July 2015 Inside this issue: GM’s Report Member Spotlight New Members Events Review Meet the New Board Recommended Reading
CHAMBER at a glance
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a publication of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Best Interests of Business
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s I write my first article for the Strategic Plan. I’m happy to see that Chamber at a Glance as council is focusing on simple, yet key Chamber President, I’ve had a priorities for our city. It seems that with few minutes to reflect on how lucky I am our new mayor and council has come a to be involved in such a great more business-friendly approach to organization. The Chamber network running and growing our city. allows individuals involved in the movement to grow and become better The plan seems agreeable and aligns and well rounded business people. I with key advocacy points coming out of believe our Brandon Chamber’s strength our chamber, which speaks to our lies in the fact that those who are board’s success in lobbying council in our involved care deeply about our one-on-one councillor pairings. We are community and work to advance the taking member concerns, business issues best interests of and our internal the Brandon policies directly to “a strong and business the decision community. I’ve makers and growing business been humbled influencing community delivers by the words of outcomes at the encouragement civic level. benefits to everyone and ideas for in Brandon” future initiatives We’ve advocated from all walks of for strategic the business community: new business investments in infrastructure where owners to past Chamber Presidents. The developers want to develop, which people who do business in this town care Mayor Rick Chrest has touched upon in about the greater good of our growing his State of the City address, and again in city. the Brandon Sun on June 17th. Part of the City’s Prosperity By Design Economic And speaking of our growing city, I’m Development Plan focuses on growing writing this on the eve of the city council our regional, destination retail market releasing their “Our Plan - Our City” and indications show that the business
Jordan Ludwig, Chamber President case for this makes most sense in the south end of our city. We encourage the City to appropriate the necessary lands from the RM of Cornwallis and invest in infrastructure where industry wants to develop right now. Our Chamber of Commerce building is in the heart of downtown Brandon, we’re encouraged to see a renewed focus on downtown Brandon revitalization. Redeveloping and increasing density in an area that is already serviced with infrastructure simply makes sense. The Province, the City, and the business community need to work together to find a catalyst to jumpstart downtown growth. We’ll be advocating for building code-equivalencies that make redevelopment of old buildings easier and financial incentives to entice (Continued on page 6)
FROM THE GM DESK
GM REPORT
Ringing in a New Chamber Year
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appy New Chamber Year (cue the keting Coordinator last fall, we were able to streamers & cheers)! put greater focus on member services including improving our membership outJune marks the start of a new presidential reach and revamping our Membership Reyear and the end of our regular season of ferral Program. events, and like when we celebrate a new calendar year every January 1st, this is a For the year ahead, we are working on antime the Chamber reflects on our accomother robust events calendar. Registration plishments and set goals for the year is already open for an HR Conference: Motiahead. vating & Engaging Your Employees, and we are extremely excited for the addition of an It has been a busy year at the Chamber. We Ag Conference and Business to Business continued to be active in our advocacy Forum. work, with a particular focus on policy development. We were pleased to formalize a Advocacy will continue to be a key priority policy development framework and have in the year ahead and we will continue to two Brandon Chamber sponsored policies, work on our policy development with focus on improved flood protection and improve- on local and provincial issues. With two ments to the food processing industry, elections in the upcoming year, particular adopted as part of the Manitoba Chambers focus will be paid to election platforms and of Commerce advocacy platform. We also meeting with candidates to help shape the recently completed a Municipal Red Tape conversation and bring light to issues that Reduction Policy and updated and added a impact our businesses and shape our comnumber of operational policies. munity. We had a particularly busy events program that included speakers from Manitoba Pork, Winnipeg Jets, Farmery Estate Brewery, as well as the Mayor and Premier for the annual State of the City and State of the Province addresses. We organized another sold out Golf Tournament, our second oil and gas conference: Bakken 2.0 and numerous Chamber Coffees, Business After Fives, workshops and special events. In addition, this year we also co-hosted a municipal election debate and played host to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce AGM. In all, we hosted over 70+ events this past year. We introduced and built on a number of initiatives and programs including the Shop Brandon Passport Campaign, Municipal Election Scorecards, and Business Outreach Meetings as well as completing a review of our awards process to name just a few. With the hire of a new Membership & Mar-
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We continue to develop our member services and will increase our membership outreach to share the many benefits of membership and to learn more about the needs of members. It is has been an ambitious year and we hope to capitalize on our momentum and build on our accomplishments for the year ahead! Thank You All of this success would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the board, our committees and many volunteers. Thank you to retiring directors Carla Milne, Daniel Burns, Tyler Rice and Lyndsay Murray for their contributions and commitment during their term(s) on the board. I would also like to extend a special thank you to outgoing Past President Craig Sen-
chuk for his leadership and big thank you and congratulations to outgoing President Todd Birkhan for a great year. We have a number of new faces around the board room table, and I look forward to working with our 2015-2016 Board of Directors and new President Jordan Ludwig for what I anticipate will be an exciting and full year! Lastly, thank you to all the committees and volunteers. Committees are our membership in action, carrying out the initiatives and programs of the Chamber – we thrive on your talent, energy and enthusiasm! We look to you, our members, to add your voice and skills. Please contact us to learn more about joining a Chamber committee!
