Our Team

Marcia Nozick

CEO, EMBERS

A founding member of EMBERS, Marcia Nozick has been CEO of EMBERS for 11 years. Driven by a passion for building sustainable communities and under her vision and leadership, EMBERS has grown and achieved significant successes. Starting as a small and innovative idea and growing to be a sustainable and viable member of Vancouver's ongoing economic community. Prior to joining EMBERS, Marcia was the coordinator of Health Communities in Winnipeg, associate editor and publisher of City Magazine, taught Community Economic Development at Simon Fraser University for 8 years and was an accomplished concert pianist. She holds a Master's Degree in City Planning, has run her own small business and is the author of a Canadian bestselling book, No Place Like Home: Building Sustainable Communities (1992) that David Suzuki called "a bright beacon for a dark time, points to a health community as the goal of society, and provides a blueprint to achieve it. This is must reading."

Guy Thorburn

Program Manager, EMBERS Ventures

Guy is a personable, experienced and creative member of the EMBERS team. Beyond his MBA in New Venture Development from the University of Calgary, he has over 12 years of training and hands-on experience in business management, new venture planning, economic development, marketing and technology commercialisation particularly in the professional services, information technology, e-commerce and environmental sectors.  He has a passion for dreaming up new ideas for new businesses and possesses a deep understanding of the “balancing acts” required of entrepreneurs. Guy’s early work experience includes 3 years working in the UK with a Venture Capital and Economic Development Consultancy where he was involved with over 30 new business start-ups, technology development funds and business incubation programs in technology sectors across the EU.  Guy is proud of his young family of red heads and looks for any opportunity to get out of the city.  He can frequently be found helping his parents get their chickens and sheep to market and is still waiting for the right moment to launch the right business venture.  

 

Perry Stein 

Communications, EMBERS

Perry brings a rich background in sustainable community development, having researched and worked in the areas of communications, urban marginalization, food security, fair trade, sustainable resource management and community economic development for the past eight years in Canada, Ecuador, Cuba, Mexico and Chile. Perry has also worked extensively in the non-profit sector in Western Canada and Ecuador. He is keen to apply those experiences to support EMBERS as part of the communications team. Perry holds a Maters Degree in Latin American Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Development and Sustainability Studies from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Studies from the University of Lethbridge. In his spare time Perry enjoys photography, running and traveling the world with his beautiful wife Chantelle.

 

Peter Rossing

Business Development Manager, EMBERS Green Renovations

Peter is tasked with selling and marketing EMBERS' newest social enterprise's services throughout the Lower Mainland. Peter has a proven track record of helping enterprises identify businesses opportunities, diversify products, build new key accounts and grow sales. His extensive business experience has taken him to Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America. Peter has an MBA from the University of Ottawa, and a Master's of Science from the University of British Columbia. He brings to EMBERS a passion for sustainability and for using business to combat poverty and empower disadvantaged members of our community. His claim to fame is traveling 36,000 Kms on motorcycle across the Americas to meet the woman of his dream on a Russian research vessel in Antarctica. Peter is an avid scuba diver, footballer, hiker and globetrotter, and keeps busy these days raising two feisty girls.

 

Bruce Campbell

Project Manager, EMBERS Green Renovations

Bruce oversees all aspects of project and site management for EMBERS Green Renovations, and bringing with him 30 years of construction experience. Bruce started working construction in Whistler before moving to Honolulu to own and operate his own successful renovation company for over twenty years, working on homes, retail locations and government projects. He has recently moved back to the area to be closer to his family and is proud to help us work towards our mission. When he isn’t on the construction site with EGR, Bruce is passionate about rebuilding old cars and bikes.

