CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EXECUTIVES OF ALBERTA
About CCEA:
Helping Chamber Managers build a better Alberta!
CCEA is a Chapter of CCEC. All members of CCEC based in Alberta will automatically receive a complimentary membership with CCEA.
Questions? Contact Alberta@CCEC.biz
Our Mission:
To promote ethical standards and efficiency in Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce management; to encourage the mutual exchange of information and ideas among its members; and to undertake such services and activities as shall be deemed to be in the best interests of its members.
Chapter Committee:
Co-Chair: Shelly Nichol, Executive Director, St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce
Co-Chair: Marilyne Aalhus, Executive Director, Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce
Member: Tanya Oliver, Executive Director, Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce
Member: Scott Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce
Member: Dawn LeMaistre, Executive Director, Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce
Member: Sacha Knorr, Manager of Chamber Services, Alberta Chambers of Commerce
Summit:
We're going to Rocky Mountain House!
The conference begins with lunch at 12:00pm on Wednesday, July 10. The conference will end at 12:00pm on Friday, July 12. Attendees will be provided with a 'to-go' lunch.
Registration is open! Register here.
Professional Development Training Needs
CCEA is conducting a survey to see what topics you'd like to see at Summit. We're also interested in potential topics that would be useful for Peer Networking events.
Alberta Chamber Executive Of The Year Award
The Alberta Chamber Executive of the Year Award is presented to the chief staff person of an Alberta Chamber who has successfully led their Chamber, actively participated in ACE /CCEA, and shown commitment to the Chamber Network.
Award Process:
Online voting will take place between April 22 - May 3
The award will be presented during the Alberta Chambers of Commerce’s 86th AGM & Policy Plenary Session in Red Deer on May 24th and 25th.
For more information and to register for this event, visit the Alberta Chambers website here.
Get To Know Our 2024 Nominees:
Cast Your Vote:
The recipient of the Alberta Chamber Executive of the Year Award will be determined by an online vote.
Dawn LeMaistre, Executive Director, Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce
2023 was a year full of firsts for the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce from board engagement to events and everything in between. After completing a Strategic Planning Session with ACC in February 2023, we streamlined our Chamber’s focus with new Mission/Purpose/Core Values/Pillers which provided a solid backbone for our Board of Directors and staff and a clear focus on the direction of our Chamber.
We took the plunge in early spring to increase our staff by one, which gave us the ability to steer our Board of Directors away from an operating board, shifting them in the direction of a governance board. An annual calendar was established, including four signature events combined with regular monthly membership meetings and networking opportunities for membership engagement. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Okotoks Chamber, we concentrated our focus on pivoting some of our traditional events. We held the first ever Business Celebration Gala, in replacement of our Business Excellence Awards, which opened the doors to the mindset that it is OK to take a risk and do things differently. We had the largest attendance at our annual tradeshow ever, creating a platform for significant vendor growth. Our golf tournament and series of five events during Small Business Month, rounded out these key annual events. And of recent we have explored the concept of regionalization in the Foothills and are actively working with neighboring chambers on this initiative.
Through my participation in all the ACC/ACE/CCEC/CCC conferences and professional development opportunities in 2023, I feel I have grown as a chamber professional. Having been provided with amazing resources that I have brought back to my board and staff, along with ideas that have been beneficial to my local chamber community. I truly found value in the budgeted expense for these conferences. Then stepping outside of my comfort zone and being a voice on the policy floor both at the ACC & CCC Policy Sessions, and actively learning from other local chambers who are drivers of policy, I feel we have made headway in getting Okotoks on the map when it comes policy. From participation in the weekly network calls to being a firm believer in the R &D philosophy, I take every opportunity possible to learn from my peers understanding that the network is one of our best resources.
In the network, we hosted the 2023 ACE Summit last July bringing together 40+ chamber executives and staff from across the province. I held the role as Secretary on the ACE Executive Board and now sit as an executive member of the new Alberta Chapter of CCEC. Plus, Okotoks has been part of the ACC Chamber Platform pilot project over the past year and has worked closely with ACC staff and the Platform developers to create a website/CRM program that will be beneficial for our Chamber network.
Sarah Freeman, Executive Director, Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce
I have been with the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce going into my 3-rd year this June 2024. Along this journey of being the Executive Director and growing a new Chamber with 9 amazing board members we have seen tremendous growth in our membership, more collaboration in our community, and building strong lasting connections with members and partners.
