A12- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 16, 2000 Chamber executive, board a diverse bod Strong body guides group BEING RESPONSIBLE for the overall leadership of the 400-member Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce is not easy. But Doug Barrett en- joys the challenge. He’s the general man- ager of the Coast Inn of the West and has been in the city for six years, ar- riving originally to manage the White Spot restaurant. Barrett. joined the chamber ta help promote the business community. The important role of the chamber, he says, is to bring a business voice to loca! issues. * Alm-Wood Contract- ing's Justin Rigsby be- came an active chamber . member in 1996 during the dark days of Repap’s fi- nancial crisis. Issues surrounding Repap, now called Skeena Cellulose, and West Fra- ser remain at the top of his list. Rigsby continues to re- present forestry interests on the chamber board and is the first vice president. * This year’s second vice president is Henry Stiks- ma, He’s the sole proprietor of Terrace Home Hardware and has been on the cham- ber for five years and has been here for eight years. Stiksma was the organi- zer of the 1999 cruise con- test, aimed at encouraging people ta shop locally. He also counts forestry as a dominant issue. * Cathy Frenette is mak- ing her presence known by being the chamber’s trea- surer. Working with chamber manager Bobbie Phillips, Frenette’s job is to ensure the chamber’s overall bud- get goals are met and to monitor the spending on specific chamber products. Pending changes to air- line service to Terrace and -health care top ‘her list of items of concern. * The construction indu- -stry representative on the chamber board is Betty Barton, the owner of Bar- ton Construction. She’s a long time Ter- race resident, involved in any number of local pro- jects. Barton is one of the ori- ginal Shames Mountain -backers and remains as a key member of its team, She feels fishing regu- lation restrictions, which affect the tourism industry and which then ripple through the local econ- omy, is a key issue. * Will Sigurdson has been in Terrace since 1998 and this is his first year on the chamber’s board. He sells business and commercial insurance at Paragon Insurance Agen- cies. Sigurdson enjoys the challenge of being on the chamber board. He feels a key issue for the chamber is dealing with cuts to provincial tourism grants piven that tourism is a vital part of the local economy. * Another one of the new board members is Mike Docherty, the general manager of Fatwest trans- portation and natural gas fules operation here. He’s been here for five years and says becoming a chamber director means he learns more about the bu- siness community, And because Docherty is in the transportation bu- _siness, he reports .to. the. chamber on that topics. _ Overall, Docherty keys: on Internet shopping as an area Which will have an impact on businesses, Those businesses. will have to hone their custo- mer service skills, and in particular -keep in regular contact with consumers, in order to survive, he says, * Terri McPhee is the manager of the Scotia bank here and this is her second stay in Terrace. Being a chamber direc- tor helps her keep in touch with the business com- munity. As with other chamber director, McPhee says the state of the forest industry is a key business issue, That’s because it has an impact on every kind of business in the northwest. * This is Ron Story’s 23rd year in the hospitality industry, the last three of which have been here in Terrace as the general manager of Mr. Mike’s West Coast Grill. He became a chamber director as it would help him keep in tune with the business community. Directors also can put into practice the cham- ber’s mission staternent to develop and enhance the wellbeing of the area. Story feels providing quality health care is a prime issuc for businesses. x Dan Anderson came ta ‘Terrace three and a half years ago as the branch manager for Coast Tractor and--has been with ‘the company for 12 years. . This is his first term as a director and ‘he. repre- sents the heavy equipment industry. Anderson enjoys the work because he’s exposed to all facets of the busi- ness community. Anderson counts the health of the forest indu- stry as a key issue. But he also says health care is an important factor. * Pat Bolin is in his sec- ond term as a director. He works for McElhan- ney Consulting Services, a company with strong roots in the province. Bolin is the chamber's voice on the Nechako Wa- tershed Council, estab- lished to handle various is- sues coming out of Alcan’s now-cancelled Kemano Completion Project. This is a regional bady, stretching east to Vander- hoof, and it is important, says Bolin, as it promotes co-operation within com- munities. * Re/Max of Terrace’s Sheila Love has been in the realty business since 1991 and has been with the agency since 1994, This is her first term on the board and she enjoys the exposure to the various developments within the business community. Leve believes a strang business community makes for a strong com- munity overall. * Campbell Stewart is the owner of both A and W restaurants in. Terrace, tak- ing over the one in the mall in.1988 and building the one on Hwy16 in 1991. He’s been on the board ” for nearly three years and enjoys the commitment it has to the city, Stewart says the cham- ber’s opposition to a gam- bling casino several years ago is an example of it acting as a voice of social conscience, . * Three visits over four years was enough ta con- vince Bert Husband to move here. He’s been here nearly three years and is the sales manager and a shareholder in Blue Ridge Graphics and Promotions. From the Okanagan, Husband says being a dir- ector gives him the oppor- tunity to lobby for the growth of the area. Taxation and regulatory issues are on the top of Husband’s list of factors concerning the chamber. ; x Peter Weeber has been a resident of Terrace for the past 10 years. He’s the manager for Chubb Security Systems and has another business, Oasis Sports Club. Weeber speaks on se- curity issues on the cham- ber board. He feels health care is Justin Rigsby Henry Stiksma Doug Barrett . Will Sigurdson Dan Anderson Sheila Love Pat Bolin Campbell Stewart — Bert Husband Peter Weeber vention centre is also a an important chamber priority. issue, but adds that a con- MacKAY’S FUNERAL SAFEWAY ) { Muara TERRACE CREMATORIUM | CLEAR, GREEK Proud member of the Chamber of Commerce for 14 years. JUSTIN Cc. RIGSBY, 8.Comm, C.G.A, Controller Proud member of the Chamber of Commerce for 4 years. 1577 Kenworth St, Terrace, B.C. 635-2303 Fax 635-9391 Proud member of the Proud member of the Chamber of Chamber of Commerce for 13 years. Commerce for 21 years. 4626 Davis, Terrace 635-2444 4562B QUEENSWAY DR. 4655 Lakelse Avenue, Terrace 638-8137 1-800-723-3929 i NECHAKO Iite wo STRUCTION TERRACE 141187 VENTURES LTO, Proud member of the Chamber of Commerce for & years. 4548 Lakelse Avenue, Terrace 638-1881 24 HR. SERVICE 1-800-665-5051 co Proud member of the’. 7 Chamber of Commerce for 6 years gE : kelse Avenue, Terrace. 7 635-4997 C 800-251-4997) _ ( f —— Friendship || | EINNING ae