Carolynn Cancade General Manager Contact Carolynn by phone at 204-571-5342 or by email at gm@brandonchamber.ca
Take full advantage of your membership: Get Involved in a Committee
participate in issues of interest Network practice your leadership skills Make your investment a rewarding one
Join a chamber committee! Call 571-5342 for more info!
www.brandonchamber.ca
MEMBERSHIP ZONE
member
SPOT LIGHT The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is pleased to feature Butterfly Consultations: Can you provide a description of your business Services? Management Consulting services – we provide training, bookkeeping and administrative services as well as market analysis, operations review and business planning.
We offer full remote Office Management including: development and writing of policy manuals, correspondence management, accounts management, payroll services and tax filings and more. We also provide full food safety training & workshops. We provide these services for start-up, new, and existing small businesses looking for a new perspective.
How long have you been in business? Eight years.
What are your business hours? 8am-6pm Monday to Friday, evenings and weekends as needed.
What are your business goals? To assist our clients in the profitable operation of their individual businesses.
Where are you located? 542-2nd Ave Rivers MB
Do you have a motto? Our job is to help you do yours! Can you list some of your services? We can walk you through a 5-year forecast or provide a complete small business analysis including staff training and implementation of internal processes & controls and more.
Butterfly Consultations can be reached by phone at 204-328-7479 or www.butterflyconsultations.com
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples' Council 410 - 9th Street Brandon MB 204-729-2462 j.gobeil@brandon.ca www.buapc.ca
Futurpreneur Canada
Nickel Electric
157 - 340 9th Street Brandon MB (204) 726-6158 bhack@futurpreneur.ca www.futurpreneur.ca
701-4th Street Brandon MB (204) 727-1177
Greg Steele, Firearms and Training C & C Rentals 2210 Park Ave Brandon MB (204) 728-2699 ccinfo@awgroup.ca www.candcrentals.com
Dirty T Shirt Productions 2-341 Westwood Drive Winnipeg MB (204) 805-5944 stevylang@hotmail.com www.dirtytshirt.net
July 2015
3 Deer Ridge Rd Brandon MB (204) 725-1608 ggs57@wcgwave.ca
Poplar Ridge Golf Course P.O. Box 309 Onanole MB (204) 848-2382 ryan@golfpoplarridge.com Www.golfpoplarridge.com
Westman Lions Manor Kelty iManagement 301 10th Street Brandon MB (204) 726-0242 jeff.clark@keltysolutions.ca www. keltysolutions.ca
35 Victoria Avenue East Brandon MB (204) 727-4911 westmanlionsmanor@wcgwave.ca www.westmanlionsmanor.ca
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EVENTS
State of the City Luncheon May 14, 2015 Mayor Rick Chrest spoke to approximately 400 members of the business community who gathered to hear his inaugural State of the City Address, celebrating who and what we are as a city. He discussed the city's competitive advantages, partnership building, accomplishments and priorities. Thank you to luncheon sponsor:
Friday Coffee @ the Chamber Weekly 10:00—11:00 am These complementary weekly mini events offered an opportunity for members to catch up with colleagues, meet and network with new comers in a casual setting. Our last Friday Coffee featured special guest: Dr. Gervan Fearon, President of Brandon University where he shared some of the game changers and academic plans the University has in store for the community. Sponsored by:
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Presidents Luncheon & Changeover Ceremony June 4, 2015 At the Annual Changeover Luncheon, the new Chamber executive was inducted and incoming President, Jordan Ludwig was welcomed as he shared his plans for the upcoming year. Outgoing President, Todd Birkhan, outgoing Past President, Craig Senchuk and retiring directors Daniel Burns, Carla Milne, Lyndsay Murray and Tyler Rice were thanked for their hard work over the last several years. Thank you Judge Dvorak for performing the swearing in ceremony, and to our Booth Sponsor: Child & Family Services of Western Manitoba Foundation Inc.
