Giesbrecht, Goodrich & Co., an Abbotsford-based public and government relations firm, has announced that Satwinder Bains and Patricia Ross are joining the firm as its newest partners.
Bains, best known for her work in the areas of organizational change, diversity and community development, is also an accomplished academic serving as an associate professor at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV).
Bains is also the director at UFV’s Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies and UFV India.
She said she joined Giesbrecht, Goodrich & Co., because “the opportunity to work with two mavericks who are dedicated to providing these types of services in the Fraser Valley to make a difference in their community, and knowing that I could be part of a larger team where my services could also be leveraged to a greater extent, and to have the opportunity to work with Patricia, just made good sense.”
Ross has been an Abbotsford city councillor for more than 20 years with a reputation as a governance and policy expert, as well as an expert in the field of sustainability.
Ross – who is currently Abbotsford’s deputy mayor – said she is thrilled to work with two men of “such character and integrity” and also to work with Bains, whom she said she holds in the “highest regard.”
“Though my primary focus will remain on my duties as deputy mayor and serving the people of Abbotsford, to be able to make a difference throughout the Fraser Valley, and beyond, is an opportunity I’m very much looking forward to,” Ross said.
Giesbrecht, Goodrich & Co. was founded in 2012 by Justin P. Goodrich and Patrick Giesbrecht.
The company serves a wide range of clients, including corporations, public service organizations, municipalities, non-profit organizations and First Nations.
Goodrich, the firm’s managing partner, said that they are thrilled to have Bains and Ross join the team.
“They are both brilliant professionals and to add their collective skill sets in with ours is a huge win for both our firm, and our clients.”
Patrick Giesbrecht – who is also the vice-chairman of the BC Chamber of Commerce – added that “my colleagues in the ‘chamber world’ are already contacting me about the addition of Satwinder and Patricia to our firm and congratulating us on bringing on board such remarkable team members. It just proves what remarkable reputations these two women have throughout the entire province.”