Board

Ramon is a Partner and Business Intermediary at Chinook Business Advisory, a Mergers and Acquisitions consulting firm out of Victoria. He is also Mortgage Broker with Invis West Coast Mortgages in Courtenay.

Prior to his current roles, Ramon has been in banking for 22 years, working in Paraguay, Vancouver, Bermuda, Southern Alberta, and Vancouver Island, in several areas of banking including Operations, Payments and Cash Management, e-Commerce, and Commercial Banking. He worked for BDC, HSBC, Costal Community Credit Union, and Citibank.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Capilano University. Most recently, he achieved the designation of Certified Business Intermediary with the International Business Brokers Association.

Outside work, he is a fully certified firefighter with Comox Fire Rescue, Treasurer of the Comox Firefighter’s Association, a member of the Rotary Club of Courtenay, Chair of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce, Vice-Chair of Community Futures Strathcona, and a Director of the Vancouver Island Hispanic Network Society. He enjoys cycling and running when he can, and lives in Comox with his wife, Amy, and two children, Lane (now at uVic) and Sebastian.

Lisa moved to BC from England almost 20 years ago and has been in the Comox Valley for the past 6 years. Lisa is a Chartered Professional Accountant currently working as a Financial Controller for a local company, and was previously a Business Advisor with MNP. Lisa’s entrepreneurial spirit is prominent throughout her professional work and most recently as the Treasurer of the Board for the Comox Valley Arts. Lisa has worked with a wide range of businesses which allows her to showcase her diverse skillset in meaningful ways and helps them succeed in different paths. Lisa’s passion for local businesses and strong communities makes her a welcomed addition to the Chamber.

Jason is a born and raised Comox Valley resident. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from North Island College in 2014 and his Chartered Professional Accountant designation in 2018. He has been in finance and administrative roles for many years and has been at Cloutier Matthews LLP since 2014, where he currently works as an Accounting Manager. He’s made many enjoyable, professional connections over the years and is thrilled to continue doing so in his role at the Chamber of Commerce. He has past served as a treasurer to a local chapter of Scouts Canada. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and newest little one, snowboarding on the ski hill in winter and hiking the local peaks during the summer.

As a dedicated business owner and operator of the local McDonald’s restaurants in the Comox Valley for the past 12 years, I have profound gratitude for being part of our community.  Through our business, I am deeply committed to fostering strong relationships with businesses, government, and community organizations. I am proud to be a local employer and to actively support not-for-profit organizations in the work they do for the Comox Valley.

For over 25 years, I have been involved professionally in the charitable sector. Serving in leadership roles for post-secondary and healthcare foundations. I co-chaired a coalition of public library sector organizations in their advocacy to the provincial government.

Initially through my undergraduate degree in urban studies from the University of Toronto, then built upon through a master’s in public administration from the University of Victoria, I am passionate about the role of businesses, government and community organizations in creating economically vibrant, caring communities. 

I believe in the power of collaboration and am excited to put my name forward for consideration in joining the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce Board. I would welcome the opportunity to be part of an amazing organization dedicated to working with its membership in fostering growth, community, and best business practices.

Mike joined the Comox Valley Airport Commission as Chief Executive Officer in January 2021. A former Commander of 19 Wing Comox, he brings significant leadership, team-building, crisis management, and strategic planning experience developed during a 35-year military career. Mike's love for aviation started with flying the venerable Sea King helicopter from Canadian Warships on the East Coast. He then transitioned to Search and Rescue, where he discovered his passion for rescuing those in need and strengthening the Canadian SAR System for all. Prior to assuming his new role, he served as the Canadian Defence Advisor to the United Kingdom. Mike is a graduate of RMC (Mech Eng), Saint Mary’s (MBA), King’s College London (MDS), and the Canadian Forces College (NSP). He and his family have fallen in love with the Comox Valley and are eager to establish roots after a nomadic military career.

Lara is a Senior Portfolio Manager & Wealth Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities and a long-time resident of the Comox Valley. She moved to the Comox Valley in 2002 when she was ready to establish her practice and was a ‘little’ analytical about where she would plant her roots! Her mission has always been to provide security, stability, and an appreciation for the outdoors for her family, as well as security and stability for her clients.

