The View From Here 2019: Val Litwin

February 16, 2019

The View From Here 2019 brought together idea-focused minds and local policy makers to provide insight into the many factors that impact Whistler’s business and investment environment. This year’s theme was Charting the Course and our speakers presented their views on the various opportunities and challenges that Whistler faces as we move forward and how these challenges can be addressed.

One of our headline speakers, Val Litwin, explored the common perceptions found in the business community of British Columbia and established the regional business perspectives.

Val Litwin

President and CEO, BC Chamber of Commerce

Previous to his role with the BC Chamber of Commerce, Val served as CEO of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce for three years. During this time, he grew its membership base, launched a world-class educational partnership with the Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria (which was featured on Forbes.com) and reinvigorated the Chamber’s brand to the point where Whistler had one of the fastest growing membership bases last year.

In 2007, Val co-founded a first-to-market concept, Blo Blow Dry Bar, which has since grown to more than 70 locations worldwide.

In 2011, as Vice President of Franchise Operations at Nurse Next Door, Canada’s largest homecare company, he helped drive the franchise system’s fast growth into the US market – adding almost 70 locations to the brand in under 3 years.

Val is also well-versed in the social enterprise space. In 2002, he co-founded Extreme Kindness and launched volunteer tours and a web series based on committing random act of kindness across Canada and the U.S. The tours evolved into a best-selling book on corporate social responsibility and the power of communities to build social capital.