February 26, 2015

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Profe� ional Exce� enceAlberni Valley

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Profe� ionalExce� ence

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Aaron Vissia Financial

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When Aaron Vissia changed his career path and became a financial planner, he had a vision of creating a financial centre where people could get the advice they needed all in one place.

And now 18 years later, that vision is becoming a reality.

Aaron Vissia Financial started as a one-man operation in Vissia’s home office. From those humble beginnings, the firm has grown to include a wide range of financial services all under one roof on Johnston Road.

Services provided by Aaron and his team of five include financial counseling, tax services, investment services, life insurance, critical illness insurance, disability insurance, employee benefits, bookkeeping services, mortgage brokerage.

Aaron works with numerous insurance and investment companies and recently became the representative for the chamber of commerce insurance program for small businesses.

Aaron has invested in his business and his clients by continuing to upgrade his education. He is a certified financial planner and certified employee benefits specialist and is working on becoming a certified life underwriter.

A lot to house under one roof, Aaron tripled his 1,000 square foot office last year by purchasing the building next door and extensively renovating it to add two new offices, a conference room and large meeting room with kitchen and washroom facilities to his operation. Aaron did the majority of the construction and woodwork evenings and weekends himself, a hobby of his.

But his days are consumed with helping people succeed financially.

“We are really client-focused, versus profit-focused,” says Vissia. “Clients don’t want to have to deal with all these

details themselves, they have other things they want to do. We make it simple for them with expertise and services all in one place. I can be with a client, discussing finances and a tax question arises. I just bring Lauren in from her office and we can deal with it right away. It’s a dynamic networking opportunity for our clients.”

For Aaron, building relationships is the key to success. Born and raised in the Alberni Valley, Aaron knows how important it is to stay connected with people before, during and after they visit his office.

“Our group is passionate about helping people establish their financial goals and seeing them realized,” says Aaron. “We add real value by the richness of relationships where trust, honesty and sincerity become unquestionable.”

And now that he has grown his square footage, Aaron wants to continue to grow the business by adding new personnel, possibly inviting other professionals to joining the office and expand the slate of services offered.

Aaron and his team recently developed their own vision statement to keep them focused as they grow and move forward:

“We want to encompass complete financial health and well-being for our clients,” says Aaron. ‘Building relationships and creating a memorable client experience.”

Financial Professionals:

Aaron Vissia, CFP, CEBS

Lauren Skinner tax professional

Terri St. Jacques mortgage broker

Kaitlyn Deforest office manager

Jaymie Deluca, office administrator

Kim Chretien, Book keeper

Aaron Vissia FinancialIncorporated

Aaron Vissia Financial Incorporated4855 Johnston RoadPort Alberni, B.C.V9Y 5M2

Phone (250) 724 9745Fax (250) 723 7738

www.aaronvissia.com

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Financial

We want to encompass complete financial health and well-being for our clients. Building relationships and creating a memorable client experience.

~ Aaron Vissia


The Dave Koszegi Team

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REALTOR® Dave Koszegi loves three things: real estate, his growing family and cars. So much more than a job, real estate is Dave’s consuming pas-sion and that passion has really paid off.

In his 22 years as a REALTOR® in the Alberni Valley, Dave Koszegi has earned three lifetime achievement awards from RE/MAX and has been a Top 100 seller in RE/MAX Western Canada every year for more than a decade. He consistently sells more than 25% of the local market share.

So what makes Dave such a success-ful REALTOR®? His roots and his drive.

“I am addicted to making deals,” laughs Dave. “It’s fun. It’s my job but it’s also my favourite hobby. My kids are in French immersion. I am in realty immersion.”

Dave was born and raised in Port Alberni. He started in sales with a paper route. At 14 he went to work at Beaver Creek Home Center and he began to think he wanted to make a living working either with houses or cars, another passion for him.

“I liked selling and helping people,” says Dave. He credits two people with inspiring him. Teacher Jim Mayo, who taught a marketing class at ADSS and encouraged Dave to go out and talk to businesspeople and Albert See Sr., owner of Beaver Creek Home Center, who taught him a lot about business.

So, after high school, Dave continued to work at Beaver Creek Home Center and studied through UBC for the Real Estate Course. Licensed at age 20, he started selling real estate in his hometown.

