TiE Vancouver: Application of Risk Management Seminar – February 28, 2013

VANCOUVER, BC – As an active member in the local business community, Mo Amir was honoured to be the guest speaker for TiE-Vancouver’s inaugural “Application of…” series focusing on topical business issues. Speaking to an audience of 30 attendees, Mo used SPF Precut Lumber as a case study for risk management of the external business environment. The seminar was followed with a discussion period with full involvement from attendees.

Notably, Mo Amir is proud to be a mentor in TiE-Vancouver’s TYE Young Entrepreneurs Program, where he coaches a group of high school students to create a formal business proposal and present their business plan to a group of esteemed judges as part of a global TiE competition.

TiE-Vancouver is a not-for-profit BC organization with a mission to foster and support entrepreneurship. TiE as a concept was born spontaneously when a handful of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs with roots in the Indian subcontinent met by chance in 1992, conceiving the idea of an organization that would bring together high achievers for the purpose of networking.

TiE-Vancouver shares the values and philosophy of the Global TiE organization represented all around the world including the United States, India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Malaysia, and Austria. In total, TiE has 56 chapters in 13 countries, with over 11,000 professional members. TiE-Vancouver is TiE’s first Canadian chapter.

An Evening with the Honourable Stockwell Day –
October 23, 2012

NORTH VANCOUVER, BC – It was with great privilege and honour then that Mo had the opportunity to help organize, host, and speak at MLA Jane Thornthwaite’s Evening with the Honourable Stockwell Day at the Holiday Inn and Suites in North Vancouver.

The event’s attendees included high-profile provincial policy-makers and influencers: BC Minister of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, the Honourable Steve Thomson; BC Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Norm Letnick; BC Minister of State for Seniors, the Honourable Ralph Sultan; BC Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation, and Technology and the Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, the Honourable John Yap; and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Chilliwack, John Les.

Speaking to an audience of approximately 100 active community leaders and high-level business professionals, Mo proudly emceed the event on behalf of MLA Thornthwaite’s Riding Association. Mo acknowledged his admiration for Stockwell, noting that the first time he ever met Stockwell, they shared the stage together at the 2010 BC Export Awards (Stockwell as the keynote speaker, as he was the President of the Treasury Board and Federal Minister of the Asia-Pacific Gateway at the time; Mo as the recipient of the 2010 BC Export Award on SPF Precut Lumber’s behalf).

The event’s keynote speaker was Stockwell Day, a former Cabinet Minister in both Alberta’s provincial legislature and Canada’s federal legislature and the former leader of the Canadian Alliance party. Stockwell enthralled the audience with a riveting speech on the power of political unity, the free-enterprise, and community-orientated leaders, while openly praising the Amir family for their success in starting and growing SPF Precut Lumber as a model for what dedicated entrepreneurs in Canada can accomplish.

At the end of the night, Mo Amir, MLA Jane Thornthwaite, and the Honourable Stockwell Day delivered messages of unity, free enterprise, and continuation of improving quality of life in the province of British Columbia (and ultimately, the country of Canada) through sound public policy and responsible fiscal management.

The three speakers of the evening, Mo Amir, MLA Jane Thornthwaite, and the Honourable Stockwell Day.

Mo Amir emcees the evening.

Mo Amir speaks on political unity and formally introduces MLA Jane Thornthwaite.

MLA Jane Thornthwaite speaks to the audience.

MLA Jane Thornthwaite Small-Business Breakfast – October 2, 2012

NORTH VANCOUVER, BC – Originally founded in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Pacific Prince Investments (including its division, SPF Precut Lumber) has strong roots in the local North Shore business community, including membership in the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce for nearly 20 years. As an active member of the North Vancouver business community and a longstanding supporter of Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jane Thornthwaite, Mo Amir was privileged to speak at a Small-Business Breakfast at Brown’s Social House in Lynn Valley, North Vancouver during Small Business Month in British Columbia.

Speaking to an audience of over 25 small-business people, Mo highlighted the history of SPF Precut Lumber, as his parents Muhammad Amir and Shaheen Zafar grew the company from a home-business out of a basement suite in North Vancouver to become Western Canada’s most diversified exporter of Canadian softwood products. With North Vancouver District being named British Columbia’s Most Small-Business Friendly Community for its local policies, projects, and programs by the BC Small Business Round Table, Mo stressed that entrepreneurs achieve the best results when their vision and passion are synergized with prudent public policy and apt (but not excessive) regulation. With 98% of businesses in British Columbia being small businesses, Mo urged that the small business community must rally around policy-makers who actively seek to promote and incentivize commercial innovation, eliminate unnecessary barriers to market entry, and create jobs for its citizens.