 

Doug Aason

Program Manager, EMBERS Staffing Solutions

 

Janette Pink

Office Administrator, EMBERS

 

 

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About

EMBERS Ventures' support services were designed to fill a need in Vancouver's inner city.  It started with a small mandate to provide a model for economic self sufficiency through entrepreneurship and has successfully grown to help over 500 individuals travel that path to become financially autonomous.  By using principles of community based economic development, we have seen people without a business background go on to become self-sufficient owners of their own micro-enterprise, and along the way, increased their confidence and entrepreneurial know-how to become leading and innovative members of Vancouver’s growing economic district.

EMBERS Ventures is proud to offer two programs to the public; EMBERS Build A Business and EMBERS Grow A Business that are scheduled at various times throughout the year.

Embers Shaw's VCommunity Channel from D'Arcy Hamilton on Vimeo.

 

Testimonials

	"Before working with EMBERS and the Grow a Business Program I was working really hard on my business and had a lot of plans and ideas, but I was having a hard time turning them into a reality. Working one-on-one with my coach, Guy Thorburn, helped me put a map down on paper, and make several key decisions which will help take my business to the next level. "One thing that I really admire and appreciate about the Grow A Business Program is that my coach and I are creating a 3-month follow up plan so that I still have someone to check in with regarding the future development of my business. I am very blessed to be part of this program. Thank you Guy and thank you EMBERS." -Deb Chaney, Contemporary Artist To learn more about Deb, click here
	“In all honesty, before EMBERS I was nowhere. My business was making next to no money and I had very little confidence that I was going to be able to make my business a success. I got really excited when I heard about the EMBERS Ventures program. And after meeting with my coach Guy, I started to believe that there was hope for my business… sometimes all you needs is a little “you can do this” push. The Ventures program has enabled me to run the business that I want, in such a way that makes me happy and committed to success.” - Sabea Mante, Soul Harmony Mobile Massage To learn more about Sabea, click here
	"I am an EMBERS client, graduate of the Build A Business Program and currently enrolled in the Grow A Business Program.   EMBERS Ventures has been hugely catalytic in helping me focus on the business end of my life. Creating a business is not an easy path by any stretch, but with the assistance of the EMBERS coaching team, there is help in not only seeing the path but learning to walk it.” -Michael Rouse, Producer To learn more about Michael, click here
	"In the four years that I did creative schooling I learned nothing about operating a business. EMBERS opened up that part of my brain, helping me to realize that I can be an artist and a small business owner… and that I can do both successfully.” -Stephanie Menard, Jeweler (Fibre Manipulator) and Small Business Owner (Tiny Finery) To learn more about Tiny Finery, click here

Does Your Home Need a Renovation?

EMBERS Green Renovations assist homeowners, strata, real-estate agent, landlords, retail and commercial clients with all their needs whether it is new construction or remodeling and general maintenance of existing buildings. Our goal is to make any home improvement project a success by providing excellent customer service with reliable, guaranteed workmanship, one job at a time - at very competitive rates, quickly and with minimum stress to the homeowner.

 

Our one-stop services include:
•  Kitchen Installations	•  Painting
•  Bathroom Refurbishing	•  Dry wall
•  Flooring	•  Windows & doors
•  Demolition	•  Landscaping
•  Home Remodeling	•  Insulation
•  Energy efficiency upgrades	•  Blower-door test
•  Thermal Imaging	•  Weatherization
Don't see what you need? Just ask!

 

Projects Done Right, Guaranteed­!

We work tirelessly, from project start to finish, to fulfill our clients' visions. Our vast experience ensures the best solutions are found in terms of cost, choice of materials, quality and overall project sustainability. We will always provide a complimentary quote to every inquiry.   Don’t hesitate to contact us today

• Outstanding quality at very affordable prices
• 2-year warranty on all work (small home repairs excluded)
• Strong commitment to sustainable building, recycling and labor practices 
• Detailed written scope of work for all jobs
• Superior customer service
• Free Assessment  

Did you know that 100% of our profit goes to build our community through EMBERS employment programs?  EMBERS is a charity that helps people living on low incomes to develop productive futures.