Anyone not paying attention for the last two years would be forgiven for assuming the make up of the Chamber of Commerce has barely changed.
As Chamber board election results were announced Wednesday (Nov. 25), several familiar names returned to the scene. And the chamber also announced that former manager Kenny Music returns to the role as of Wednesday (Dec. 1).
Of the six available board seats, two new directors and one returning director emerged, and three were re-elected.
Former Chamber of Commerce manager Denise Imbeau now sits as a board member along with a former director who worked closely with her, Nancy Hamilton.
Imbeau was born and raised in Squamish, and worked for 17 years for Carney's Waste Systems until 2005, when she took the role of Chamber manager. In 2007 she joined the team at Greg Gardner GM. In 2009, Imbeau won the Chamber's Citizen of the Year award largely for her organizational work with the Callaghan Valley Organizing Committee (CALOC), but her volunteerism in the community has been extensive.
Hamilton has 20 years experience in business and finance as a business owner in downtown Toronto, stockbroker in North Bay, financial advisor and mortgage broker in Squamish and Whistler areas.
The only brand new member on the Chamber board is Amy Fast, who grew up in Squamish. In 2007, Fast graduated from Capilano University with a Bachelor of business administration and an advanced diploma in marketing. She has volunteered for the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival since 2006 and last year made her return to the stage with Between Shifts Theatre.
Re-elected to the board is past-president Ron Anderson, Sameer Kajani and Denise Jimmo.
Aderson has lived in Squamish since 1989 and has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for 19 years, having served as president for four terms. He is currently president and CEO of Squamish Terminals.
A resident of eight years, Kajani owns the Squamish Inn on the Water and several commercial properties and has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for over seven years and has served on the board for the past two.
Jimmo has over 20 years experience in the field of human resources and employment services. Since moving to Squamish in January 2008 to take on the position of career services manager for Training Innovations running the Howe Sound Employment Resource Center. Jimmo is now the director of career services and human resources with Training Innovations.
Although former president Margo Dent did not stand for re-election, she will continue her involvement as active past president.
Not elected was Chamber member Bianca Peters.
Music returns to the administrative helm after resigning in Oct. 2008 following nine months as manager to travel the world for up to a year. Upon his return, he said, immediately "missed the Chamber."
For the past seven months Music has had a two-day-a-week position. And when his replacement, Victoria Rigdon, announced her intention to go on maternity leave, Music leapt at Dent's offer to return full time.
"I was very delighted to do that," he said, adding he's keen to work with Dent again. "She'll probably be here just as much as she was before, and I look forward to that because we've had an amazing working relationship."
The board will appoint a new executive, including the president, on Tuesday (Dec. 8).
