We wish our best to Adam Hayashi as he moves on to work with the Federal Government. During his time at HxBIA, Adam has worked closely with various Downtown Eastside organizations to support businesses and residents during the COVID-19 Crisis as they faced impacts on their businesses and to support folks experiencing poverty and homelessness with access to food, resources, income, and housing. He created several new relationships to ensure our businesses have more resources to support them with staff wages and to deal with vandalism during this crisis. Thanks for all your great work Adam.
In the meantime, Chris Neale-Clark, Project Manager with Exchange Inner City’s Local Card Project and the DTES Vancouver Business Directory will stand in as acting Executive Director and continue the work begun by Adam. We are going to re-examine the role and will make decisions about how this role may evolve for the BIA in the future. Beyond carrying on Adam's work Chris will be supporting the day-to-day administrative tasks, working with the interns and volunteers on our new social medial project, and continue on various projects that move forward the Goals of HxBIA during this very difficult and challenging period of time..
Chris has a strong local connection to the community as he is the man behind the DTES Vancouver Business Directory. He started the Directory in 2015 as a way to promote businesses in the DTES. Chris believed that there is something in the DTES for everyone and saw it as an opportunity to help build and maintain our local community and economy. He also has worked as a Project Manager for the Exchange Inner City Local Card Project since 2018. Chris has since merged the DTES Business Directory with the Local Card Directory realizing that one directory is a more effective tool to promote and celebrate all local businesses' contributions to our economy and community and to encourage residents to shop at establishments in the DTES. (A DTES Directory was one of the stated goals of the City of Vancouver's 2014 DTES Plan and aligns with the mission of Exchange Inner City to collectively cultivate a vibrant and inclusive local economy where all residents (and businesses) can prosper and live full, rewarding lives.)
Chris has also been contracted to develop and maintain HxBIA website and email services. He has been involved with the association as a member for over five years assisting past executive directors from time to time on various projects such as, the Victory Square Movie Night. He is familiar with many of area’s complexities and has a good working relationship with many of the local businesses. Chris also serves as a member of Exchange Inner City’s Executive Committee for the past three years and has a heart for the neighborhood as he lives right in the center of it all.
Chris has a background in retail management, marketing, and sales. For the past 15 years he has worked as freelance web developer and designer. Chris has also pursued a successful academic path, having completed a B.Admin,B.A. (Religious Studies) B.Th, and his M.A.(Theology) from the University of Wales.
Chris welcomes you to contact him at 604-259-1466 or chris@hxbia.com if you are needing assistance with any issues.