SEASON SEATING For your convenience, register once
and you are done for the year; never forget a luncheon again! Guaranteed seating for all regular
Chamber Luncheons. Enjoy priority seating with all seat
assignments at each luncheon. Receive exclusive access to event
tickets before they go on sale.
Thank you to our Luncheon Sponsor:
Past President’s Dinner June 4, 2015 This dinner gives our previous Chamber Presidents a chance to share their wisdom with the new President and Board of Directors. Our outgoing Past President was presented with an honorary Lifetime Membership.
Contact Becky at 204-571-5340 or info@brandonchamber.ca to order yours today
www.brandonchamber.ca
SIGNATURE EVENT
l a u n n A h t LF O 26 G R BE
T CHAMNMAMEN 5 201 TOUR e 10, n ay, Ju d s e n Wed
It was a great day for golf and the weather couldn’t have been better for a casual game at Shilo Country Club. Thank you to all who participated in this fun event! Congratulations to our Championship Flight winners from the FYidoctors team of: Trent Turner, Ken Loader, Don Williamson, Ian Beaumont, Matt LePage
THANK YOU Many thanks to our generous sponsors who made the Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament a success...
MAJOR SPONSOR
CART SPONSOR
FLIGHT SPONSORS
HOLE SPONSORS
Alternative Landscaping Ltd. City of Brandon - Healthy Brandon in Motion HUB International STRATA Benefits Consulting IDC Communications IM+M/Leech Printing Ltd. Mazergroup Brandon MTS Murray Auto Centre Brandon myITsource / MTS ConnectCorral Communications Myphone.ca / MTS Connect
Shoppers Mall NetSet Communications & I-Netlink Wireless RBC Royal Bank Sargent Lock & Safe Scinocca's Corporate Promotions Total Eye Care/FyiDoctors Shoppers Mall Western Financial Group West-Fit Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic Westman Communication Group Westman Dreams for Kids
BBQ SPONSORS
LUNCH SPONSORS
Remington’s Seafood & Steakhouse Blue Moon Water Frito-Lay Canada 19TH HOLE SPONSOR Subway Westoba Credit Union Ltd. Tim Hortons PRIZE SPONSORS
Altus Geomatics Behlen Industries Benmarks Brandon Wheat Kings Canadian Tire Chris Turcotte - Centum Mortgage Choice City of Brandon Crane Steel Structures
July 2015
DEL Communications Joe Beeverz Bar & Grill Leech Printing Manitoba Chambers of Commerce McMunn & Yates Meighen Haddad Poplar Ridge Golf Course Shilo Golf and Country Club Winmar Restoration
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President’s Message (Cont’d from page 1)
business to develop downtown. The Wheat City Golf Course is an important part of our recreation plan, but one that has been a drain on financial resources of the City due to perpetual flooding of the lower holes. We’d like to see the City explore the financial impact of permanently diking the course and raising the necessary fairways. A proper championship golf course is a key recruitment tool when trying to attract a highly skilled workforce. The golf course should be a profit centre for the city, and we’d encourage a public-private partnership to operate the course, and to develop the lands on the course that are under-utilized. We’ve continued to lobby the Mayor and Council for fiscally responsible spending, ensuring that each tax dollar collected be invested to maximize it’s effectiveness. Competitive property tax rates are necessary to create an environment that can attract investment in our community. Investment in our community by our existing businesses, and attracting new industry helps to build a strong base upon which we can spread out our civic expenses. Additionally, a strong and growing business community delivers community benefits to everyone in Brandon.
to continue to push our council to make the hard decisions that will allow business to grow and thrive. They’ve made the first few steps in the right direction, let’s all work together to continue to keep the ball moving forward. As I close, I’m thankful to have the opportunity to work with our new Chamber board and the extremely capable staff at the Chamber office. You can count on us to continue to lobby for the best interests of our business community. Enjoy your summer!
