--- title: "Nestor Balce" description: "President and Board Director @ Vancouver Linux Users Group" url: https://vutuv.de/nestor_balce username: "nestor_balce" avatar_url: https://vutuv.de/avatars/01a17e6e-d490-7287-a8b6-4261a912108f/nestor_balce-medium-964270691174.avif type: profile schema_version: 3 generated_at: 2026-10-30T16:55:18Z --- # Nestor Balce OpenSource Advocate | Partnership and Community Evangelist President and Board Director @ Vancouver Linux Users Group - Name pronunciation: [Bal-seh] - First Name: Nestor - Last Name: Balce - Fediverse: @nestor_balce@vutuv.de - Followers: 1 - Following: 7 - Connections: 1 ## Tags - [Brand Architecture](https://vutuv.de/tags/brand_architecture) (0 endorsements) - [Brand Marketing](https://vutuv.de/tags/brand_marketing) (0 endorsements) - [Creative Direction](https://vutuv.de/tags/creative_direction) (0 endorsements) - [Global Marketing](https://vutuv.de/tags/global_marketing) (0 endorsements) - [innovation management](https://vutuv.de/tags/innovation_management) (0 endorsements) - [Linux](https://vutuv.de/tags/linux) (0 endorsements) - [LLM](https://vutuv.de/tags/llm) (0 endorsements) - [Marketing Mix Modeling](https://vutuv.de/tags/marketing_mix_modeling) (0 endorsements) - [Multicultural Marketing](https://vutuv.de/tags/multicultural_marketing) (0 endorsements) - [Nonprofit organizations](https://vutuv.de/tags/nonprofit_organizations) (0 endorsements) - [Omni-Channel Marketing](https://vutuv.de/tags/omni_channel_marketing) (0 endorsements) - [Organizational Capability](https://vutuv.de/tags/organizational_capability) (0 endorsements) - [retail](https://vutuv.de/tags/retail) (0 endorsements) - [stem](https://vutuv.de/tags/stem) (0 endorsements) - [Strategic Development](https://vutuv.de/tags/strategic_development) (0 endorsements) ## Experience - President and Board Director @ Vancouver Linux Users Group (2026-01 – today): Working closely with the Board of Directors, I lead the organization’s revenue generation, partnership development, and long‑term sustainability efforts. This includes securing and stewarding financial resources, diversifying funding streams, and strengthening relationships with government, industry, academic, and community stakeholders. As the leader of the executive board, I provide strategic leadership across organizational development, donation strategy, stakeholder engagement, financial responsibility, and long term growth. I bring senior experience in community and strategic partnerships with digital innovation, along with a strong commitment to delivering VanLUG's social mission of member's advancement via open source technology. - Green Coat Volunteer @ Vancouver Airport Authority [Volunteering & hobbies] (2024-02 – today): socialServices · Creating unique BC-experiences for travelers and locals coming to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). In June 2026, YVR processed over 91,000 travelers daily (average), a testament to the successes of the tourism industry. - Web Admin @ St. Stephen's Catholic Church in North Vancouver [Volunteering & hobbies] (2011-09 – today): socialServices - Founder @ TRX Books (2023-09 – 2025-12): e-Retail Bookstore focused on STEM titles, both fiction and nonfiction. Built an e-store using Big Commerce, Square POS, Mailchimp for CRM, and Canada Post for fulfillment. Store front was open to Australia NZ, South East Asia, Europe, and North America. Internet archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20250329114511/https://trxbooks.com/ - Vice President Marketing and Communications @ Vancouver Linux Users Group (2023-03 – 2025-12): As VP of Marketing and Communications at VanLUG, I spearhead strategic initiatives to boost developer growth and engagement in line with Community goals. Delivers industry events, meetups, and technical presentations, while championing developer and member interests. Actively organize tech events and meetups, fostering Linux adoption and open-source contributions. - Vice President, Community and Partnerships @ Vancouver Linux Users Group (2022-12 – 2025-12) - Sr Marketing Manager: Community Relations @ Lighthouse Labs (2021-09 – 2023-02): Drove connections with reskilling: towards full-stack/web development, data science and cybersecurity, for a diverse global community of graduates and alumni. Delivered value to alums by advocating for life-long learning of technology and digital skills. Tech Stacks Used: Google Workspace; Google Analytics, Google Studio, Asana, Discord, Monday.com, Pipedrive, Trello, Slack, Mailchimp, Airtable, Hopin and Eventbrite Platform, Loom, and mostly MacOS environment. - Senior Marketing Manager, Global Partner Marketing @ Lighthouse Labs (2021-01 – 2021-12): Represented the interests of Lighthouse Labs and National / Global Partners, to develop category-breaking marketing campaigns. This led to the development of world-class full-stack developers, data scientists, and Cybersecurity specialists for our external partners. Working with multiple higher education institutions from all across Canada, the US, and Australia, I ensured that their marketing efforts yielded profitable rates of return from traditional and digital campaigns. I also helped B2B / B2G teams with