Say hi to the new executive director

Over the summer, the Portage & District Chamber of Commerce welcomed its new Executive Director, Stefanie Dunn. Beginning in mid-August, Stefanie brings with her a wealth of experience, new ideas, and strong ties to the community, making her the perfect person to take the Chamber new places.

We talked to Stefanie recently about her work, the Chamber, and what’s ahead.

I was raised in Portage la Prairie, and my family has owned a business in this community my entire life. I grew up with a passion for performing arts and could often be found in a dance studio or theatre setting. I pursued this passion into post-secondary, then eventually settled into a Communications Program with a focus in Broadcast Journalism. I was fortunate enough to work as a journalist with Global News in Alberta for several years but returned to Portage soon after the birth of my first child. I’ve worked in non-profit since returning, and my most recent role was as Executive Director for Prairie Fusion Arts & Entertainment for three-and-a-half years.

I network with local businesses, provide resources and supports, do accounting, and advocate for needs of our members so they can run their businesses as usual – basically, everything to help members grow.

What is it you like most about the job/industry/ Chamber?

I have strong roots in this community and a vested interest in continuing to support and strengthen its business core. I’m a naturally social individual, so I am looking forward to having many conversations with members, community stakeholders, and local shoppers. I believe the Chamber is an invaluable resource, a very important part of a community’s success and growth. I look forward to creating innovative campaigns to encourage shopping local and advocating for members.

What is your vision for the Chamber as you settle into the role and what are you most excited about?

The previous ED has done a fabulous job of creating a strong foundation and landing point for me to begin my work, and I’m grateful to her for her time spent getting the Chamber to this point. My vision is to continue to earn the trust of the business community, provide them with support and resources to navigate the rapidly changing economy and landscape of how we shop as consumers. Long term, I dream of extending the Chamber’s reach into providing a bigger platform for female entrepreneurs and assisting some of the existing committees and organizations working to address barriers in the work force so we can continue to flourish and grow our great city.

Have you encountered any challenges yet in your position?

I think one of the most important factors in learning a new role is to be able to listen and have patience. I’m very eager to launch into some of my ideas and implement some new changes, but right now listening to my existing membership, understanding their current needs and wishes, and then also getting curious about non-members is priority number one. Certainly, there will be challenges along the way, but I know that the Chamber has a strong network of resources to tap into, and I look forward to learning as I continue to dive into this role.