message from the chair
Building on the Strengths of the Chamber’s Membership BY SANDRA STONE As my year as Board Chair for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce draws to a close, I look back on all that has been accomplished and what I have learned. It has been an exciting year of growth and change, and I am pleased to have been part of the team that has built upon the strong foundation established long before my term. As Chair I have been privileged to work with a very dedicated team of staff and volunteers. As a team we have concentrated our efforts in reviewing how we run our Chamber business and how we can better serve our membership to achieve an even greater level of success. Our activities continued to reinforce the Chamber’s four key pillars – networking, education, member rewards and advocacy – and we worked to fulfill our members’ changing business needs. There have been many significant highlights over the past year – too many for one short column – however a number of key initiatives stand out for the impact they have made in the community and the positive effect they have had for Chamber members. During my term, the Board updated the strategic plan with discussions on how we can continue to move forward in a cohesive and innovative manner. With an eye to the financial management of the Chamber we also looked at both revenue and expenses. We renewed our commitment to ensuring Chamber membership fees, sponsorship dollars and in-kind support are maximized to meet expectations and support the programs and services members are requesting. The Chamber, known for the number of relevant events offered each year, continued to execute every event with a high level of professionalism and dedication. Over 80 events are presented annually, averaging more than 1 a week, which is exceptional. Key networking events like the Business Excellence Awards attract the attention of businesses across all sectors and provide an important opportunity to recognize the significant contributions made by many to our community and industry. Attendance at the 2014 awards was the largest to date and it was exciting to see how many people celebrated the achievements and success of their peers. The Point of View series also showed significant growth in attendance. These thought-provoking luncheons, presented by notable business and political leaders like Prime Minister Stephen Harper, inform, educate and encourage the business community to
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ask the tough questions that have a direct impact on their businesses and to consider different perspectives. The Chamber Young Professionals, targeted to the next generation of business leaders, also continued to be a fun and unique way to support young professionals by helping them to expand their network and build their skills. Whether a seasoned business professional or just beginning a career, member education is another key area where the Chamber focused considerable energy. From peer-to-peer networks to more formal training and development seminars members learn from industry leaders and are encouraged to share their own best practices, growing the collective capacity of our region. Physician recruitment, a long-standing priority for the Chamber, also received significant support. Now active for over a decade, the Physician Recruitment team works tirelessly to attract doctors to our growing community and advocates for the resources that have a direct impact on quality of life – both significant factors in the long-term health of our region. The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber continues to lead the way as one of the largest Chambers of Commerce in Canada. As the voice of business we proudly support, encourage and advocate for our members’ needs and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a dedicated and hard working team.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandra Stone CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sandra is General Manager of Conestoga Mall (Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc.). As a Board Member and advocate for local business Ms. Stone provides a unified voice for the 130 retail stores and services at Conestoga Mall, a premier shopping destination in Waterloo Region.