Email:susan@susanforrest.com Office:250.947.9900 Fax:250.947.9966

Meet The Team

Richard Plowens

After completing college and enjoying his formative years in Parksville-Qualicum Beach, Richard sought new horizons. Fueled by a passion for exploration and a keen interest in languages, he embarked on a journey to Montreal, where he earned a degree in Business Administration. What was initially a swift three-year educational program unfolded into a 30-year residence.

Richard's people-oriented nature and outgoing demeanor guided him toward the hotel industry, where he applied his sales, client service and management skills at Four Seasons and Fairmont Hotels. Seeking a change, he transitioned into the Bio-Pharmaceutical Vaccines Industry, contributing to Merck, Sanofi Pasteur, and Pfizer in roles encompassing sales, business development, and team leadership over the past 18 years.

Throughout this period, Richard married, started a family, and embraced an appreciation for art, fine cuisine, and all wonders of nature. Along with his spouse, their bustling home and family life is shared with Spencer, and London-two spirited English Setters.

Richard's affinity for connecting with people and his commitment to facilitating one of life's most significant transactions-buying or selling a home-highlight his responsiveness, persistence, and discipline. Renowned as a connector with a reputation built on integrity, a client-centric approach, and high ethical standards, Richard collaborates with his sister, Susan, serving as a business partner and Team Lead with their talented team, positively impacting all their clients in Oceanside.

Jody Moore

Born in Nanaimo and raised in Qualicum Beach, Jody has deep roots in the Mid-Island area!

Coming from a family of real estate agents, Jody grew up understanding the importance of commitment and self-discipline. After graduation, she moved to Vancouver in the 90's to further her education. Working as a Family Counselor and Coach for many years provided an excellent opportunity to support her community while developing the strong communication skills, ethics, and integrity for which she is known.

Though Jody's parents were both local REALTORS, she could never have predicted how much she would love the industry. "I have the best job in the world! I get to show and sell homes in the most beautiful community in Canada while building lifelong relationships with the most amazing people...my clients."

Asked about using her expertise to benefit her community through a career with Royal LePage, Jody has this to say: "My knowledge gives me an opportunity each day to make a big impact in someone's life. I'm honored to be trusted with this responsibility."

She likes to win for her clients, and does so with a calm demeanor and a smile.

Leah Yochim

Leah was born and raised in the Oceanside area. After spending her younger years traveling and working abroad, she returned home to Parksville to settle and raise a family.

As her family grew in size, so did the projects to which she dedicated much of her time. Leah and her husband built and sold several homes in various neighborhoods in our community. Her interest transacting in Real Estate grew as she and her husband sold and moved from the homes they lived in. As her family became more self-sufficient, Leah completed her education to become a licensed Realtor and joined our Team.

Land speculation and researching homes has always come easy to Leah. She is at ease in finding homes that suit everyone's budget and has the ability to think strategically to find different and creative ways to live on Vancouver Island. Leah's experience in building and selling homes has contributed to her understanding of the local market, neighborhoods and the necessary amenities to help her find her clients their perfect location. She is a natural with whom one will enjoy working to find the right home for our discerning clients.

Leah has a great sense of community and supports many local organizations. She volunteers managing her daughter club volleyball team, sits on community boards, and in developing fundraisers. Leah appreciates connecting with the community, and through her work contributes and invests in 'giving back' to her community. Leah is a dedicated woman who successfully navigates managing her family, her home, and new housing projects along with her real estate clientele. She has a love of horses, hockey, basketball, volleyball, hiking and great food.

Leah's is an outgoing member of the Team and her ambition is to provide friendly, efficient, professional and knowledgeable service to the clients with whom she works. Her focus is to excel in facilitating the home buying and selling process for our clients.

"I love working with this Team and I look forward to helping you find a place on Vancouver Island that suits all your family's needs!"

Roger Deveau

Roger Deveau, an Ottawa native, initially pursued law but found his true calling in assisting individuals with their financial endeavours. Equipped with securities and mutual funds licenses, he noticed a stark reality: not all advisors prioritize their clients' best interests, often pushing products that don't align with individual needs.

Driven by integrity and a commitment to client-centric practices, Roger embarked on an entrepreneurial journey nearly two decades ago. He champions ethics and authenticity, going above and beyond to serve his clients. Roger has since collaborated with entrepreneurs, leveraging proven principles through various mediums like online marketing, courses, videos, and workshops.

