Andy has helped over 100 nonprofits to thrive. He is a three-time Executive Director and twice an interim ED. From 2020-2025 he coached dozens of organizations from all over Canada in the Thriving NonProfits Program. As Co-Chair of Canada’s Volunteer Awards for two years (2017 & 2018), Andy reviewed the operations of hundreds of nonprofit initiatives. He has conducted several strategic planning sessions and has a wide range of knowledge of nonprofit programming & budgets. Andy has started four social enterprises, five nonprofit societies, sat on over a dozen Boards and has volunteered in many, many ways. In March 2025, Andy received the King’s Coronation Medal for “a significant contribution to Canada.”
Social Enterprises created & operated
From conception to operation, as a volunteer Andy co-created Our Community Bikes! (OCB), a full-service nonprofit bike shop. He organized a team that bought & renovated & ran a small bike shop in Vancouver. Over 30 years later, OCB still sells refurbished bikes and assists customers to fix their own bicycles.
Key to success: Andy visited six similar social enterprises before developing proposals. Notable accomplishments: Winning the VanCity Environmental Award, and creating a model that has lasted to today.
GIS/GPS services
For Greenways Land Trust, Andy created a GIS/GPS consulting service in the mid-2000s. Having had prior land surveying experience, Andy re-introduced some high tech (at the time) yet idle GPS field equipment and also a GIS mapping system, hired qualified personnel to run them. They secured enough contracts for a new full time position and started a significant new income stream.
Key to success: Combining the right people with the assets available. Notable accomplishment: This service supported habitat preservation and was profitable at the same time.
Educational packages for elementary schools
When Andy took over as ED at WITS, this nationally-oriented but very small charity was delivering dated educational programs with a loss in every transaction. Even so, there was resistance to change, so to overcome this Andy brought in several expert opinions and developed plans for moving forward. This soon lead to completely modernized program materials (emphasizing accessibility and inclusion), restructured pricing and a new online store. The change created renewed interest & uptake, leading to a significant financial boost.
Key to success: Convincing the Board to follow the advice of professionals. Notable Accomplishment: Within six months of implementing the change, program income surpassed that of any prior year.
Consulting – Recycling system startup
In early ’90s Vancouver when recycling services had yet to reach multi-unit residences, Andy helped start West End Recycling Connection, an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to making that happen. This group convinced owners & managers to install private recycling systems in their buildings and educate their residents about the new systems, for a fee.
Key to success: Convincing building owners that recycling was the right thing to do. Notable Accomplishment: Helped 20 buildings – thousands of residents – access recycling services.
Boards of Directors
- Coast Waste Management Association
- Greenways Land Trust
- Indigenous Perspectives Society
- Oceanside Hospice Society
- Pacific People’s Partnership
- People for a Healthy Community on Gabriola Society
- Recycling Council of British Columbia
- Society Promoting Environmental Conservation
- Vancouver Island Hockey Association
- Vancouver Island Opera
- Volunteer BC
- West End Recycling Connection
- WITS Programs Foundation
Personal
Andy advises small & medium nonprofits and leads VECTTR, a group of nonprofit leaders. Andy is also Executive Director of the WITS Programs Foundation, a national charity that empowers children and youth. He’s married to Po Wan (Blackberry Creative) with two grown children, and trains for triathlons.
Why “Rock your nonprofit?” Pre-pandemic, Andy also played in a few rock cover bands.