Meet Our Executive Team
CAMRA Vancouver’s Executive team were elected at our January 2011 Annual General Meeting. Please check back soon for executive bios.
President: Paddy Treavor
Vice President: Dieter Friesen
Treasurer: Rebecca Whyman
Secretary: Tony Smerychynski
Membership: Matt Anderson
Corporate Liaison: Justin Prasad
Communications Director: Leah Poulton
Events Coordinator: Amanda Barry
Newsletter Editor: editor@camravancouver.ca
Creative Director & Website Editor: Brooklyn Galloway
Webmaster: Lenny Ford
Media Support: Mike MacFarlane
Executive Bios
Paddy Treavor
I am a dedicated Hophead since being introduced to Storm Brewing’s Hurricane IPA back in the mid-to-late 90s and have since come to love our local craft beer scene and all that it entails. I have practical knowledge of the local craft beer industry having worked for Storm Brewing from 2000-2005. More recently I have been directly involved in the Vancouver craft beer community as an active CAMRA member, participating in the CAMRA Vancouver Policy & Advocacy Meetings, putting my journalism experience to use writing my VanEast Beer Blog and organizing craft beer bus tours as a part of the BeerTourist group. I am a believer that CAMRA members must become directly involved to make a difference. I have strong opinions and will voice them, but at the same time I am willing to listen, consider the points of views of others and keep an open mind.
Amanda Barry
She is a lover of all things local, and at the top of her list is craft beer. She had always liked the better beer on tap, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that she found out what real ale really was. Now in her 3rd year on the CAMRA Vancouver executive, Amanda credits 2010 for really propelling the scene in Vancouver to a new height and knows that each year will be even bigger than the last as education surrounding craft beer reaches a new height. She surrounds herself with eccentric brewers, crafty home brewers, and conscientious industry folk that enjoy promoting and supporting a common objective; bringing local, craft beer to the masses through education, awareness and changes in archaic liquor laws.
Lenny Ford
Lenny is half of the creative duo at Mad Love Studio, a small multidisciplinary design company in Vancouver. Lured to the dark side by his first sip of Russian Imperial Stout, Lenny has found a passion for the big, bold experiences only found in craft beer. An avid cyclist, music geek, and craft beer lover, Lenny brings his drive, energy and a long list of web geek acronyms to keep the CAMRA Vancouver website running smoothly.
Dieter Friesen
Dieter has been the resident keg monkey at Storm Brewing since 2009. However, he’s been a devotee of craft beer since first being introduced to Rogue’s Chipotle Ale and having his mind blow away by the realization that someone could make a spicy beer. Having studied politics and history at UBC (while often drinking copious amounts of beer), Dieter has always had an interest in how and why the world works. Sick and tired of Vancouver’s draconian liquor laws spoiling his fun, he felt moved to action and thus ran for CAMRA VP. His goals for CAMRA include, promoting the local craft beer culture, engaging with members at large and courting allies in the government and its many bureaucracies in the hopes that craft beer will be seen as a job creator and a vehicle for the promotion of local culture. By targeting city council, the provincial government, the BCLDB and the tourism industry; Dieter hopes to help Vancouver shed its ‘No Fun City’ image, while continuing CAMRA’s mandate to bring craft beer further into the mainstream consciousness. Dieter also enjoys collecting vinyl records, playing harmonica, walking his dog Boomer, being cynical and having his heart broken by the Vancouver Canucks. His favorite beer styles are well balanced IPAs and rich, hearty stouts.
Leah Poulton
Born and raised a west coast girl, you can usually find Leah on her bike, her snowboard or at the nearest local pub with a craft beer in hand. Always a fan of beer, it wasn’t until she moved to East Vancouver in 2007 that she discovered the world of craft brews. Since then, her love and appreciation for craft beer and the great community that drinks and supports it has continued to grow. With a background in journalism and online marketing, she hopes in her new role to help CAMRA Vancouver grow both its membership base and voice during 2012. You can find her on Twitter at @leah_poulton.
Tony Smerychynski
Member of CAMRA since way back. Enthusiastic Beer Traveller, extensive beer related travel in the Western US/Canada. Mostly a beer taster, looking into expanding into homebrewing. Prefer epic lagers, Belgian styles, natural carbonation and sweet beautiful banana notes. Professionally, a Water Treatment Plant Foreman for MetroVancouver. Outside of CAMRA, an avid Volleyball player and board gamer.
Matt Anderson
This is Matt’s second year as CAMRA Vancouver’s official “Membership Guy.” An all around beer geek, he is also an award winning homebrewer, is on the executive of The Vancouver Homebrewers Association (also known as VanBrewers,) a BJCP Recognized Beer Judge and the proud owner of a pink bowler hat. In addition to all things fermentation related, Matt’s passions include rock n’ roll, bacon and writing bios in the third person.
More bios coming soon.
