Leadership Team

JIM BUTLER PRODUCTIONS

Jesse L. Martin | Co-Founder

With over 25 years in the movie industry both as an actor and as a producer, Jesse has managed and produced movies and shows. Owning a production company and leading at times large teams, he brings a wealth of experience in leadership, design, and creativity.

In his spare time, he is also an a designer and architect. His wealth of experience and access will help BEBC at large with exposure, seeing the programs successes as well as telling the stories for black businesses and culture.

KASANDY INC.

Jackee Kasandy | Co-Founder

Jackee has over 13 years in the corporate world as a marketing executive. First in Advertising agencies for 5 years in Toronto and then on client side here in BC for 7 years – BCLC, BC Ferries where she launched their marketing division including their successful BC Ferries vacations brand, and finally at WorkSafeBC before she started her own successful business to make a difference.

Jackee has managed large projects, multi-million dollar budgets and large teams. With both her corporate and business experience, she brings expertise and experience to the society and the programs

DELOITTE / DNA ROMANCE

Judy Bosire | Director of Operations

Judy is an economist at Deloitte with over 10 years of experience delivering research, analysis and strategic advice to governments and agencies, associations, private sector, Aboriginal communities, and a host of organizations on issues at the intersection of policy, social and economic development, and strategy.

With demonstrated experience in managing regional and national engagements that centre on the state of the Canadian economy, Judy brings expertise in economic data analysis providing an economic lens to issues impacting Canadian Black businesses at both the regional and national levels. She will also benefit the Society through her leadership and experience as a co-founder of a technology platform company and Board of Directorship appointments. 

ENTRECORP MEDIA GROUP

Candace Lauren | Director of Communications and Mentorship

Candace Lauren serves humanity as a multi-faceted creative. She is an accomplished brand strategist, award winning speaker, and best selling author. She is currently developing an enterprise for black female entrepreneurs.

With over 10 years of experience as a marketing professional, Candace has designed for six-figure to multi-million dollar, award-winning brands and clients. Having worked with the Think and Grow Rich Institute and CBS syndicated show, “The Talk,” her team creates avenues of possibility for clients to achieve their goals of creating global impact. Her mission is to give 1000 black female entrepreneurs an opportunity to be seen, heard, and make an authentic impact. Candace Lauren will be launching her upcoming podcast and online Marketing academy in the summer of 2021.

Candace’s creative eye and communication skills will serve as a powerful asset to the BEBC team as she leads the media and mentorship departments of the organization.

TELECONNECT SOLUTIONS GROUP

Peter Mwariga | Director of Networking, Partnership Management and Technology

As a small business owner and independent sales consultant at Teleconnect Solutions Group, Peter has over 20 years of experience in the IT industry primarily focused on Telecom and Data Centers solutions for Small and Medium businesses.

Through direct engagement and partnerships, Peter has worked with businesses on their digital transformation to help them compete in this fast-changing business environment.

Peter has a passion for helping small and medium businesses understand the global digital transformation currently taking place and working with them to close the large gap between them and the aggressive and disruptive larger competitors.

IT MANAGER, FRASER HEALTH

Eric Pilgrim | Director of Professional Services and Technology

With over 20 years in the IT industry, working in a variety of sectors such as Beverage, Telecom, Manage Service Provider, Construction, Property Management, and Health Care. Excelling in a diversity of roles for companies within these sectors

Eric has lead I.T teams of various sizes to implement and support several critical infrastructure projects in the Province of B.C,  Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement  Project (600 Million) required for the 2010 Winter Games. Port Mann Hwy 1 Improvement (2.5 Billion) and the Pitt River Bridge &Mary Hill Interchange (200 Million) are a few examples. He is now focused on the Health Care sector using his past knowledge to manage various aspects of the Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment Project, a three-phase project estimated at 1.3 Billion.

 Eric has a unique perspective that has allowed him to meet the challenges of working on very large infrastructure projects. He will bring those viewpoints and skills to the BEBC.