Dave attributes his long relationship with the community for much of his success.

“This is an unbelievably loyal community,” says Dave. “They knew me as their paper boy. They knew my Dad. I went to school with them. I sold them their first home. So people

come to see me when they need a REALTOR®. You don’t get that anywhere else.”

But that doesn’t negate how hard Dave has worked.

“I work all the time,” says Dave. “Sometimes people are just in sales. With me, I am interested in it personally. I am not distracted by anything else.”

Dave uses technology and tried-and-true personal service to help his clients.

“I like the personal contact. I prefer the old-school approach. I provide the best possible service and results using the most up-to-date technology available and a vintage smile.”

Dave calls himself a Swiss Army knife REALTOR® because of all the services he and his team of eight provides. They handle every kind of real estate: residential homes, land sales, apartments, stratas, multi-business, sub division developments, rural acreage and recreational and waterfront properties. As well, he is certified as a global marketing agent, luxury home specialist and property manager. And he doesn’t just sell real estate, he also invests in it himself with several projects and properties in the Alberni Valley.

Dave and his team stay current with ongoing education and Dave has been involved in a mentoring program within the industry for the last five years.

“It sustains your knowledge and refreshes what and why you do things the way you do,” says Dave.

Going forward Dave plans to continue to grow his team at his team location on Elizabeth Street as demand dictates.

“I am not in a rush,” says Dave. “Growth will be based on customer demand incrementally. We want to continue to be the small town agent with big city results.”

The Dave Koszegi Team

Profile

Dave Koszegi REALTOR®

Team LeaderThe Dave Team

[email protected] (7653)midislandhomes.comsproatlakehomes.com

Real Estate

I like the personal contact. I prefer the old-school approach. I provide the best possible service and results using the most up-to-date technology available and a vintage smile.

~ Dave Koszegi


Staff at Valley Vision Optometry

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Profe� ional Exce� enceAlberni ValleyVision

Nothing is more precious than vision. These six words are what unites the team at Valley Vision Optometry and provide their motivation to offer the latest advancements in eyecare for the benefit of our community. They do so in a caring, comfortable, environment.

Did you know 1 in 4 Canadian women over 50 experiences dry eye? For years, patients suffered in silence with symptoms like dryness, burning, and red eyes. With a plethora of artificial tears available at the drug store, patients would do their best to guess which ones to use and just assumed that they would always require these drops to keep their eyes comfortable. Upon recognizing this unmet need, Dr. Golemba underwent further training in Dry Eye Disease and Valley Vision Optometry is now certified by the BC Doctors of Optometry as a Dry Eye Centre. Dr. Golemba performs diag-nostic testing, the team provides patient education, and they offer a Dry Eye Bootcamp to restore the eyes back to their normal state. Dry eye left untreated can become chronic and problematic for patients. The Bootcamp solution is a long term, multi-layered treatment that has worked effectively for many patients. “Most patients are incredibly relieved to know that they don’t have to live with the continual irritation”; says Dr. Golemba.

Did you know that macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness for Canadians over 55? In line with their mission to preserve and enhance vision, in 2013, Valley Vision Optometry launched their AMD Centre of Excellence. Using Multispectral Imaging, Dr. Golemba is now able to detect AMD years earlier than he could have without this device. Port Alberni is very fortunate to have access to this technology as this is the only practice on Vancouver Island where it is available. For those who have AMD, he is able to provide a custom-ized prevention plan, complete with genetic testing, light absorbing lenses, nutraceuticals, and follow up with Ocular

Coherence Tomography, which can be thought of as a “CT scan of the eye”. By detecting AMD markers early, patients have a greater chance of maintaining their sight. “Losing sight is a very emotional issue.

It’s heartbreaking to meet patients who would give anything to have the oppor-tunity to see their grandchildren or to be able to keep up their hobbies. I’m sure I speak for my team as well as myself when I say we have a rewarding career. Patients are genuinely thankful for our help“ says Dr. Golemba.

Did you know that 80% of learning is through the visual system?