creating and executing strategic marketing plans to promote their reskilling projects. - General Manager @ Lighthouse Labs (2020-02 – 2021-01): At Lighthouse Labs, you embark on an immersive journey of learning and growth. People come here to eat, breathe, and sleep code. We develop people into Full-stack developers and Data Scientists. My tech stacks include: Slack; Google Workspace; Canva; Asana; Mondays.com, Pipedrive, and Discord. - Member @ American Marketing Association [Volunteering & hobbies] (2007-01 – 2020-12): Education - Volunteer @ BC Cancer [Volunteering & hobbies] (2018-05 – 2020-02): health - Senior Marketing Manager @ Mercedes-Benz Canada (2012-01 – 2018-02): Reported to the Vice-President of the Vancouver Retail Group. Achieved number 1 status in the luxury automobile market by December 2015 in GVA, the first time in the history of MB Canada. Maintained status until my exit in 2018. Annual revenues were Ca$800 Mil with healthy margins. Launched new generation models (B, CLA, and GLA,); a new racing vehicle - the GT (R and S); and, maximized the SUV line-up. Established mainstream awareness on the AMG brand and its models, developed omni-channel media exposure for all dealerships, and created special experiences like Formula 1 live, "Mercedes-Benz at the Park," and AMG Nights. Optimized sales funnel with disciplined measurement and forecasts, with the best ROI on showroom traffic. - Member - Vancouver Local Group @ Ubuntu [Volunteering & hobbies] (2010-06 – 2013-01): ScienceAndTechnology - Brand Manager - Instant Games @ British Columbia Lottery Corporation (2008-09 – 2011-07): Developed and managed products under the Sportsfunder brand, and the Instant Scratch games division. Accountable for advertising campaigns for the holiday season. Provided consultation for Retail stores on Scratch Products and merchandising. - Global Associate Marketing Manager @ Wrigley (2005-01 – 2007-08): Led Innovation and CPG | New Product Development for 14 countries including USA, China, Russia, Canada, and Germany. United the global Brand Positioning across cultures and geographic borders. Led consumer insights, concept research and led R&D innovation through Wrigley's stage gate process to deliver Juicy Fruit's innovation portfolio for countries to launch. Led a global cross-functional team of R&D, Legal, and Supply Chain teams to commercialize new products. - Asia Brand Manager / Associate Marketing Manager @ Wrigley (2001-03 – 2005-01) ## Education - Bachelor of Science - BS, University of the Philippines - Bachelor of Science, University of the Philippines: Business Administration ## Certificates & licenses - Generative AI for Innovation: Certificate · LinkedIn · awarded 2025-09 - Certificate of Completion - Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Acessibility (IDEA): Certificate · Douglas College · awarded 2025-07 - Certificate of Completion - Unconscious Bias: Certificate · Douglas College · awarded 2025-07 - Certificate of Completion - Personality Dimensions Introductory Session: Certificate · Personality Dimensions 🍁 · awarded 2025-06 - Adventure PPC Google Ads / Adwords Course 2018: Certificate · Udemy · awarded 2019-10 · ID: UC-QEY6FWP0 - Modern Digital Marketing: Certificate · Udemy · awarded 2019-06 · ID: UC-G17VGWLI - Elements of Artificial Intelligence: Certificate · University of Helsinki · awarded 2019-05 · ID: yt746f3heur - Fundamentals of Digital Marketing: Certificate · Google · awarded 2018-06 · ID: T6H CPJ EJZ - Basics of Block Chain: Certificate · Udemy · awarded 2018-03 · ID: UC-7SS2T4EB - Gamification: Certificate · Coursera Verified Certificates · awarded 2015-03 · ID: 85CFGCEDTT - Microeconomics Principles: Certificate · Coursera Verified Certificates · awarded 2014-12 · ID: TEVMZ9MAP9 - Soft Skills Graduate: Certificate · Immigrant Services Society of BC · awarded 2012-01 - Google Ads Search Certification: Certificate · Google · awarded 2020-01 · valid until 2021-01 · ID: 39563802 ## Languages - English: C2 (Preferred contact language) - Tagalog: Native ## Links - [Vancouver Linux Users Group](https://www.vanlug.ca) - [Mercedes-Benz Canada](https://mercedes-benz.ca) - [Company](https://vanlinux.org) ## Profiles - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nestorbalce) - [Twitter](http://twitter.com/nsbalce) ## Messengers - Signal: nestorb.01 ## Phone Numbers - Cell: +1 778-885-6290 ## Addresses - Work: V6B5A1, Vancouver, Canada ## Posts (9 total) - 2026-10-30: [The TUXEDO Nano Pro Gen15 palm-sized mini computer features an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (Panther Lake) processor with 16 cores and 16 threads, and Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics supporting up to 4](https://vutuv.de/nestor_balce/posts/01a18d60-2476-7628-9554-3908dd2b93c9) - 2026-10-30: [Three (3) exclusively LINUX Apps that are better than their windows alternatives.](https://vutuv.de/nestor_balce/posts/01a18d5f-6e42-7a49-a26d-fa2330e91632) - 2026-10-30 (reposted by Nestor Balce): [Interessanter Artikel von @dirkriehle@hachyderm.io : https://dirkriehle.com/2026/10/17/how-much-should-you-charge-for-your-open-source-solution/](https://vutuv.de/johannes_tigges/posts/01a18c7e-a514-7189-a97d-68b8463850bb)