Board Members

John brings over 20 years of public accounting experience as an Assurance Partner to help clients grow their business. Working with a diverse array of clients, his approach is to get to know the business first-hand by listening and understanding the owner-manager’s business and personal concerns.  In collaboration with the client, John prioritizes business goals and assists in developing appropriate recommendations to preserve and grow the family’s business assets. John recently published a chapter on “Tax Strategies for the Owner Manager” and is a member of the Independent Review Committee of Portland Investment Counsel Inc.

“Each family business is unique,” notes John.  “It’s my job to understand the needs of the business and family, and provide the owners the individual attention they deserve.”  John finds that meeting his clients outside of the boardroom helps him better understand their goals.  His approach is to get to know the business first-hand by walking through the facility, meeting the employees and understanding what the business is all about.

“Getting to know the clients personally helps me to develop the most appropriate recommendations to protect the family and the business’s net worth.”

Working closely with his clients, John shares his personal experience in strategic acquisitions and financing to help businesses prosper.  John’s expertise also extends to planning for real estate transactions with an emphasis to minimize tax.

Academic Achievements

• Bachelor of Business Administration, Wilfrid Laurier University

Memberships and Professional Designations

• Slovenian Honourary Counsel General for Canada
• Treasurer, European Union Chamber of Commerce in Canada (EUCCAN)
• Co-Founder/Director, Canadian Slovenian Scholarship Foundation
• Founding member, Innovation Night
• Member, Independent Review Committee of AIC Ltd & Copernican Capital Corp.
• Past Executive Director, Golden Horseshoe Venture Forum
• Past Executive Member, Burlington Community Professional Advisor’s Committee
• Member, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario
• Advisor and Coach, Burlington Youth Soccer Club

Contact: jdoma@batemanmackay.com

Bill Kocjancic graduated from Humber College as an Architectural Design Technologist. Since then he has been involved in the woodworking industry from manufacturing to machinery sales and everything in between. Growing up on the shop floor and moving into the management side has given Bill the perspective needed to see all sides of the challenges involved in operating a manufacturing business.

Bill grew up in the Toronto area and has been involved in the Slovenian Community for as long as he can remember.

He was member of some popular Slovenian bands; Zvoki Slovenija, Petovio & Planinski Kvintet. This experience gave him the opportunity to travel to different Slovenian Associations across North America.

In Toronto he was involved with Slovenian Radio Program for 20 years before taking over as the president of The Slovenian Hunters & Anglers Club.

Bill realizes the importance of maintaining these ties with the Slovenian Community and wants to ensure that these ties are available for generations to come.

With an educational background in engineering and management Richard brings 10 years of technical and management skills specializing in design, analyses, project management and financial budgeting as well as 15 years of experience in the Canadian food industry. While his current career path has taken him into the Aerospace Industry he also continues to support and be an active participant in the food industry.

Coming from a Slovenian entrepreneurial family in the food industry that has been serving the community for over 35 years has provided Richard with a multifaceted view into the Slovenian small business community.

Richard has been involved in the Slovenian community from a young age, participating in the Mladi Glas Dance Group, Cubs and Scouts, a graduate of Slovenian School and volunteering for the Slovenian Cultural Radio Show. Growing up in a Slovenian family, working closely with Slovenians and participating in the numerous cultural community activities has allowed Richard to stay close to his roots and heritage.

Richard is Canadian born with both Canadian and Slovenian Citizenship and is looking forward to his next visit to Slovenia.

Combining this blend of entrepreneurial and professional experience as well as Slovenian roots, Richard is looking forward to working closely with the business members of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and further our membership’s presence both locally and internationally.

Contact: rvitrih@gmail.com 

Born in Slovenia, Justin received most of his mechanical education at Tomos Koper, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of motorbikes and mopeds. After leaving Slovenia at the age of 19 and a year of living in France, he finally made Canada his home. His work as a machinist brought him to different industrial companies including the de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited.

His machining work was followed by 16 years of successful sales practice as a real estate agent before he opened his own company Just Aluminum and Glass (JAG). Justin built JAG into a successful doors and windows manufacturing and installing business. Today JAG employs 50 people and supplies custom windows solutions across Canada and USA. Product diversification added two additional brands to the JAG family: Trillium vinyl doors and windows and Bigfoot Door high-end / high-efficiency European windows systems which produced, among other solutions, the largest sliding door in North America.

Justin has been involved with various Slovenian organizations, such as Slovensko Letovisce, Slovenian Canadian Culture Exchange, and an active member of the CSCC for over 20 years. Justin is a great supporter of a number of Slovenian organizations and initiatives.

Contact: justin@justaluminum.ca  

With a background in IT and finance, Boris has consulted in almost every business sector from banking, insurance, manufacturing to engineering. 

His database design skills and information gathering expertise has kept him in demand.

Boris has had the opportunity to consult with startups and kick-start their operations.  In the past few years, he has honed his skill in web development and digital marketing.  Many businesses have benefited by getting increased exposure in the market place.

When not working, you may see him at the Slovenian events with a camera in his hand.

Contact: ulteksystems@gmail.com 

Sonya Rosenwirth has over 25 years of business and project management experience in various leadership roles. Throughout Sonya’s career, she’s had the opportunity to experience many business sectors and roles resulting in a holistic approach to business opportunities. As president and co-founder of Advantis Strategic Management, Sonya has led or managed national projects in the Telecommunications, CPG, Apparel, and Healthcare sectors.