Shortly after Dr. Golemba came to Port Alberni, he recognized how many children there were in the Alberni Valley with learning related vision problems (LRVPs). Vision is more involved than just reading small letters on the chart. For us to have efficient use of our vision, we need to fixate (look), follow (track), fuse (bring the image of each eye into one), and focus. Signs and symptoms of a LRVP include: skipping words and losing place when reading, re-reading words, reversing letters, using a finger to keep place, reading slowly, poor reading comprehension, feeling unusually tired after completing a visual task, difficulty tracking a ball, eye turning, closing one eye when reading, print goes in and out of focus, poor spelling, and confusing right and left. By 2008, Dr. Golemba completed years of study in this area and opened the Island’s first Vision Therapy Clinic. What they have found to be most rewarding of Vision Therapy, is the transformation of shy, introverted children into confident, outgoing students, with improved grades, improved success in sports, and the enhanced ability to see in 3D.

“You can’t beat the feeling you get when meeting with a child and his / her parents at the end of therapy, knowing you’ve made an impact in this child’s life and increased the possibilities for success in the future.”

Valley Vision Simply the Best Eyecare Experience

Dr. Shaun Golemba

Valley Vision Optometry4009 Redford StreetPort Alberni B.C. V9Y 3R9

Phone: 250-724-0933

www.valleyvisionoptometry.ca

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You can’t beat the feeling you get when meeting with a child and his / her parents at the end of therapy, knowing you’ve made an impact in this child’s life and increased the possibilities for success in the future.

~ Dr. Shaun Golemba


Mitch Gardner and Robin Nadig

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Profe� ional Exce� enceAlberni ValleyFinancial

Profile

“Our business is managing money, our goal is building relationships.” That’s how Mitch Gardner and Robin Nadig at Global Securities see their role in your finances.

Global Securities has been serving the Alberni Valley and clients since 1992. On any given weekday morning Mitch and Robin can be found at their desks keeping apprised of the financial world.

They access real time market data and information from various sub-scriptions such as Thompson Reuters, Globe and Mail, GlobeInvestorGold.com, Stockwatch, Accountability Research Corp and from Global Securities Corporation’s in house analysts.

Whether you have a scheduled appointment or are dropping in for a complimentary consultation you will always find a warm welcome.

Mitch and Robin offer friendly and honest advice presented in a clear way in what is often referred to as a “complicated financial world”. Advice is tailored to individual needs, life situation and comfort level. They

ensure you are comfortable your investments are going according to plan with client contact through emails, telephone calls and personal meetings. As advisors, not only do Mitch and Robin make recommen-dations but look to inform and teach clients about their investment prod-ucts. They also keep clients aware of income tax and estate implications and encourage clients to discuss these matters with their tax professionals to ensure that their investments are protected.

Mitch and Robin both understand that all clients have individual needs. They work with clients to clarify the key issues important to them and strive to build long lasting relationships based on trust, education, service and most importantly, by taking the time to know and understand their clients. Mitch and Robin understand and recognize that entering into a relationship with a new advisor is not taken lightly and they will ensure that your experience is a positive one. It is their goal to help you live the life you dream about.

Global SecuritiesGlobal Perspective. Personal Solutions.

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.

- Henry Ford

Vision without execution is just hallucination.

- Thomas Edison

Global Securities Corp.B-5262 Argyle St.Port Alberni, BCV9Y 1T9

Phone 250-723-4970 Mitch Gardner [email protected] Robin Nadig [email protected] www.globalsec.comMember Canadian Investor Protection Fund


R. Anderson & Associates

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Chartered Accountant Robert Anderson and Chief Operating Officer Linda Kuhr have just moved into their offices and new business in Port Alberni, and they are excited for the future. They are the new owners of Duncan Sabine Collyer Partners (“DSCP”) accounting firm, now renamed R. Anderson & Associates Inc.

Long-time owners Robert Duncan and Donald Jones are retiring from the business they have operated on Argyle Street for more than 35 years. But the business goes back further than that. The firm actually started in 1939 and has a long history of serving the Alberni Valley and West Coast.

Rob and Linda are both from the Lower Mainland with years of experience behind them. Rob as a chartered accountant with a broad range of experience working through many sectors of public and private industry, including mining, film and television, technology, corporate and personal tax and owner managed companies.

Linda has extensive operational experi-ence from small to large corporations in Canada & USA, including Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment, National Grocers and Garaventa Lift. She also has started, owned and operated her own highly successful businesses in the retail and manufacturing sectors. Linda has a very fundamental and knowledgeable skill set in every facet of operating a business.

