Interim Chilliwack Chamber CEO excited to work with local business community amid leadership transition

CHILLIWACK – Chilliwack has been my home for a long time. It’s where my family and I have built our lives. I’m a husband, a father of four and a business owner. I’m proud to now serve as Interim CEO of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce.

First, a sincere thank-you to Leanna Kemp for her years of service to the Chamber and to our business community. Leanna leaves behind strong relationships, a dedicated team and a lot of goodwill. I’m grateful for her help in making this a smooth transition. I also want to thank our Board of Directors for trusting me to lead the Chamber over the next few months as we prepare for its next phase of growth.

I’ll admit it. I’m a self-proclaimed business nerd, and one look at my bookshelf will tell you that. Business has been part of my life from the start. It started as a kid, where I’d wander through The Bay department store with my mother and always end up rearranging their messy shelves and displays. How were they going to sell anything looking like that? To me, everything had to be just right. Customers work hard for their money, and a business has to earn it. In my early twenties I started a landscaping company with a good friend. That’s when I first got to know the Chilliwack Chamber, after we were nominated for New Small Business of the Year. From there I moved into selling real estate, then building homes, and now developing real estate. Along the way I’ve worked in economic development, operations, sales and hospitality, including restaurants, venues and hotels. I know what it’s like to make payroll, sign a lease, build a team, chase a permit (or two) and lie awake at night working out the next challenge.

So, I’ll say it plainly: I love business. I love its structure, its organization and the influence it has on everyday life. To me, business is a lot like art. Everyone brings their own ideas and taste. The rules are only guidelines, there to be tested to see what works and what doesn’t. The marketplace is the ultimate judge. Business is where creativity and objective decision-making meet. Even more than that, business is the engine of a community. It creates the jobs, sponsors the teams, fills the main streets and funds the services we all rely on. I have the utmost respect for everyone who takes on that risk and responsibility.