 2000 Chris moved to New York and worked with one of the largest insurance brokers in the world. Throughout his time in the USA Chris worked with global insurance and risk management teams managing Fortune 1000 accounts that required him to assess, structure, and place complex risk management and insurance programs with liability limits as high as US$1,000,000,000. His clients ranged from aerospace manufacturers to high profile food and beverage brands.

Chris returned home to Vancouver five years ago to continue working as an Insurance Broker and Risk Manager at Reliance Insurance Agencies (RIA) where he also sits on the Executive Team. His duties range from budget forecasting to new product development. Chris also performs similar duties as a member of the Executive team for Pacific Marine Underwriting Managers, a company wholly owned by RIA. Chris’ involvement with both organizations has helped them innovate products, increase visibility with target audiences, and significantly increase market share.