Jordan Ludwig President Jordan can be reached at president@brandonchamber.ca
The City has outlined a goal for planned growth in our community, balancing developer’s desire to build with the planning and engineering departments regulatory requirements. The City is striving to provide timely, professional service that enables development. We’ve continued to advocate for a faster, streamlined and consistent process to allow development to happen more quickly and easier. It is my belief that our efforts will begin to bear fruit in the coming months as we continue to meet with our civic counterparts. I believe the City is working towards creating a better environment in which to do business. But, this still leaves the onus on us as business people in the community
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www.brandonchamber.ca
LEADERSHIP
Meet the New Board The Chamber is pleased to announce the members of the Board of Directors for 2015-2016. Representing a broad range of industries and business sizes, they will bring a diverse prospective to the Chamber.
We would like to welcome
NEW DIRECTORS‌
Tami Rae Clements NetSet Communications/ I-Netlink Wireless
Jeff Hood MNP LLP
Chamber Membership renewal invoices were sent in June If you did not receive yours, please contact us at 204-571-5340
From left: Terry Burgess, Tami Rae Clements, Frank Arndt, Jordan Ludwig, Jordan Trotter, Rosa Villamizar, Terry Carlisle, Bonnie Nay-Draper, Jeff Hood, Todd Birkhan, Greg Crisanti. Missing from photo: Karla Dane, Jason Thorpe, Karen MacDonald
July 2015
Karen MacDonald Assiniboine Community College
Jordan Trotter C&C Rentals
Rosa Villamizar Behlen Industries
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Chamber at a Glance is published six times per year by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce 1043 Rosser Avenue | Brandon, MB R7A 0L5 Phone: (204) 571-5340 | Fax: (204) 571-5347
info@brandonchamber.ca www.brandonchamber.ca
EDITING & DESIGN Brandon Chamber of Commerce
PRINTING Leech Printing Ltd.
2014-2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jordan Ludwig—President Brandon Business Interiors
Terry Burgess—Vice President RBC Royal Bank
Tami Rae Clements—Secretary/Treasurer NetSet Communications & I-Netlink Wireless Todd Birkhan—Past President BDO Canada LLP
Recommended Reading… The Consultant With The Pink Hair By Cal Harrison ROCKBENCH PUBLISHING CORP. The Consultant with Pink Hair is the story of partners in a fictional management consulting practice struggling with the real life challenges of being “just another consulting firm” in a crowded market place. They battle low margins, late nights responding to crazy RFPs, confusing branding advice, and the pressure of too much revenue coming from one big client – and the disaster when that client walks away. Cal Harrison is a Manitoban author and one of Canada’s leading experts on the subject of sales and marketing for professional service firms. He participated in Winnipeg’s Centrallia 2012, and it was in one of the sessions that he found the pieces and inspiration needed to complete the book.
Frank Arndt myITsource/MTS Connect - Corral Centre
Terry Carlisle Cando Rail Services Ltd.
Greg Crisanti Tim Hortons
Karla Dane Meighen Haddad LLP
Jeff Hood MNP LLP
Karen MacDonald Assiniboine Community College
Bonnie Nay-Draper Entrepreneurship Manitoba
Jordan Trotter C & C Rentals
Jason Thorpe Thorpe Construction Ltd.
Rosa Villamizar Behlen Industries LP
CHAMBER STAFF Carolynn Cancade General Manager
Becky Farguson Office Coordinator
Allison Reville Events & Communications Coordinator
Hailey Williamson Membership & Marketing Coordinator
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Who we are: The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is an independent, membership funded, non-profit organization that represents Brandon business from the grassroots level.
Our Mission: To encourage growth in the Brandon community by fostering a progressive business environment favorable to enhancing existing and attracting new business.
www.brandonchamber.ca