The Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area (MPBIA) volunteer Board of Directors is comprised of up to 11 elected representatives chosen annually by MPBIA members at the AGM, generally for a 2 year term. Directors must operate a business or own a property within the MPBIA. Over the life of the organization, hundreds of local business people have donated countless hours to achieve our mandate.
The Board of Directors meets monthly, generally on the third Tuesday of the month, to review the fiscal status, discuss and determine the priorities of the MPBIA, and to provide higher level direction to MPBIA staff.
In addition, each Board member participates on at least one of our committees, these being Marketing and Special Events, Business and Tourism Development & Community Relations, Street Beautification and Maintenance, Web Design, and MPBIA Expansion. These committees meet on an as needed basis and special sub-committees may be formed to deal with major projects. It is at this level that the grass roots work is accomplished.
Our membership is invited to participate on any of the committees. We welcome the input and assistance on our many projects. Further, if you have any ideas or concerns you think we should be addressing, the board and the staff would love to hear from you.
John Boychuk
Owner, Banana Tans
Board Member Since: September, 2009
President | Chair of the Marketing and Special Events Committee
Since John opened his tanning salon in 2007 he has been very proactive in the Mount Pleasant business community, supporting business growth and the entrepreneurial spirit that is so characteristic of our area. John has a strong sense of neighbourhood and feels it is important to become actively involved, support local businesses and strive for continuous community improvement. His primary motivation for being President of the MPBIA is the recognition that the organization works on behalf of the entire membership and accomplishes much more than any individual business could do as a single entity.
Sean Pacey
Owner, Pacey’s Pianos
Board Member Since: September, 2006
Director | Chair of the Web Design Committee | member of the Business and Tourism Committee
As a small business owner, Sean values the fact that with the MPBIA area businesses can stand united and support each other to build a striving business community. A graduate of the UBC Saunders School of Business, Sean is third generation in his family business. Pacey’s Pianos relocated to Mount Pleasant in 2004 and he notes that area has improved immeasurably since then. Through his involvement in MPBIA, he is proud to be a small contributor to the amazing transformation that Mount Pleasant has undergone and looks forward to witnessing its’ future evolution.
Rick Sair
General Manager, Best Western Plus Uptown Hotel
Board Member Since: September, 2001
Co-Treasurer | Chair of the Business and Tourism Committee | member of the Safety and Security Committee
Rick has been an active participant on the MPBIA Board since 2001, initially becoming involved in order to connect with the community when he assumed the position of General Manager of the Best Western Plus Uptown Hotel. He feels the intrinsic value of the MPBIA is its ability to collectively deal with issues on behalf of our member businesses, including beautification of the area and the fight for fair taxes. Rick has owned his own small business since 1974 and understands what this entails. He is a firm believer in volunteering and is also the President of Tourism Surrey and sits on the board of Vancouver, Coast and Mountains Tourism Region.
Jesse Nakatsuru
Branch Manager, G & F Financial Group
Board Member Since: September, 2010
Co-Treasurer | member of the MPBIA Expansion and Renewal Committee | member of the Business and Tourism Committee
Jesse has worked in the MPBIA business community since 2007 and has witnessed some very positive changes. His goal in being on the MPBIA Board is to be involved in growing the area further and hopes that his experience as a Manager at G & F Credit Union, which has been part of Mount Pleasant for over 40 years, can add value. He feels a significant reason the MPBIA is effective is that it draws on a wide variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise, all with the common goal of improving the Mount Pleasant business community. Jesse is the father of two young sons and an active supporter of the local schools and non-profit organizations within our community.
Michael Wiebe
Owner, eight ½ restaurant lounge
Board Member Since: September, 2009
Vice-President | Chair of the Safety and Security Committee | member of the Web Design Committee
As both a resident and business owner in Mount Pleasant, Michael’s motivation in joining the MPBIA Board is to ensure this great neighbourhood continues to be a great neighbourhood. He wants to be a part of the inevitable change over the next decade and help insure we do not lose our identity. Michael views the MPBIA as the voice of the small business community which will always remain as the heart of Mount Pleasant. He feels the main functions of the organization are to create a great place to do business, provide access to local information, organize popular events, clean the streets, and market the community.
Clive Braude
Owner, Pallucci Furniture
Board Member Since: September, 2010
Secretary | member of the Web Design Committee | member of the Marketing and Special Events Committee
Clive’s motivation in participating in the MPBIA Board of Directors is to make a contribution towards the improvement of our business area. He feels a primary advantage of the MPBIA is that it allows the business owners / operators to be directly involved in the community. Originally from South Africa, Clive has been in the furniture business most of his working life. He opened his current location on Broadway in 2010. Clive notes that he has always made time to volunteer and that he enjoys interacting with fellow board members and doing business in the MPBIA.
Christopher Vollan
Vice-President, Development, Rize Alliance Properties
Board Member Since: October, 2011
Chair of the MPBIA Expansion and Renewal Committee | member of the Business and Tourism Committee
Chris represents a major MPBIA property owner and landlord on the Board who is also inherently interested with the livability, vibrancy and business vitality of the neighbourhood. He believes a major contribution of the MPBIA is that it encourages participation and cooperation of businesses and Mount Pleasant residents. Chris is VP of Development for Rize and is involved in all aspects of home and business development and operations for the company. Rize plans to be a long term member of the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood having recently completed On Que (48 residential homes and three commercial premises) and currently working on redevelopment plans for the Kingsway and Broadway site.
Denise da Roza
Owner, Temple of the Modern Girl Boutique
Board Member Since: September, 2011
Member of the Marketing and Special Events Committee
Denise’s motivation for joining the Board is a desire to encourage other business to get involved so that the MPBIA truly reflects the needs of Mount Pleasant businesses at large. Her goal is to help strengthen the neighbourhood feeling that makes our community so vibrant. Owner of Temple of the Modern Girl since 1999 (opened on Main Street in 2005), Denise recognizes that the MPBIA builds alliances between local business, the community, and the City. This generates dialogue which will foster a caring and thoughtful plan for the future of our community.
