Board of Directors
The Coquitlam North Road CNRBIA is governed by a board of directors composed of local business owners and community leaders.
Owen Coomer
Co-Chair
Owen Coomer | Chief Operating Officer, Taphouse Coquitlam
Co-Founder, The Barn Country Bar
Owen Coomer brings dynamic leadership and a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry. Serving as Chief Operating Officer of The Taphouse Coquitlam and Co-Founder of The Barn, Owen excels at creating thriving community hubs. With a focus on innovation, operations, and customer experience, he drives growth while fostering local connections and memorable experiences. Owen’s passion for excellence and community collaboration defines his commitment to building vibrant, successful businesses.
Vanessa Wideski
Co-Chair
Vanessa Wideski draws on her experience as Executive Director of the Whonnock Cultural Reclamation Society and Founder of Low Entropy, which operates a thriving thrift store in the Coquitlam North Road BIA area. With expertise in nonprofit leadership, community impact, and sustainable growth, she champions local businesses, fosters inclusivity, and drives economic development while celebrating cultural diversity. Vanessa’s passion for collaboration and empowerment shapes her commitment to building vibrant, connected communities.
Winnie Hsu
Co-Treasurer
Founder & CEO – NexGen Accounting Inc.
President & Founder – Vision2Reality Foundation
Winnie Hsu came to Canada thirty years ago as a financially struggling student from China, working several low-paying jobs to sustain herself. Eventually, she started her own small accounting business. But that was 20 years ago. Today, she has a team of fifteen professionals serving over 200 small businesses in the greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley in B.C.
Winnie never stops learning. Wanting to achieve more, she studied for an MBA with the Jack Welch Management Institute (JWMI) in the USA by taking online classes during the pandemic. Using the 18-month fast track route, she graduated with all honours for all 12 of her courses at the end of 2021, also winning the distinguished scholar award with the JWMI at age 59 – all while working full-time to manage her business.
Fall of 2021, with three fellow co-founders, she started her dream impact project by founding Vision2Reality Foundation (V2RF) - a 100% online, free business community to help newcomers with their entrepreneur journey. Today, the V2RF online community has over four hundred members on its platform who have and are all willing to share, learn and grow with local business owners and professionals. These have and will include people of different races, colours, genders, and cultural backgrounds who came to North America and dreamed of building a better life for themselves and their families. Winnie believes that V2RF is a rare, truly multicultural, inclusive online community that welcomes anyone with a dream and the ambition to turn their visions into reality.
Today, Winnie and her professional advisors in NexGen Accounting Inc. made V2RF the company’s social impact project, so all staff in NexGen Accounting and their business clients could contribute knowledge and money and offer support and mentorship to anyone who has an entrepreneurial mindset.
Matthew Sebastiani, MBA
Co-Treasurer
Matthew Sebastiani has a diverse range of experience, having worked in government, financial services and biotech. A passionate community volunteer, Matthew also serves as President of the Vancouver Chapter of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, President of the Board of Place des Arts, Vice Chair of the Coquitlam Foundation, and has been appointed annually since 2017 to City of Coquitlam Committees (currently the City’s Economic Development Advisory Committee and previously the Universal Accessibility Advisory Committee).
A lifelong resident of Coquitlam, and having lived 30+ years in the Burquitlam area, he is passionate about seeing the success of this dynamically changing neighbourhood.
He holds an MBA (Finance) from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and BA (Hons) Economics from Simon Fraser University.
Nasim Mitha
Director at Large
Dr. Mitha is excited to be part of the BIA board for Coquitlam.
Having worked in Coquitlam, specifically in Burquitlam plaza and now across from the skytrain station at Burnaby Mountain Dental Centre for over 37 years, she is delighted to give back in anyway to this wonderful community that has been home to her dental practice for so long. Dr. Mitha graduated from UBC dental school in 1986 and set up one of her practices in Burquitlam in 1992, taking over from Dr. Fred Banford.
Dr. Mitha has led a team of various dynamic dental professionals over the years to look after her dedicated and loyal patients in this neighborhood. She is extremely proud and happy to welcome her son, Dr. Imran Mitha, on board to help her continue in this longstanding service.
When not working Dr. Mitha enjoys reading, travelling, cycling and skiing with her family and friends. Dr Mitha is passionate about volunteering and has travelled to Guatamala and Zanzibar to help deliver dental care to communities there.
Crystal Jang
Director at Large
Crystal JANG brings her expertise in real estate and community engagement to the Coquitlam North Road BIA. As a dedicated realtor, she specializes in Vancouver’s residential and presale market, leveraging her network and industry knowledge to help clients navigate opportunities with confidence.
Beyond real estate, Crystal is deeply involved in community initiatives. She serves as the treasurer for the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) and an executive member of OKTA, contributing to financial planning, outreach programs, and fostering collaboration within the Korean community. Her passion for connecting people and supporting local businesses aligns with the BIA’s vision for growth and inclusivity.
Fluent in English and Korean, Crystal is committed to building strong relationships and making a meaningful impact in both the real estate industry and the local community.