For Rob and Linda, who have come from the Lower Mainland and are looking forward to having their respective spous-es’ join them in the Valley soon, the well-established firm is a good fit both professionally and personally.

Both families enjoy the extensive outdoor activities the island offers such as paddling, running, biking, and golf. “We like to work hard, and to play hard. We can do both here,” says Rob. Both families envision retiring in the Alberni Valley. But for the foreseeable future, Rob and Linda see great opportunities for the business and the community.

“We have excellent long-term staff and a great reputation for supporting the

community and that won’t be changing at all,” says Rob. “We are excited for the future. We just see so much opportunity here. The community is really amazing and people are so genuinely friendly here.”

One of their first plans for that future is to expand the small, shared part-time office the practice has in Ucluelet to a full time office of its own to better serve the residents of the West Coast. “Right now, we believe that West Coast busi-nesses and residents need an account-ing firm to have a more visible presence to show them we are willing to make a commitment to serve those communi-ties” says Rob. “We are confident we can accomplish that.”

Rob and Linda are also looking to add a second accounting partner to the practice in the future to help with the workload as they grow and expand, as he is replacing two retiring accountants. “But they most definitely have to be the right fit for us, our staff and our business philosophy” says Rob.

R. Anderson and Associates offers a full complement of accounting services for small businesses, not-for-profit organi-zations and individuals. They perform audits, corporate tax services, payroll services, personal taxes, family trusts and estates, specialized tax planning and bookkeeping services.

With a staff of nine employees with expertise and certification in account-ing, payroll and bookkeeping, our clients are well served. “We are very people oriented,” says Rob. “We want to meet clients’ needs to the highest standard we believe they deserve. We make sure our clients are always satisfied and staff are treated well. It’s about treating people with respect.” For accountants, it is vital that all work is done right, on time and on budget, adds Rob. As they settle in and make the transition as new owners during the busy tax sea-son, Rob and Linda are already feeling at home in the Alberni Valley and are look-ing forward to continue to get to know and serve the community and make the Alberni Valley their permanent home.

R. Anderson & Associates Inc.Chartered Accountants

Robert Anderson CPA, CAPrincipal Accountant

Linda KuhrChief Operating Officer

R. Anderson & Associates Inc.5155 Argyle St, Port Alberni, BCV9Y 1V3

Phone 250-724-5717

C harteredAccountant

Profile

We have excellent long-term staff and a great reputation for supporting the community and that won’t be changing at all. We are excited for the future. We just see so much opportunity here. The community is really amazing and people are so genuinely friendly here.

~Rob Anderson


Coast Realty Group

New Proposed Coast Realty Building

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Profe� ional Exce� enceAlberni ValleyR eal

Estate

Profile

People above all. People who are buying, people who are selling, people who are renting or support-ing people in the community, Coast Realty has put people first in every-thing they do for more than 30 years.

“We really try to stress our local community,” says Chris Arcus, Coast manager for Port Alberni/West Coast. “And we have a ton of experience in the community.”

About 80 per cent of the 14 REALTOR®s at Coast Realty in Port Alberni were born and/or raised in the Alberni Valley. They bring more than 200 years combined experience to buyers and sellers.

“Our people are industry veterans who really know the Valley, the area,” says Arcus.

Coast Realty handles all kinds of real estate, commercial, residential, recreational properties and rental property management. And their years of experience in the industry and in the community makes them local experts.

“For example, our knowledge and experience in recreational properties comes from an intimate knowledge of the area,” says Arcus. “Whether its Headquarters Bay, Kildonan or Haggard’s Cove, we have realtors who own properties in those areas and they know the areas well.”

Commercial properties are another area where long-term Coast realtors have expertise.

“We have a ton of experience in commercial,” says Arcus. “A lot of people are looking into business properties, into storefronts. Having a Realtor that knows it well is a real advantage.”

Selling Port Alberni properties is easy too, because the community is such a great location.

Coast Realt agree it’s easy to sell real estate in Port Alberni because it is such a great community to market. There are so many great things going on, so much to offer as a community. And then there is the affordability. The Alberni Valley has some of the most affordable housing on Vancouver Island.

Realtors will tell you the importance of location and the Coast Realty office in Port Alberni has a great location right on Johnston Road, with lots of parking and easy access.