Having relocated from Guelph, Ontario, with few ties to the Valley, Lara set out to make connections. In addition to regularly attending Chamber of Commerce network events, she became President of the Comox Valley Newcomers Club in her second year. She also joined the Comox Valley Women’s Business Network and eventually became a part of the board, holding multiple positions. She was eventually nominated for their Minerva Award, which is a recognition by WBN peers of commitment to the organization and the success of professional women.

Now that her children are 'launched', Lara has more time to renew her interest in helping the community navigate the changes ahead.

Dan completed an Undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria, majoring in Political Science, before working in the financial services and wealth management industry for 10 years primarily in the administration of estate and trusts. Following the birth of his son, he and his family relocated to the Comox Valley, working first for Ecofish Research Ltd., a Comox Valley based leading national environmental consultancy as a project controller, before joining Coastal Community Credit Union in 2018. He is presently Senior Business Lending Advisory for First Credit Union. Dan brings with him over 15 years of experience working in finance with a background in project management and politics. In his spare time, he enjoys mountain biking and spending time with his son and daughter.

​Bill Parkinson is a long-time member of the CV Chamber through his Faculty and Administrative career in the public sector at North Island College (since 2005). More recently, he has also branched out into the private sector through his retirement coaching work (Bill Parkinson Retirement Coaching) where he works with individuals, couples, executives, and employees to help them make successful lifestyle transitions into retirement. He also delivers presentations and webinars to businesses and community organizations to help educate groups on key retirement considerations beyond money. Bill is a former director of the CV Boys and Girls club, YANA, and NIC Foundation. He is also a former minor hockey and minor curling coach. He is passionate about adding value to people in learning environments. Bill has resided in the Comox Valley since 1995.

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Lieutenant-Colonel Anne Gray joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2003, choosing to wear Air Force blue as an Aerospace Engineering Officer despite her upbringing as the daughter of a Naval officer. After graduating from the Royal Military College in 2007, her first operational posting was to 12 Wing Shearwater where she held the roles of Workshops Support Officer and Aircraft Repair Officer at 12 Air Maintenance Squadron followed by a year as the Technical Training Flight Commander at 406(M) Operational Training Squadron. In 2011, LCol Gray applied for and was accepted into the Sponsored Post-Graduate Training Program and completed a Master of Science in Human Factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2013. Two years in sunny Florida earned her a three-year posting to the Directorate of Technical Airworthiness and Engineering Support in Ottawa as a Human Factors Specialist Engineering Officer.

 During this time, she had the opportunity to deploy on Op IMPACT Roto 1 as the Air Task Force-Iraq Senior Duty Operations Officer from June to December 2015. In 2016, LCol Gray was posted to Halifax and embedded with IMP Aerospace as the CH149 Cormorant Weapon System Management Liaison Officer. With her first taste of the Search and Rescue (SAR) community, she was hooked. In 2018 she was posted to Comox and the Fixed-Wing SAR Secretariat as the Maintenance Flight Lead, a role which evolved into the 418 Sqn Technical Training Flight Commander following the stand-up of 418 Sqn in July 2019. This was followed by a move to 442 (Transport & Rescue) Sqn as the Senior Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Officer supporting CC115 Buffalo operations, ultimately retiring that fleet in early 2022. Rescue! 

LCol Gray then accepted a posting as Staff Officer to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 2022. This challenging, rewarding, and high-paced staff tour culminated with an occupational transfer to Air Operations Officer and selection to attend the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in 2023-2024. Staff college was followed by a posting to CANSOFCOM as the J3 Air. In 2025 LCol Gray was selected for the role of Deputy Commander 19 Wing and is incredibly excited to return to Comox. 

LCol Gray has been privileged to participate actively in the CAF National Sports Programme throughout her career. She has played in, and won, National Championships in both Soccer and Hockey. LCol Gray and her partner, Chief Warrant Officer Monique Ryan, continue to navigate the challenges of being a dual-service couple while enjoying adventures with their fur-kid, Nemo - a very large orange cat.