[Vice Chair *2019] Arthur Mercer has 25 years’ experience in areas of government, economic development as well as business operations that include public companies and private sector development.
SBBC Board of Directors
Barb Steele
Barb is a serial entrepreneur, business owner and investor in the Vancouver business community.
Barry Hartman
Barry Hartman is the co-founder and CEO of 505-Junk, an award-winning junk removal and recycling business based in Richmond. 505-Junk is the first of its kind to build custom trucks equipped with scales, which allows truck teams to charge clients by exact weight.
505-Junk partners with local charities and recycling depots and has diverted millions of pounds of waste from landfills. The company is currently partnering with franchisees across Canada. Hartman serves on the Board of Directors for Small Business BC and frequently speaks at high schools and universities about youth leadership and entrepreneurship.
Emily Kerr
[Treasurer *2019] Emily is Vice President, Business Banking at Bank of Montreal where she leads a team of Relationship Managers dedicated to serving the small business sector across the Greater Vancouver area. Emily is an entrepreneurial, visionary leader known for consistently delivering an exceptional client experience and business results through a team of highly motivated professionals.
Prior to joining BMO, Emily held both client-facing and leadership roles with RBC’s Commercial Financial Services team. Her experience spans pharmaceuticals, consumer packaged goods, and financial services.
Outside of her work in the financial services industry, Emily has gained first-hand entrepreneurial experience as co-owner of two large-scale residential heritage home re-development projects in the City of Vancouver. On both of these “side hustles”, Emily was responsible for managing the financial aspects of the projects, sourcing construction materials, and managing sub-trades. Both projects were completed successfully under development permits and were later sold at a capital gain.
Concurrent with her volunteer board position at Small Business BC, Emily also volunteers as Director, Major Events role with Association of Women in Finance. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University and Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. Outside of work, Emily enjoys golf, yoga, and music.
Jackie Hunter
Jackie sits on the Board as the appointed provincial government representative. Jackie is a seasoned, results-oriented leader, with more than 30 years of progressively complex senior management experience from across government in a variety of roles. In Jackie’s previous roles throughout her career, she has led portfolios in regional fisheries, licensing, compliance and enforcement, government-wide regulatory reform, Indigenous relations and policy development. She has demonstrated success in delivering on high profile initiatives and rebuilding programs and teams in the public sector.
Jennifer Rainnie
Jennifer is a successful entrepreneur, savvy marketer and industry mentor. She is currently the Creator and Principal of MALVADOS, a breakout Lifestyle footwear company, launched in 2016 and growing fast through global distribution channels. With over 20 years of experience as a small business owner, she has worked as a distributor for some of the world’s leading fashion brands.
Joyce Yip
[Board Chair *2019] Joyce Yip is a passionate clean technology strategist, strategic partnership and supply leader, project manager and governance adviser. She is the Managing Director of Sylas Consulting Group Ltd.
Sasha Sandur
Sasha Sandur is an entrepreneur, business owner and investor. She loves to help mentor new businesses owners and existing business owners that are looking to expand. Key areas of interest are sales strategies, employee attraction and retention. Helping owners to identify key working partnerships and finding resources that they might not otherwise have identified.
Tammy Schulz
Tammy Schulz is the Director General of Operations at Western Economic Diversification Canada. She is a Public Service Executive with a unique and outstanding combination of experience in program delivery, communications, strategic planning and change management. A confident and credible manager with demonstrated leadership and team-building skills who is committed to achieving optimal results with a focus on partnership and collaboration.