Board of Directors
To deliver on our objectives, the Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC) is governed by an elected Board of 10 regionally-based Directors and employs a full-time Executive Director and staff at our downtown Vancouver office.
YVAN CHARETTE
President | The Haney Hotel Group
Yvan Charette is a managing partner of My Pub Group, a hospitality company that operates several bars, nightclubs, and liquor stores in the lower mainland. Yvan is an industry veteran who has worked in hospitality since the early 2000s. Yvan is dedicated to his role as President and is invested in helping ABLE BC members navigate any challenge our industry might face.
Yvan is hockey fan and was once on track to play professionally in the NHL before an injury changed his plans.
Read more about Yvan here.
AL MCCREARY
Treasurer & Past President | Hudson Bay Lodge
Al McCreary has been a key member of ABLE BC’s Board of Directors since the 90s. He had been a Director on the BC Hotel Association’s Board and was appointed to ABLE’s Board as a hotel representative. In 2004, he was on the committee that oversaw the merger between the BC Liquor Licensees & Retailers Association, BC & Yukon Hotel Association, and BC Cabaret Owners Association that created the Alliance of Beverage Licensees. He continues to bring his hospitality and accounting expertise to our Board.
Read more about Al here.
POMA DHALIWAL
Vice President | Jolly Miller Pub and Liquor Store
Poma Dhaliwal is a longtime ABLE member, having joined the Alliance when he purchased the Jolly Miller Pub in 1989. He has been a Director on the ABLE Board since 2007 and has seen our organization grow and evolve over the years. He was President when our Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, was hired and since then has seen ABLE transform into the most effective liquor advocacy organization in the country.
Poma is community-focused and often involved in committees or volunteering his time as a minor hockey league coach or volunteer fireman in Chilliwack.
brady beruschi
Director | Best Western Plus Revelstoke and The Regent Hotel
Brady Beruschi was born into the hospitality industry and is a third-generation hotelier in Revelstoke, BC. He currently owns several businesses in Revelstoke including The Regent Hotel, Best Western Plus Revelstoke, The Stoke Hotel, River City Pub, 112 Restaurant & Lounge, Traverse Nightclub, and Cheers Liquor Stores. He has been a Director for both ABLE and the BC Hotel Association since 2009, and continues to play an active and dedicated role with both organizations.
Brady loves the outdoors and spends his free time on a mountain bike or snowmobile, depending on the season.
Read more about Brady here.
AL DEACON
Director | Fox’n Hounds Pub and Sahali Liquor Store
Al Deacon is a lifelong member of the hospitality industry, having been born into a hotelier family. He grew up in hospitality and has poured his heart and soul into the industry his whole life. Al’s family purchased Fox’n Hounds Pub in 1983, and Al later took over the business in the early 2000s. Now he operates the pub and Sahali Liquor Store in Kamloops.
Al treats his patrons and employees like family, welcoming everyone to the pub the same way he welcomes guests into his home. He is a social guy who prides himself on providing a fun evening for everyone who comes to Fox’n Hounds.
Read more about Al here.
Owen Coomer
Director | The Taphouse
Owen Coomer has been in the pub business nearly his whole life. He worked behind the bard at his father’s John B Pub while studying for his business degree at BCIT, eventually becoming the manager before moving on to run The Taphouse Taverns two locations as the Operations Manager. He’s is new to the ABLE Board, having joined as a Director in 2022, but he has been an involved member for his entire career.
Owen looks forward to playing a role in modernizing BCs liquor laws and helping guide ABLE’s policy priorities.
Read more about Owen here.
Mike McKee
Director | JAK’s Liquor
Mike McKee Was first a Director on the ABLE BC Board in 2012, and he has recently started a new term in 2022. As the Director of Real Estate and Finance for both JAK’s Liquor and Muse Cannabis, Mike brings an expertise in retail to the Alliance. He is also the chair of ABLE’s LRS committee, providing leadership to a group of talented retail professionals who help guide our policy priorities and tactics.
Read more about Mike here.
trevor kaatz
Director | The Wicklow Pub
Trevor Kaatz has been an active ABLE member for over 17 years, and has served as a Director on our Board for three terms. He frequently attends and volunteers his time at events and will often provide advice to the Board on liquor policy, licensing, and regulatory law. Trevor is a Vancouver-based lawyer and partner in both the Queen’s Cross Pub and liquor store and Wicklow Pub.
In his downtime, you can usually find Trevor skiing or spending time with his kids.
Read more about Trevor here.
michael brown
Director | Village Liquor Store
Michael Brown is a long-time staple of the Gabriola Island community and owner of Village Liquor Store. He has been an ABLE BC Director since 2015, but a member of the Alliance for much longer. He plays an active role, attending events, participating in committees, and providing leadership to his community and the liquor industry.
Michael has a keen palate and appreciation for wine, beer, and spirits. He has completed formal training as a Sommelier and cellar manager and enjoys crafting cocktails at home.
lorne folick
Director-at-Large| Dolden Wallace Folick LLP
Lorne Folick has been elected by the Board as a Director-at-Large to bring another viewpoint and area of expertise to ABLE BC. Unlike the other ABLE Board members, Lorne is not an owner or operator of a liquor establishment himself. However, his expertise is an invaluable asset to the ABLE Board of Directors, members, and BC's private liquor industry as a whole. Lorne is a lawyer specializing in liquor liability and hospitality risks. He frequently participates in ABLE BC events and leads webinars for our members.
Outside of work, Lorne enjoys collecting BC wine and art and skiing or hiking in Whistler.
Read more about Lorne here.
Jessica Dolan
Director | Ramada Penticton
Jessica Dolan is the General Manager and VP Operations of the Ramada Pneticton, the family-owned hotel that she grew up in. She spent her childhood in the hotel before spending time travelling the world and then earning a degree in Business Management from BCIT. The call back to hospitality was strong, so she found herself working in marketing for Coast Hotels corporate before returning to the family business.
Jessica brings her business management skill and marketing expertise to both the ABLE BC and BCHA Boards. She is an advocate for our industry and hopes to show the next generation of owners and operators how rewarding hospitality can be.
Read more about Jessica here.
Contact ABLE BC Directors individually care of ann@ablebc.ca.