A change in leadership at the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce.
Tyson Andrykew of Sandman Hotels was sworn in as the new President, taking over from Joshua Knaak at their annual general meeting on Thursday.
Andrykew says his goals include seeing increased collaboration between the Chamber and other associations in the city that have similar goals when it comes moving business forward in Kamloops.”Other avenues that we’re kind of looking at here is just trying to get a little more action in our policy committee. So that’s a big part of what the Chamber does is putting out policy and there is just a lot of issues that we were seeing before COVID-19.”
Andrykew spoke to issues with labour shortages in a lot of our sectors and there’s increased taxation that’s been hampering the business community over the last few years.
When speaking about the coronavirus, he said “Certainly a trying time to take over. Feel sorry for a lot of our folks and business right now that are going to be going through a tough time, including the hotel accommodators, but we at the Chamber are putting together a little bit of a tool-kit to try and help businesses as much as possible.”
Past President Joshua Knaak looked back at his two years in the role and says he was happy with the work he was able to do over that time. “One of the things that we talked about last night was that it’s really during situations like this, or periods like this, like the last 12 months or even 24 months for a business community that the Chamber exists. Where we really come along side our members and there’s a real tangible opportunity to support them and it’s been a privilege to be the president over that period and work with a great board and a great team.”
Andrykew went on to say that he is looking forward to what is to come and working with the team at the office and those elected and re-elected to the board last night. He also thanked those that have served the organization over the past number of years. “I’m excited to be a part of the team that leads the Chamber into the next decade of business in Kamloops.”
The new Chamber board of directors was sworn in by Mayor Ken Christian at his ‘State of the City’ address.
The new Chamber Executive is as below:
Executive:
- President – Tyson Andrykew, Sandman Hotels
- 1st Vice President – Daniel Carroll, Fulton
- 2nd Vice President – Kate Stebbings, Trans Mountain Corporation Inc
- Treasurer – Abhinav Ashok, MNP LLP Accounting, Consulting and Tax
- Secretary – Tim Shoults, Kamloops This Week
- Past President – Joshua Knaak, Fit Financial
Directors:
- Nicholas Adams, Riverdale Trailer Court
- Alicia Glaicar, Gillespie & Co
- Mike Henry, Thompson Rivers University
- Rebecca Hughson, Independent
- Sara Lawson, Schoening Funeral Services Associates
- Mickael Maddison, SilverServers Inc.
- Cindy Piva, Thrive Business Strategies
- Colin O’Leary, O’Leary and Associates Ltd.
BC Chamber of Commerce Representative:
- Aleece Laird, Amplify Consulting Inc