Description

The Chamber’s Company of Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (CYPE) and the Esposito Family Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (EFCIE) continue the Elevate Your Edge series with a dynamic session focused on mentorship and early-stage governance. This instalment guides students, young professionals, and emerging entrepreneurs through the practical realities of building a “growth team” that includes mentors, advisors and, when appropriate, boards.

Attendees will gain insight into when to seek mentorship, how to build effective relationships, what mentors expect from mentees, and how advisory or corporate boards support business growth. With a panel of experienced leaders across sectors, participants will walk away with applied strategies, inspiration and new connections within the UFV and CYPE communities.

Cathy Press is the CEO of Chinook Helicopters in Abbotsford. Beginning her flying journey at age 11, she was Canada's first female helicopter flight instructor and remains the only person in Canada certified as a Transport Canada Pilot Examiner in both airplanes and helicopters. She currently holds flight instructor ratings issued by Transport Canada (TCCA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Under Cathy’s leadership, Chinook has grown from a fleet of 3 helicopters to 15, while also expanding into a 13 aircraft fixed-wing training operation. Chinook is established as a Robinson Helicopter dealership, a Bell 505 dealership as well as an Approved Maintenance Operation. She has earned numerous accolades over the years, including Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100, the W.A. ‘Dub’ Blessing Flight Instructor of the Year Award, an Honorary Doctorate from UFV and most recently led Chinook to receive the 2025 Transport Canada Safety Award. 

Cathy serves as Chair of the British Columbia Aviation Council and sits on the board of the Helicopter Association of Canada, along with several other industry boards. She is also a strong advocate for aviation education, maintaining partnerships with British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). Cathy continues to inspire the next generation of pilots while breaking barriers for women in aviation.

Vineet Verghese results-driven leader with over 16 years at RBC, Vineet oversees a team of 13 Relationship Managers supporting nearly 900 small and medium-sized businesses in the Fraser Valley and Langley regions. His career at RBC reflects a trajectory of increasing responsibility, anchored in a commitment to client success and strategic growth.

Education:

· Executive MBA, Beedie School of Management, Simon Fraser University (2022)

· Bachelor’s in Hospitality and Tourism Management, EHL Swiss School of Tourism & Hospitality (1997)

Global Experience Before joining RBC in 2010, Vineet spent 7 years in Dubai, U.A.E., leading credit card strategy teams in financial services. Earlier, he honed his expertise in Bengaluru, India, managing customer service teams in the IT-enabled services sector.

Community Leadership Vineet is deeply engaged in fostering economic and social impact:

· Board Director, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce (current)

· Past Board Director, Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce

· Treasurer & Council Member, Riverside Community Church, Port Coquitlam

· Director, Millennium Relief and Development Services (Canada)

· Co-Executive Sponsor, RBC Women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG)

· Co-Chair, RBC Asian Professionals Network

Personal Life A proud resident of Pitt Meadows for 15 years, Vineet enjoys the town’s serene charm with his wife, two grown children, and their family dog. He’s often spotted walking along the dykes or exploring local eateries. In his spare time, he’s an avid reader of non-fiction (aiming for 52 books annually) and a passionate pickleball player with the Golden Ears Pickleball Club

Don R. Campbell is an Abbotsford-based economic and real estate researcher, author, and analyst. He is the President of Cutting Edge Research Inc., which has entered its 28th year of providing unbiased research and analysis on the fundamentals of Canadian commercial, residential, agricultural, and industrial real estate markets. He has been the go-to analyst for media outlets across the country for over three decades — including CTV, CBC, and Global — and was invited by CBC to Toronto to discuss appearing as a “Dragon” on Dragon’s Den.

Don is Canada’s #1 best-selling real estate author, with seven Canadian bestsellers to his name. His landmark title, Real Estate Investing in Canada, is the all-time best-selling real estate book in Canadian history. He donates 100% of his author royalties directly to Habitat for Humanity — a commitment that has raised over $1,350,000 to build homes for families in need.

Through the A440 Charitable Foundation, Don has raised an additional $1,000,000 in support of the Fraser Valley community — including the Abbotsford Community Foundation, Bakerview Music Academy, Fraser Valley Gleaners, and bursaries for local graduating students.

A sought-after speaker across North America, Don shares his research and strategies with federal, provincial, and municipal governments, as well as businesses of all sizes. He now channels this experience into mentoring young adults and professionals through the A440 Charitable Foundation advisory board.