With a deep connection to Oceanside, where his spouse has had ties for over two decades, Roger was captivated by its allure during his initial visit. He recognized its unparalleled lifestyle, encompassing nature, thriving businesses, and welcoming communities, making it his ideal home in Canada.

Real estate has always been Roger's passion. He devoted his leisure time to exploring neighborhoods, attending open houses, and engaging with local realtors, revelling in the distinct charm and potential lifestyles each home offered. Upon settling in one of Parksville's exquisite DUO Luxury Townhomes and connecting with Susan Forrest, Richard Plowens, and the entire team, Roger saw an opportunity to merge his three passions: nurturing relationships in business, real estate, and the enchanting Oceanside locale. He's committed to helping others realize their dream lifestyle in the "Canadian Riviera".

Glenda Gellner

Glenda is originally from the lower mainland where she had worked for many years in accounting for the natural resources industry. She moved to the Island and settled in French Creek with her husband and their two daughters. As empty-nesters they moved to Coombs for more space for her husband's hobbies.

She is Susan and Richard's aunt, and since she had followed Susan in her hospitality career, it was only natural for her to join in real estate as Susan's assistant from the beginning.

Glenda enjoys the administrative side of this business, as well as meeting all of the wonderful people we deal with on a daily basis. She says, "Since Susan talked me into getting my real estate license, I am happy to be able to help the other realtors on our team as needed and also work with prospective buyers."

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and her four grandchildren, gardening, biking, going for walks, Qigong and especially vacationing at their cabin on the lake. Her yellow lab (Sandi) is an often visitor at the office and her two cats Mo & Morris are always waiting at the door to greet her when she gets home.

Kerry Voth

Originally born in Winnipeg, Kerry spent his first few years in the northern town of Thompson, Manitoba.

"The rugged northern region of Manitoba is where I first developed a love of nature and the outdoors. My father worked in remote bush camps as a mechanic, and he would often bring me along. In those days there were no paved roads that far north, and most supplies were brought in by float plane, so we were always close to beautiful lakes. Being surrounded by nature left a deep spiritual imprint on me, and to this day I still feel more at home in the country than in the city".

At the age of 5, Kerry's family moved to Calgary, Alberta where he grew up. After the turn of the century, he began a life-journey that saw him move to Vancouver for several years, and then to the Greater Victoria Area after meeting his life partner in 2003. Once they had purchased a home and settled in, they started camping around the island. Eventually they ended up camping at Horne Lake and fell in love with the Oceanside area, prompting a move to Nanoose Bay. It was while looking for a new home that Kerry first met Susan Forrest.

"Susan was my realtor at first, but quickly became a great friend. In 2008 a position opened up on Team Susan Forrest and she asked me to join. I'm a naturally creative person, and over time I gravitated away from the clerical side towards the media side of real estate.

When he's not working, Kerry enjoys life's simple pleasures: exploring the great outdoors, reading good books, sunny afternoons of relaxation, and pursuing various artistic interests.

Bianca Filser

Bianca's journey from the picturesque Allgäu region in Bavaria to becoming a Lead Photographer and Imaging Guru for Team Susan Forrest is as fascinating as the region she hails from!

Her story reflects her adventurous spirit and dedication to personal and professional growth. Starting in her hometown, known for its stunning landscapes, unique cuisine, and the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, Bianca laid the foundation for her future adventures. Her decision to work as an AuPair in Long Island, New York, not only allowed her to immerse herself in the English language but also exposed her to a new culture.

She returned to Germany to complete an Office Assistant Management program, but Bianca's passion for exploring new places and speaking English led her to Western Canada. The diverse and beautiful landscape captured her interest, eventually leading her to enroll in a Photography program in Victoria. This decision marked a turning point in her life, as she decided to make Nanoose Bay her permanent home after completing her studies.

Joining Susan in both life and work in 2004, Bianca's contribution goes beyond photography, as she effectively manages key administrative projects with meticulous attention to detail. Her positive attitude and optimism have become valuable assets to the team's success.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Bianca has a tremendous passion for dogs - specifically Golden Retrievers! She finds immense joy in training and working with their Goldens, for example agility training or tricks and nose work. Bianca loves spending time in nature and enjoys excellent local cuisine.

This glimpse into Bianca's journey highlights her love for adventure, dedication to her craft, and the importance of finding joy in the simple moments of life.

April Quigley

Born in Vancouver and raised in Winnipeg, April studied and worked in the healthcare field before eventually retiring and moving to Vancouver Island in 2009. Practically since the day she arrived in Oceanside, she has worked as a real estate administrator and is excited to continue to work in the industry.