We now have 2 networking events running between Canmore & Banff alternating months between both communities (Bevvies & Business, and Coffee Connector) this has been a success with slowly building trusted relationships across the Bow Valley. We now have 3 successful signature events that run every year (Bow Valley Business Excellence Awards, Ungolfed, and Bow Valley Women in Business). The Bow Valley Women in Business is something that sits close to my heart, and I was able to bring to life this past March 7 in celebration of Internation Women’s Day and this will happen each year around the same time, along with 1 other BVC Women in Business thanks to partners, generous donation, and the support of our community believing in a vision.
We continue to collaborate with other organization one step at a time, and thanks to the recent grant through ACC & Alberta Government we are collaborating with the Job Resource Centre on upcoming Job Fairs to enhance them, we are already seeing the results of community collaboration, and opening more opportunity for smaller businesses to take part in the Job Fairs. We collaborate monthly with our local radio station 106.5 Mountain FM with monthly Member spotlights, interviews about our events or programming, and I have been doing the recording of ads for events and collaborative events with partners.
We have now run 2 Peer Masterminds and just completed Cohort 2 and looking at Cohort 3 in the fall 2024.
Outside of the BVCC I am on a committee with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce called “Inclusive Growth Committee”. I attended my first meeting the other week with 15 other committee members across Canada. I am grateful to have my voice in this space for our members and beyond.
Finally, we have seen a 20% growth at BVCC year after year, and we would like to see that keep moving in this direction through building relationships, listening, and supporting our business community and being a voice for our members. (Photo credit to Alexis McKeown).
Scott Robinson, CEO Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce
I am very honored to be nominated for the CCEC- Alberta Executive of the year Award. As with any accomplishments I must give the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce Board, Volunteers and Staff 100% of Credit for much that we have accomplished. I could not be more proud of our Team.
The 2023- 2024 year has been one of the busiest on record. We saw a need to get our Senior Business Leaders together a couple times a year to network and address some of the larger Policy Issues in Red Deer. We formed a Chamber Business Council in the Fall of 2023 and started addressing the challenge of weak economic growth in our city. In addition to this we also held our inaugural Central Alberta Business Summit where we brought in speakers focusing on Economic Development and Business Development for our Region. We have made some very good progress advocating for the City of Red Deer to undertake a Full Scope Review of its Economic Development Model and Resourcing.
2024 is our 130th Anniversary as the Red Deer District Chamber and in celebration we have chosen to use this celebration of the past as a good time to transition to a New Brand and a dynamic future. We launched our new brand as part of our 130th celebration event on March 18th (the actual day of our inaugural 1894 1st Board meeting of our Chamber). In addition to this initiative, we are hosting the 2024 ACC AGM and Conference and bringing Premier Danielle Smith to Speak at the AGM Conf Dinner as well as use this opportunity to recognize our long-standing Members of our Chamber.
Our Agri- Trade Equipment Expo will celebrate its 40th Anniversary in 2024. This show the 3rd Largest Agricultural Trade show in Canada continues to be a critical part of our Chambers success. this property that is Jointly Owned by our Chamber and Westerner Park. Our focus this year was to modernize the Agri- Trade Partnership by have completing all the Corporate, Management and Operational Policy agreements required to move this property into the next 40 years of success.
I feel very strongly that part of my role is as the Red Deer Chamber CEO is to be a part of the Chamber Network here in Alberta as best I can volunteer to help with various provincial initiatives and help with the ACE Board and now the CCECA Chapter group. I always impressed by the many other Chamber staff and leaders in our province and proud to say that I am from Alberta’s Chamber network.
Tanya Oliver, CEO, Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce
It's a true honor to be nominated, thank you! Reflecting on my 15-year journey within the Chamber network fills me with gratitude. I started as the Executive Director in Bonnyville before advancing to my current role as CEO of the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce. My network leadership tenure includes serving on the ACE board, with 3.5 years as President, and continuing as Past President of the newly established CCEA. Additionally, I hold the position of 2nd VP on the CCEC board, where I played an important role in crafting the Federated model, a testament to our shared vision now thriving through new Chapters, Federated Partners, and dynamic branding.
I am immensely proud of our Chamber's recognition as one of the ACC Chambers of the Year in 2023. This accolade underscores the exceptional dedication of our talented staff and the steadfast support of our Board of Directors. Recent innovations include streamlining our membership dues structure from over 200 to just four different prices, launching an annual sponsorship guide, and establishing a new advocacy-based revenue-generating event. We've also initiated the Chamber Champions program to enhance non-dues revenue and have successfully secured funding for our Regional Workforce Development Partnership, collaborating with our three major municipalities and the local post-secondary institution.
My commitment to collaboration and respectful debate fuels my belief that together, we achieve greatness. I cherish the relationships and friendships cultivated through this network, constantly enriched by our collective wisdom. Each day, I am inspired by the opportunity to contribute to our community's strength and success, and I am genuinely excited to continue this journey for years to come.
