Lindsay Chung
Observer Reporter
The Quesnel and District Chamber of Commerce has a new board of directors that’s ready to tackle 2019 and all its opportunities and challenges.
The Chamber of Commerce met Jan. 23 to elect its 2019 board.
“Board members are business owners like you and I creating a welcoming business climate in Quesnel, so encouraging those people outside our community to set roots here,” president Julia Dillabough told the group. “Our board meets monthly throughout the year except July and August, starting with a strategic planning day in February, and it sets our path for the rest of the year. Each director sits on at least one committee or task force, which is determined at the strategic planning day to say what they would like to do and how they would like to contribute. As with anything in life, the more you put into the board, the more that you get out of it, which I definitely can say I believe in.”
The Chamber of Commerce works within five main areas: advocacy, member benefits, networking, communications and special projects, explained Dillabough.
“We take lots of different problems and referrals to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the B.C. Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “We like to make sure we’re picking apart their policy manuals all the time … and we make sure that our voice is heard from Quesnel.”
Dillabough believes the Chamber’s networking events are very important.
“I was very happy that we all started gathering around the same tables and everybody started a conversation because that’s where I see a huge value in the Chamber is how business is done, especially in small communities, is you start to know everybody and you work together, and we cycle the finances here in our town,” she said.
READ MORE: Quesnel’s Business Excellence Awards: the winners
Dillabough thanked past directors Gloria Brown, Morgan Ross, Sheri Coles and Coral Beck, who will be stepping down from the board this year.
“We thank them profusely for the amount of effort and work they put in,” she said.
This year’s executive, all elected by acclamation, is: president Julia Dillabough, first vice-president Tracy Bond, second vice-president Wendy Heppner and treasurer Ryan Broughton.
Directors who have one year remaining on their two-year terms and are returning this year are Richard Branson, Jillian Stockburger, Barb Dodge, Greg Andrews and Lori Carifelle.
Elected to serve two-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2020, are Paddy Storey, Rick Wittner, Tawni Fehr, Debbie Roch and Josh Kempf.
Lindsay Chung
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