From there, Mo praised the BC Liberals for their free-enterprise friendly approach to governance and introduced the MLA Jane Thornthwaite as one of the hardest working people he has ever met. Jane Thornthwaite, current Parliamentary Secretary for Student Support and Parent Engagement, boasts a legislative portfolio that extends beyond education reform, reaching into areas of health care initiatives, roads and transportation infrastructure improvement, industrial policy support for investment within the community, animal welfare activism, community outreach, and other programs. She is well known as the one of the most accessible and community-oriented MLAs in the province, hosting high-profile ministers and Premier Christy Clark at events within her constituency and engaging with residents in a variety of ways including town halls, public forums, networking events, and community group meetings.

The event’s keynote speaker was Philip Hochstein, President of the Independent Contractors & Business Association of BC, who openly praised Mo for his political-economic insights and knack for public speaking. The breakfast’s special guests included BC Minister of State for Small Business, The Honourable Naomi Yamamoto, who has known the Amir family (Muhammad, Shaheen, and Mo) for many years now from when she was the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce President.

Mo speaks to the room of small-business people.

Mo passionately praises MLA Jane Thornthwaite.

MLA Jane Thornthwaite and Mo Amir pose together after the event.

Philip Hochstein, President of the Independent Contractors & Business Association of BC speaks to the room of small-business people as the key-note speaker.

Shantou-Vancouver Economic Exchange Forum / Vancouver “Teo Chew Appreciation Day” Anniversary Celebration – September 29, 2012

VANCOUVER, BC – With an export portfolio of 20 countries, SPF Precut Lumber has had longstanding values of multiculturalism within the local community and the development of friendly and economic ties with communities overseas. It was with great honour then that Mo Amir of SPF Precut Lumber was invited to attend the Shantou-Vancouver Economic Exchange at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Downtown Vancouver, an event organized by the Shantou Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, the Vancouver Economic Development Commission, and the Canada Chaoshan Business Association. Patrick Lo, President of the Canaan Group, was one of the chief organizers of this economic forum, which included the Mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson, and the Mayor of Shantou, Zheng Renhao, signing a memorandum of understanding for cooperation and friendly ties. The event was a success as municipal, provincial, and federal policymakers in Canada continue to cultivate economic understanding with policymakers in China.

The Shantou-Vancouver Economic Exchange Forum was followed by the Vancouver “Teo Chew Appreciation Day” Anniversary Celebration, which included a VIP Reception with BC Premier Christy Clark and a banquet dinner featuring addresses from municipal, provincial, and federal policy makers, in addition to live entertainment. Immigrants to Canada of Teo Chew descent have a long and storied history in the development of the city of Vancouver, as this annual celebration dinner has become an important tradition in Vancouver’s business community. Mo Amir was honoured to be invited by the Canaan Group for this event, as SPF Precut Lumber values the city of Vancouver’s rich multicultural history and its gateway to communities and markets in the Far East.

Mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson, and Mo Amir pose for a photo after the Shantou-Vancouver Economic Exchange Forum.

Patrick Lo, President of the Canaan Group, hosts the Mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson, and the Mayor of Shantou, Zheng Renhao during the Forum.

BC Premier Christy Clark honours the Teo Chew communities with an address during the VIP Reception of the Teo Chew Appreciation Day Celebration.

Global Buyers Mission 2012 –
September 6-8, 2012

WHISTLER, BC – Once again, SPF Precut Lumber proudly showcased its widespread export diversity while promoting Canadian forestry exports at the sold-out 9th annual Global Buyers Mission in Whistler, British Columbia. Throughout the event, SPF Precut Lumber had the opportunity to meet with new and existing customers, long-standing suppliers, and other important stakeholders. The SPF Precut Lumber team consisted of President Muhammad Amir, Fareed Amir, Mo Amir, and Lillian Chan. The prominent and multi-lingual presence enthusiastically exhibited to delegations from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, India, Pakistan, Australia, Europe, and the United States, as it was another successful Global Buyers Mission for SPF Precut Lumber.

A BC Wood initiative, the Global Buyers Mission is a three-day, invitation-only networking / educational forum / tradeshow event developed to bring together qualified international buyers of wood products from around the world, with Canadian manufacturers and exporters of wood products. 2012 marks SPF Precut Lumber’s fourth year of participation in the Global Buyers Mission, as the entire SPF Precut Lumber team takes great pride in promoting Canadian forestry products overseas.

Sinclar Group President, Greg Stewart, and Mo Amir, proudly stand together in front of the SPF Precut Lumber display highlighting Sinclar Group studs.

SPF Precut Lumber partners in Pakistan Muneeb Mahmood (Lumber Link) and Qutub Uddin Jodia Walla (Saify Commercial) pose with Fareed Amir, Lillian Chain and Mo Amir.

Fareed Amir and Lillian Chan talk with customers during the tradeshow.

Suifenhe Friendship Wood
Industry Group General Manager,
Ji Xiaomei, Fareed Amir, and
Lillian Chan.

Christopher Rajadurai and Selvaraj Rajadurai (Danube Group) pose with Muhammad Amir at the SPF Precut Lumber exhibition display.

Lillian Chan’s multi-lingual skills assist SPF Precut Lumber connect with overseas visitors.

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