Board of Directors
Dave Sheppard
President
Dave Sheppard
After graduating from UBC, Dave traveled through Europe and Asia. When he returned he took a position with Merit Investments as a floor trader on the Vancouver Stock Exchange.
In 1989 Dave joined the family business, Haney Sewing & Sound. His father, Jack Sheppard, founded HSS in 1969 and his brother, Don, joined in 1980. In 1994 Dave’s father retired and sold the business to his 2 sons. In 2000 Dave and Don partnered with Audio Video Unlimited on the electronics side of the business to better compete with the big box stores.
Currently Dave is on the board of the Ridge Meadows Home Show. Dave is married and has 3 children, aged 18, 15 and 3.
Denise Gunn
Vice President, Safety & Security
Denise Gunn
Denise has worked and lived in Maple Ridge since 1987 and is where her and her husband raised their 2 children. She has volunteered for many community organizations over the years including the Citizens Advisory for Parks and Recreation, RM Hospice Society, Ridge Canoe and Kayak Club, the B.C. Summer Games in 1998 and BC Games for the Disability in 2009.
Denise works for Falcon Homes doing accounting and property management which include many properties located in the downtown core.
Patrick Smith
Treasurer
Patrick Smith
A Maple Ridge resident since 1971, Pat received his CGA designation in 1982 and became a Partner with EPR Maple Ridge CPAs in 1986.
Married with 3 grown children, Pat has overseen the growth of his firm from a staff of 5 to 40 people today. An active volunteer in the community, Pat involvement has included positions with the Maple Ridge Hospital Foundation, Maple Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and Maple Ridge Community Foundation.
Wine tasting, playing hockey and cheering on the Montreal Canadiens are his key hobbies.
Lyle Perry
Secretary
Lyle Perry
Lyle Perry was admitted as an attorney in South Africa in 2010 and called to the B.C. Bar in 2018. Lyle now practices as a solicitor at McEachern Harris & Watkins, located in the heart of downtown Maple Ridge, focusing on business law, strata law, trademarks, real estate and wills & estates.
Naomi Corr
Director
Naomi Corr
Has been part of the Maple Ridge business community for 16 years, when she opened Little Explores preschool on Laity Str.
Naomi opened Town & Country Vintage Home on 228th Str. 4 yrs ago.
Living in Pitt Meadows for 13 yrs; Naomi has hosted a wedding event at Hopcotts and a # of vintage markets, which attracted thousands of people. Naomi is a big believer in community; recently donated $1100 to FIN food bank, by selling Angel keychains ( 100% proceeds to the charity). Naomi wants to give back to the community that has supported her during COVID.
Celeste Kerschbaum
Director, Beautification & Revitalization
Celeste Kerschbaum
Celeste Kerschbaum moved to the Pitt Meadows Maple Ridge area in 1993. She has worked for Marlin Travel / now Transat, for over 30 years but in 2004 started working from the Maple Ridge branch at the Haney Place Mall.
Working in the downtown core for over 11 years and having had the opportunity to be involved in a number of community events she finds herself increasingly interested in the growth and enhancement of the downtown core. Celeste is married and has two teenagers, who grew up and attended school in Maple Ridge for the last 13 years.
Shelli Kiselycia
Director
Shelli Kiselycia
Proud Owner of Maple Ridge Florist which has been serving the community since 1946. Happy Resident of Maple Ridge for the past 30 years. I am a Mother, Wife and Dog Owner. I Love our Community and all it has to offer! Love taking part in all the great things the BIA has to offer, from the Business Improvement Grant to the yearly Easter Egg Hunt.
Jessica Saial
Director
Corey Schmidt
Director
Corey Schmidt
Corey Schmidt has lived in this area since 1969. Corey has been married for 20 years, they have two girls 10 and 13 year old.
Corey started in the forestry industry and parks & trails.
For the last 20 years Corey has been with Primerica Financial Services, he is a Regional vice president and Branch Manager, additionally Corey is a licenced financial professional in 3 provinces.
Martina Sonderhoff
Director
Martina Sonderhoff
Martina Sonderhoff moved to Vancouver in 1988 and completed her Bachelor's Degree of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University in 1991.
Martina spent most of her career in marketing, sales in the financial industry.
In 2018, Martina became a co-owner of Maple Meadows Brewing, established in 2015 by her business partner, Carlo Baroccio. Both are very passionate about what they do, because BC's craft beer scene is fun, creative, very friendly and social.
Martina lives in North Burnaby, but loves working in MR, as MR has an incredibly close-knit and supporting community, which she enjoys very much. In her “spare time” Martina pursues her other passion, which is sailing.
Cindy Stephenson
Director, Events & Marketing
Cindy Stephenson
Cindy has lived, worked and shopped in Maple Ridge for over 38 years.
She currently owns T’s - Once Upon a Tea Leaf, which moved from Haney Place Mall to 224th Street a number of years ago.
Cindy believes there is more to owning a business than the bottom line and she focuses on giving back to the community, by participating and donating to several local projects and charities. Cindy-Lea’s creative passion is to think outside the box.
Cindy was the Events Committee Chair on the DMRBIA Board before and is looking forward to come back on the BIA Board of Directors!
Donna Telep
Director, EAC Representative
Donna Telep
Donna has been a business owner in Maple Ridge for more than twenty years. She is currently a Mortgage Broker and owner of Seville Mortgage Corporation, as well as Co-Owner of Donada Industries Ltd., which owns and manages several residential and commercial properties in downtown Maple Ridge.
Donna has been actively involved with the community for many years – sponsoring events, offering support to other local businesses and volunteering her time on various boards and committees; including Chamber of Commerce, MR Community Foundation, RM Hospital Foundation, MeadowRidge Rotary and Fraser Health Authority Board.
Donna is passionate about developing business opportunities, encouraging business growth in MR, looking forward to lending her experience to the DMRBIA and offering her continued support to our community.