And now they are improving on that great location by investing in the community for the future. Coast Realty will break ground on a new 3,000 square foot building April 1. The building will be home to Coast Realty and have commercial office space available as well. Once Coast moves into the new building, the existing one will be demolished and an additional 2,000 square foot building built for lease. The completion of the first building is scheduled for end of summer.

Coast is building for the future with their people as well. Coast has been “resculpting” their approach to new realtors with a program for mentor-ing new realtors. With the steep learning curve that new realtors must master, Coast has designed a first-of-its-kind program to make it easier.

“Ultimately it means we deliver better service to our clients,” says Arcus.

Coast Realtors:Craig Filipchuk

W. Earl EngstromEleanor CoffeyDell McConnell

Pat HickeyGerry Hickey

Coast RealtyPeople. Above all.

Coast Realty Group4213 Princess RoadPort Alberni, BC V9Y 5R2

Toll-free: 888-723-1800Phone: 250-723-1800Fax: 250-723-1809

Email: [email protected]

We really try to stress our local community, and we have a ton of experience in the community.Ultimately it means we deliver better service to our clients.

~ Chris Arcus


Ramsay, Lampman & Rhodes

Rhonda Johnson Eric Mosley Sarah-Beth Hutchinson

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For more than 30 years Ramsay Lampman Rhodes law firm has been serving the legal needs of people on Vancouver Island.

One of Vancouver Island’s largest law firms, RLR offers trusted legal advice and representation across a broad spectrum of legal subject areas. Three years ago, the opportunity to open an office in Port Alberni just made sense.

“Port Alberni was grossly underserviced,” says Stephen McPhee, a partner in the firm. “ When you went to court, most of the lawyers were from out of town and that’s not always in the best interest of the client. It is important to Port Alberni that they have a law firm that supports the community and invests in the com-munity.”

While RLR wasn’t looking to expand from Nanaimo to Port Alberni, long-time local lawyer Eric Mosley invited them to consider it.

So RLR started the office on Third Avenue on a trial basis, and it is now a busy office with three full time lawyers – Mosley, Sarah Beth Hutchison and Rhonda Johnson - and three support staff.

“We’ve been very pleased with how excited local business and local people are that we have invested here,” says McPhee.

That investment in the community pays off for clients who need legal services.

“It works because we think of this office and the one in Nanaimo as one firm,” says McPhee. “Everyone is part of the team. Clients have a lot of resources at their disposal that they didn’t have before.”

Those resources and services encompass a wide variety of legal services including business law, civil and commercial

litigation, divorce and family law, aboriginal law, business law, construction law, mediation and arbitration, personal injury and ICBC claims, real estate law and wills and estates.

And with RLR, clients receive the same quality of legal representation and advice they would in much larger firms.

Different situations call for different approaches, and individual talents. Every lawyer at RLR possesses a distinct skill-set and brings a unique range of experiences to the practice of law.

“We have excellent lawyers and high recruitment standards,” says McPhee. “We have lawyers who have clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada, clerked at the Court of Appeal, and who have the QC (Queen’s Council) designation. We go toe-to-toe with large Vancouver firms on complicated files, with excellent results.”

The lawyers of RLR are committed to providing you with legal representation of the highest calibre, delivered in an efficient, economic and timely manner, regardless of the legal situation you face.

While techniques may vary depending on the context, the approach is always the same: Understand you. Understand the Issue. Understand your objective. And then work to achieve your goals.

The difference that RLR brings is simple - commitment to their clients and to their community.

“We like to be connected to our communities and our clients,” says McPhee.

In Port Alberni, RLR supports a number of not-for-profit groups including the Bulldogs, Fall Fair and the Alberni Charity Golf Classic, as well as other sporting and cultural events. “We want to make sure we are giving back to the community that supports us so well.”

Ramsay, Lampman & RhodesLegal Excellence. Island Values.

Ramsay, Lampman & Rhodes3290 3rd AvenuePort Alberni, B.C. V9Y 4E1

Phone 250-724-1275Fax 250-724-7200TOLL-FREE IN BC: 1-800-263-3321

Email: [email protected] www.rlr-law.com

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L awyers

It is important to Port Alberni that they have a law firm that supports the community and invests in the community.

~ Stephen McPhee


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Profe� ional Exce� ence

February 26, 2015

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