CHBA Central Interior is an active association comprised of an Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and committees. CHBA CI Executive Officer, Rose Choy, Events Coordinator, Raquel de Guia, and Administrative Assistant, Mary Fuentes, looks after the day-to-day operations, but the backbone of the association is its members and volunteers. The Board of Directors is the governing body of the Association, responsible for overseeing the organization’s activities including advocacy work, networking opportunities, and finances.
Fulcrum Development
Tom Calne is a partner of Fulcrum Development in Kamloops. Fulcrum Development has been an active member of the CHBA Central Interior Association since 2008.
Tom brings over 25 years experience in the construction industry and has been building in Kamloops for 15 years. In 2017, he was the project manager for the Training House built in East Juniper's Kicking Horse subdivision.
Tom is the Chair of Government Relation Committee since 2014. He began serving on the CHBA Central Interior Association Board in 2013.
Prior to settling in Kamloops, Tom and his business partner, Chris, provided quality homes in Whistler and in Pemberton.
TRUE Consulting
Chris Crowell is a civil engineer at TRUE Consulting and has focused on the land development sector while working on behalf of various Kamloops developers. TRUE Consulting has been an active member of the CHBA Central Interior Association since 2017.
Chris was a part of the Development Cost Charges (DCC) committee who worked with City of Kamloops to update the DCC Bylaw in 2019. In 2022 he became the Chair for Government Relations Committee.
Prior to his professional career as an engineer, Chris played 4 years of junior hockey with the Vernon Vipers, serving as captain of the 2009 RBC championship. He also played 4 years of NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves while earning his engineering degree.
Chimera Construction
Tom Eggers is the co-owner of Chimera Construction, a General Contractor in Kamloops, building residential, commercial and multifamily homes. Chimera Construction has been an active member of the CHBA Central Interior Association since 2010. Tom is a licensed builder with 17 years experience in the construction industry. He was the project manager for the 2021 Training House in Westsyde. Tom has served on the CHBA Central Interior Board since 2018 and is the current Chair of the Builders Council Committee.
BDO Canada LLP
Mario Piroddi is an accounting and assurance partner in the BDO Kamloops Office. He brings a working knowledge of assurance and related services that he has accumulated since 2001 in working with both the Vancouver and Kamloops BDO offices. He has significant experience with providing assurance, accounting, and taxation services to various construction industry business, not-for-profit organizations and local governments.
Mario has been involved with the audit training of professional staff on an office, regional, national and international level along with lecturing on topics such as audit methodology and financial statement analysis. He has also been active in working with BDO's national office in providing commentary on assurance methodology changes and responses to exposure drafts issued by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Mario joined the CHBA Central Interior board in 2009. BDO Canada LLP has been an active member of the CHBA Central Interior Association since 2008.
Gillespie and Company LLP
Steve DuMont has been with the firm of Gillespie & Company LLP since 1987 when he moved to Kamloops. He has an extensive practice in land development assisting clients in many important and innovative projects. He is of the opinion that his firm has "the absolute best clients in BC". He has been an active volunteer in the Kamloops area since his arrival. Steve and his firm are proud to support Canadian Home Builders Association – Central Interior with its annual training house initiative.
Gillespie & Company LLP has been an active member of the CHBA Central Interior since 2015, Steve serving on the CHBA Central Interior Board since then.
Orchards Walk Developments
Jere Lorenz is the Vice-President of Operations at Orchards Walk Developments Inc in Kamloops. He is responsible for building Seniors Independent Living, commercial buildings, rental building, townhomes, single family homes, and also recently the Orchards Walk Community Centre.
Jere has over 40 years of extensive background in construction industry. He started in construction in the late 70’s in Alberta and by early 80’s, he was supervising his first multi-family townhome project. He moved to the lower mainland in 1985 where he built residential hi-rises towers and large condo and town home developments. In 1995, he moved to Calgary to become the new Construction Manager for the largest Multi Family Builder/Developer in Alberta. Jere continued to educate himself throughout his career, and was very involved on many committees for the CHBA in Calgary.
Jere received his Master Builder Designation in 2008 and by the beginning of 2013, he had built over 4,800 multi-family dwellings.
Jere has served on the CHBA Central Interior board since 2016. Orchards Walk Developments has been an active member of the CHBA Central Interior Association since 2005.
Kamloops Truss Ltd.
Rikki Paquette is the Owner and General Manager of Kamloops Truss Ltd. She started at KTL in 2010 as an administrative assistant and worked her way up by taking on various roles - from bookkeeping and marketing to customer service and event planning. She is passionate about providing excellent service and staying organized.
Her role at KTL as a component manufacturer allows her to contribute to this industry that intrigues her. She is excited to give back to the community and grow personally and professionally. She feels that joining the CHBA team is the perfect step in this direction.
Kamloops Home Hardware
Ryan Kurzac is the owner of Kamloops Home Hardware Building Centre. Kamloops Home Hardware has been an active member of the CHBA Central Interior Association since 1986.
Ryan is the current Chair of the Events Committee. He has been on the CHBA Central Interior Board since 2013 serving as a Director.
In recognition for his dedication and service to the association, Ryan was awarded the Maple Leaf Award in 2018. He was also the recipient of the 2018 Rooftopper Award for sponsoring the most new members to CHBA Central Interior.
Blackoak Developments Inc.
