There's some new leadership at the helm of the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce - with still more new faces slated to take over next month.
Chamber president Rick Shaver announced Friday a slew of new directors have been put in place for 2013.
Elected to the chamber’s board of directors are Mark Begg, Denis Carr, Shawn Filion, Jodi Lyn Hawkshaw, Bill Kingston and Rory MacLennan.
They join incumbents Paul Desnoyers, Kevin Hargreaves, Nada Kovinich, Eric McDonell, Jacques Perreault and Mai Liis Renaud.
“I welcome each new director to the board and look forward to working with them over the coming year," said Shaver.
The 2013 executive committee, which will include the election of a new president, will take place at the chamber's tranisitional meeting, Dec. 11.
“Going forward, we will face a number of opportunities and challenges in a community that is experiencing sound economic growth," said Shaver. "The city has already seen over $60 million in building permits and will no doubt secure additional ones by year’s end. Along with the strong building activity, the exciting, $12-million Centretown initiative has achieved another milestone and the initial phases of the project should soon begin.”
Shaver also identified some of the challenges facing the community.
“The chamber board will continue to monitor progress with respect to the international crossing and specifically, the locations of both CBSA operations and the toll booth. Each one has the potential to create issues for the business community and the chamber will be looking for decisions in the best interests of the business community and the community at large.”
And the looming city budget is high on the list of priorities for the chamber to address.
“With respect to the 2013 municipal budget, we hope to work with city officials in reaching a reasonable level of taxation," said Shaver. "Incumbent in that process are the tax implications of arbitrated settlements and the chamber is lobbying, along with a number of its provincial counterparts, in seeking changes to the process.”
