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The Whitecourt and District Chamber of Commerce has a new board in place and Karen Hamelin, a chamber director from Mayerthorpe, says she’s hopeful about what this year will bring.
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Most of the directors were sworn in by Mayerthorpe Mayor Janet Jabush on Jan. 11, including new President Louise Meier, succeeding Mark Dickin.
“I’m very optimistic,” Hamelin told the Mayerthorpe Freelancer.
“We have a Mayerthorpe Chapter of the Whitecourt and District Chamber of Commerce and we have high hopes for the businesses in Mayerthorpe and high hopes for growth in Mayerthorpe.”
The Mayerthorpe Chamber Chapter was established within the Whitecourt chamber in 2022.
“We work very hard to come up with ideas and promotions to keep the businesses in Mayerthorpe viable,” Hamelin told the Freelancer.
As a director, Hamelin said she can bring Mayerthorpe businesses’ issues to the Whitecourt chamber if assistance is needed.
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She told the Freelancer the fledgling chapter has been going well, and the group is striving to get more local businesses involved.
Between six and 12 people attend the monthly chapter meetings, Hamelin said.
Meier said she feels the good about the new team, and understands the responsibility of advocating for the area’s diverse, unique business community.
“It’s an important job, because the chamber is really the voice of business,” Meier said.
Meier judged the new team of directors to be “a dynamic board” that represents diverse business interests.
Meier also paid tribute to Dickin and the job he did as president, saying she has “big shoes to fill.”
The new board includes:
President – Louise Meier
Vice-president – Travis Golby
Treasurer – Ray Hilts
Past President – Mark Dickin
Directors:
Paula Miller
Debbie Davio
Rachel Bachman
Terriann Masse
Karen Hamelin
Julie Sawyer
Brieanne MacLeod