Ian Wilcox was born and raised in Kamloops. He completed his Geological Engineering Degree at the University of British Columbia in 2012 and worked for several years in the professional field. Ian became a co-owner of Blackoak Developments in 2016 and hasn’t looked back since.
Blackoak Developments focuses on residential land development and building from custom home builds to multifamily construction.
Blackoak Developments has been a member of CHBA Central Interior since 2016.
WrabelGen Ventures Ltd.
Ron Wrabel, owner of WrabelGen Ventures Ltd, brings over 30 years of experience in the construction industry. Ron completed his red seal ticket in 1991 and did his apprenticeship through Hrycewich Contracting.
Before starting his own company, he started commercial work with McGregor Management. Utilizing the skills and experiences he acquired, he and his brother, Dan, established Wrabel Brothers Construction Ltd. in 1996.
Ron Wrabel is the Project Manager for the 2023 Training House in Juniper West.
Ron has served as a Director on the CHBA Central Interior Board since 2014.
Bernhardt Contracting Ltd.
Jordan Lester began his journey in construction at a young age, helping his dad out with renovations. In 2003 he moved to Vancouver where he attended BCIT, and shortly after started his contracting business. In 2011, after his son was born, he moved back to Kamloops.
While taking CHBA courses and working towards his builder’s license, Lester discovered his aptitude for building science and began pursuing a path towards becoming a Certified Energy Advisor. Since then, he has built up his knowledge tool belt with NetZero, Energy Star for New Homes Standard, Murbs as well as being a Certified Passive House Consultant.
Wrabel Brothers Construction Ltd.
Drew Atkinson began working for Wrabel Brothers Construction Ltd. as a summer student in 1998 while attending university. He then began full time in the summer of 1999 and completed his apprenticeship at Wrabel Brothers Construction, becoming a Red Seal Certified Carpenter. During 2021, he bought into the company, becoming a third partner.
In his capacity as project manager, Atkinson is responsible for custom home builds, commercial tenant improvements, renovations, and commercial restaurants such as McDonalds, Tim Hortons, and Local Public Eatery. He additionally oversees the employment of 25-30 individuals and encourages the completion of their apprenticeships.
In his spare time, Atkinson enjoys outdoor sports such as snowboarding, hiking, and golf, as well as powerlifting.
Tri-AMM Developments Corp.
Marlene Anderson is the president and founding principal of Tri-AMM Developments Corporation. She has been in the land development and residential construction industry since 2004 and a CHBA member since 2005. She joined the Board in 2011 and in that time served as First Vice President, as well as several committees including Operations/Policy/Personnel, Advocacy/Government Relations and Training House.
Marlene graduated from UBC Chemical Engineering in 1990 and spent 15 years in primary manufacturing with Weyerhaeuser Canada and Procter & Gamble.
City of Kamloops
Jason Dixon is the Building and Engineering Manager for the City of Kamloops and has been a Board appointee since 2017.
Jason has worked for the City for nearly 30 years. Starting in Engineering in 1994 then moving to Development in 2011 as the Engineering Development Supervisor and finally to his current role in 2017.
As a life long resident, Jason is grateful for the opportunity be involved in the growth of the community both through his role with the City and involvement with the CHBA CI.
The City of Kamloops has been an active member of the CHBA CI since 1981.
Thompson Rivers University
Tim Kasten has been a member of the CHBA Central Interior since 1999 where he served as the CHBA Central Interior President from 2005 to 2007. He has also served the CHBA BC board for 5 years, one year of which he was the President.
Tim brings over 30 years of experience in the construction industry as well as a carpentry apprenticeship instructor at Thompson Rivers University.
Thompson Rivers University has been an active member of the CHBA Central Interior Association since 1991.
Prior to his career as an instructor at TRU, Tim started his own company and built quality homes in Kamloops.
TNRD
Tony Bolton is the Thompson Nicola Regional District’s Chief Building Inspector.
After years of residential construction around the province, Bolton graduated from TRU’s Architectural Engineering Technology Program. This was instrumental in preparing for Building Official exams, and later for employment at the City of Kamloops as a Residential Plan Checker. In 2013 he began work at TNRD and stepped into the Chief Building Inspector role in 2021. This same year, he also joined the CHBA CI board of Directors as a TNRD appointee.
When Bolton is not in the office you can find him motorcycling, skiing and tinkering in his shop. But nothing beats time spent at the lake with friends and family!
TNRD has been an active member of the CHBA CI since 1999.
Jerry Gill Personal Real Estate Corp.
Jerry Gill started his real estate profession in his early 20s, helping clients buy and sell their homes in Kamloops.
About six years later, he hired a contractor to build his first house. The home building process really intrigued Gill, as he found it was something he was passionate about. Since then, he’s also added residential home development to his roster of accomplishments. Gill has been a member with the CHBA CI since 2018.
On his free time, he enjoys travelling with his family and hitting up the ski slopes!
New Dawn Developments Ltd.
After completing a Bachelor of Management at the University of Lethbridge, Josh Lowden started his career in public accounting with BDO Canada LLP. During his time with BDO, he worked with multiple Municipalities, Government Entities, and private businesses to assist them in complying with the relevant accounting standards.
Shortly after receiving his CPA, CA designation, Josh joined New Dawn Developments as the Controller, and later moving into the role of Chief Operating Officer.
Having just recently joined the CHBA board in 2022, Josh is looking forward to connecting with other members in the Kootenay region to assist in advocating for our industry.
When he is not in the office, you will find him on the baseball field, volleyball court, or hockey arena either playing or coaching.