"Being a part of Team Susan Forrest is a dream job for me! My team-mates are fantastic, I really enjoy helping our clients, and I love the fast-paced work environment... there's never a dull moment!"

Among the many talents that April brings to Team Susan Forrest is a consistent determination to get the job done right! Though she may seem quiet and reserved, don't be fooled...beneath the unflappable, focused exterior lies an amazing sense of humor, sincerity and warmth.

April loves to call Oceanside home. When she's not working she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and exploring our beautiful island!

Claire Gunderson

Claire is originally an East Coast girl from Toronto. When she was a young girl, her family moved west to White Rock, BC for seaside living and have never looked back.

Claire spent much of her career in the dental and orthodontic professions, but when she and her husband Kris became empty-nesters after raising their 3 children in Delta, they decided to relocate to Vancouver Island and fell in love with the Nanoose Bay area.

She started a new career path working at the Fairwinds Wellness Club doing administration, accounting, marketing, and communications. Learning about real estate developments happening in the area renewed a lifelong interest, which she adopted from her parents who were always involved in buying or investing in the market. When an opportunity came up to work with Team Susan Forrest, she eagerly jumped on board and is excited to contribute. She takes great pride in engaging customers with sincerity and a smile and making them feel taken care of.

In the fall of 2020, Claire and her husband became grandparents for the first time to a beautiful little girl. They currently have 4 chickens and also have adopted a very mushy and loving golden retriever "Rusty" who is living his best life ever on the island!

In her down time you will find Claire traveling, hiking and exploring all the local trails, and her favorite pastimes...fishing and being on the water with her paddle board or kayak.

Sarah Roberts

Sarah Roberts, originally from Ontario with early years in the U.K., began her career in the hospitality industry before pursuing Hotel and Restaurant Management at Conestoga College. Head-hunted for a Business Development Manager role in the recruitment sector, she achieved top sales for an executive search firm. Sarah furthered her education with three diplomas and numerous accolades, and went on to graduate from Athabasca University with a degree in Business Management.

Simultaneously, she ventured into a real estate role with Century 21, leveraging her staging skills and interior design background. Passionate about health and wellness, Sarah became a Certified Health and Empowerment Coach, authoring a book on sugar addiction, hosting her own talk show on Rogers television, and organizing wellness expos and podcasts. Through her professional journey, she discovered the transformative power of changing environments. Aligning this with her role in real estate, she believes moving to a new home can be the catalyst to creating massive change in people's lives.

Fascinated by Parksville since her parents' retirement here in 2003, Sarah and her partner, Roger, fulfilled their dream of moving to Oceanside in 2019. Settling into their DUO Luxury Townhome in January 2023, they joined forces with Team Susan Forrest, supporting one of the top real estate teams in British Columbia with marketing and events coordinator.

Sarah enjoys the exciting world of real estate as an unlicensed assistant, supporting the team and connecting with clients. Sarah loves being part of a real estate team where people's dreams come true every day! She truly is the team's Head Cheerleader.

Ashley Bowles

Ashley grew up in the small tourist town of Gananoque, Ontario on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Real estate was somewhat of a hobby for her family as they were always on the lookout for their next dream home, and many weekends were spent going to open houses. Her love of homes grew as she did, and soon she was off to College in Ottawa where she graduated from the Architecture program at Algonquin College. Soon after graduation, Ashley knew a career in Real Estate was the perfect fit-combining her love of homes and her ease with people. In 2005 Ashley began her Real Estate career with "The McCann Team" at Royal LePage Ottawa.

Searching for a better family life, better weather, and also just for the sake of adventure, she and her husband moved to Vancouver Island in 2013 with their young daughter and big energetic rescue dog. Since arriving in Oceanside the family has grown by 2 more daughters, just adding to the fun!

Ashley's knowledge of house construction provides her with the insight to see beyond the mere cosmetics of a building, to see the structural details beneath. She has a great ability to connect with people from all walks of life with understanding and enthusiasm. She always treated her clients as friends and has established many close long-term relationships along the way.

A dedicated dog-lover, she has served on the board of directors for a dog rescue group. In her spare time, Ashley and her family can be found enjoying Vancouver Islands great outdoors via land or sea. Ashley has recently retired from Real Estate to spend more time with her husband and 3 growing children. She still works with our Team as a Consultant.

 

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Email:susan@susanforrest.com Office:250.947.9900 Fax:250.947.9966