Sonya’s Slovenian heritage is very important to her and she has dual Canadian and Slovenian citizenship. Her entire family is in Slovenia and she enjoys a close relationship with them through visits and keeping in touch by phone, video calls, and in writing. Throughout Sonya’s life, she has always been involved in the Slovenian community at banquets, parks, churches, and as vice-president on the Slovenian Linden Foundation – Dom Lipa Board.

When Sonya was on the board at Dom Lipa, she was pleased to see many different groups from our community band together with the single purpose of promoting our Slovenian heritage and paying tribute to the seniors who sacrificed to start a new life for us in Canada.

The reasons for Slovenians to connect with the Canadian Slovenian Chamber of Commerce are the same now as they were in the past. We trust that our common background unites us with shared values and a good work ethic.

The Canadian Slovenian Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to enable Slovenians in Canada and abroad to connect and share their business expertise. When companies are gearing up for growth and expansion they wish to reach out to a trusted network of business associates – as partners, investors, and as resources.

Sonya looks forward to connecting with the global business Slovenian community to assist with their pursuits.

Contact: sonya@canslo.com

Simon is the Trade Commissioner for the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Ottawa.  

As a Canadian-Slovenian entrepreneur, business networking, and strategic marketing consultant, his projects have transcended many business sectors.

Simon held the position of the CSCC Executive Director from late 2014 until early 2017. The period of his tenure, which was made possible by generous starting support by the Slovenian Honorary Consul General Mr. John Doma, saw a significant rise of membership and number of CSCC organized activities in both Canada and Slovenia. During the mentioned time period the trade between Canada and Slovenia grew by 27%, while direct Slovenian merchandise exports to Canada saw an increase of 31% (source: Statistics Canada).

In the past, Simon was employed as a marketing, communications and corporate relations professional at various organizations in the GTA, such as Ontario Place Corporation, TLN Telelatino TV Network, Diamond Integrated Marketing, as well as Slovenia’s branch of Young & Rubicam communications group. He successfully managed the delivery of a wide variety of mission-critical projects for clients including Sony Canada, Dell Computers, TD Bank, Goodyear, Toyota, Colgate/Palmolive, Dunlop, Fiat, Rogers Communications, Panasonic, Mac’s, Research in Motion…

As the founder and president of the Final Flash Association, Simon and his team developed art and entertainment events as well as educational projects in Slovenia, UK, Canada, Israel, and South Africa, amongst which included a unique partnership with MTV Networks Europe, with co-promotional TV coverage across 25 countries supporting an itinerary of events of 3000+ international clientele.

Simon’s public appearances include presentations at numerous business and leadership conferences, including the Emerging Global Leaders Conference at York University (Toronto), and The National Assembly of the Parliament of Slovenia. He was given the honour by the Government of Slovenia to pass the lifetime work achievement award to Canadian Slovenian artist and writer Ted Kramolc.

As part of his efforts for ongoing work improvement, Simon attended training in public diplomacy and leadership at the IDC institute in Herzliya, Israel, and also had the pleasure of collaborating with the Canada-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

A B.A. Honours graduate of York University (Toronto) and having significant international educational credentials, Simon has been recognized for his many contributions to both community and commerce from York University and the Parliament of Slovenia.

Dr. Margaret M. Rudolf completed a 30-year career in senior management with the federal government of Canada. Her work experience ranges from advising Cabinet Ministers on communications change issues, to managing complex transformational projects in a number of large organizations.

A native of Montreal, Margaret is multilingual and works globally. By combining research with practice, Margaret takes a “prac-academic” approach in her chosen field. Margaret is a true believer in ethical management, having understood through her experience that transformative change cannot happen without organizations seriously considering how to enable, build, and maintain trust in the workplace.

Margaret obtained her PhD in 2009, from Fielding Graduate University. Her dissertation chair and mentor is Dr. Thierry Pauchant, Chair of Ethical Business Management at HEC, (Hautes Etudes Commerciales), Université de Montréal.

Margaret is a skilled communicator and is fluent in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Slovenian.  In 2016, she was made Honorary Consul for Slovenia to British Columbia and is passionate about her Slovenian heritage.

Margaret has had a very impressive career and has generously agreed to join the Canadian Slovenian Chamber of Commerce as Director of the Board.

Memberships and Professional Designations

• Honorary Consul for Slovenia to British Columbia
• Professor, Global Organizational Behaviour, Acsenda School of Management
• Book: Trust And Organizational Capacity For Change, Published By Lambert Academic Publishers http://www.amazon.com/Organizational-Capacity-Change-Margaret-Rudolf/dp/3846533556
• GTEC Team Distinction Award, Bronze Medalist 2008, Gold Medalist 2000
• Academy of Management ♦ VANOC (Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games) ♦ OD Network (Organizational Development) ♦ Ottawa OD Network ♦ CP square (Communities of Practice) ♦ CPRS Accreditation Chair (Canadian Public Relations Society) ♦ IABC Job Networking Chair (International Association of Business Communicators) ♦ IKMF Forum (Canada Interdepartmental Knowledge Management Forum) ♦ Vancouver International Song Institute Advisory Board Member ♦ Gleneagles Community Centre, Board Member at Large ♦ Whistler-Blackcomb mountain host and ski instructor ♦ Piano concerts at Silk Purse through Piano Cantabile
   
   

Contact: sloveniaconsulbc@gmail.com