Today, the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of seven Directors to their Board for a two-year term. Colleen Fleming (C. Fleming and Associates Ltd.) and Marianne Tykolis-Casy (Stevensville Lawn Service, Stevensville Garden Gallery, Safari Niagara) will join Janice Arnoldi (Janice and Robin Communications), John Clark (M.T. Bellies), Brandon Currie (Sun Life Financial), Neil Thornton (The Thornton Group), and Ruth Unrau (Focus Coach) for the coming term.
In addition, Ian Kowalchuk (Merit Contractors Niagara, Niagara Falls Craft Distillers) will become Past Chair, while Neil Thornton (The Thornton Group) will assume the Chair for a two-year term.
Commenting on the nominees, GNCC Nominating Committee Chair Wade Stayzer (Meridian Credit Union) said: “We are very pleased to add the talent, industry expertise and region-wide knowledge of these respected individuals to our Board. We are looking forward to their contributions as we continue to support Niagara businesses in their success.”
Additionally, the GNCC is pleased to announce the board will have full gender equity in its governing body with fully half of the directors of the organization being women. The board is also made up of businesses representing all of Niagara’s twelve municipalities.
Outgoing Chair Ian Kowalchuk remarked, “This is about ensuring our board is fully representative of our membership and the Niagara Region. It is a proud moment for our organization to be guided by so many diverse voices.”
In addition to the five returning directors, the new directors are Colleen Fleming and Marianne Tykolis-Casey.
Colleen Fleming has served as CEO of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, President and CEO of Career Edge, President of Laura Secord Inc., and is currently President of C. Fleming & Associates Ltd. Fleming received her MBA at Heriot-Watt University. She has been a director for ICD York, Seneca College, the Human Resources Professional Association, the Bridgepoint Hospital Foundation, Van Houtte Inc., Safe Communities, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, and the Retail Council of Canada. C. Fleming & Associates Ltd. is a consultancy firm located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, offering professional services to CEOs, boards and organizations on strategic issues and governance, which employs roughly five hundred employees.
Marianne Tykolis-Casey, co-owner of Stevensville Lawn Service, Safari Niagara and Stevensville Garden Gallery, is an established business leader in Fort Erie with over 200 employees and the recipient of many awards including recognition for innovation and community contributions. Tykolis-Casey sits on a number of committees to improve the community, including two for the Town of Fort Erie. She is also a past president of the Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce.
The following directors will also represent the GNCC Board for 2017-2018:
- Ian Kowalchuk, Merit Contractors Niagara, Past Chair
- Pam Lilley, Deloitte, Honorary Treasurer
- Harry Korosis, Chown Cairns Lawyers LLP, Honorary Solicitor
- Lisa Benger, Walker Industries
- Noel Buckley, Scotiabank Convention Centre
- Scott Glover, Meridian Credit Union
- Bill Janzen, Future Access
- Vivian Kinnaird, Niagara College
- Holly Mundula, First Ontario
- Gail Todd Atkinson, Something Else Boutique
- Tom Traves, Brock University
- Rachel Crane, NEXTNiagara, Ex Officio
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The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is the champion for the Niagara business community. With over 1,600 members representing 50,000 employees, it is the largest business organization in Niagara and the third largest Chamber in Ontario. The Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada has recognized the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce with its highest level of distinction.
For further information, contact:
Mishka Balsom
President & CEO
Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
905-684-2361 ext. 227 or mishka@gncc.ca
