This past weekend, Susan Clovechok, Executive Director of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce was recognized by her peers with the Gerry Frederick Memorial Executive of the Year Award at the British Columbia Chamber Executives (BCCE) AGM and Conference.

The award is presented annually to a chamber executive who has made a difference in their community, fostered membership growth in the chamber and has been willing to take risks to achieve change.  The award also recognizes an executive who has served as a champion of the chamber network, as a mentor to new executives and deemed to be a leader by their peers and their chamber.

In her letter of support for Susan, Village of Radium Hot Springs Mayor Clara Reinhardt stated: “Susan’s role as a Chamber of Commerce Executive Director makes her a pivotal person in all discussions related to regional collaboration and initiatives including valley wide marketing, potential amalgamation of Columbia Valley Visitor Services and Columbia Valley membership with Invest Kootenay. When the Temporary Foreign worker program was curtailed, she recognized the impact on businesses in our area and has been working tirelessly to advocate with all levels of government for either reinstatement, exceptions to and/or options to fill the gaps left by the Federal Government decision.”

According to BCCE Past President Allan Asaph, “Susan is an amazing person to have as part of our Board and has been a pleasure to work with.  She has been a driving force behind the success of our annual AGM and Conference and is tireless in her enthusiasm and commitment to our organization.”

“As a member of the BCCE, I have found Susan’s level of enthusiasm and her outstanding contributions to our network exemplary,”  added colleague and previous award winner Cori Lynn Germiquet. “Susan has embraced not only  her local leadership role but she has inspired many provincially as well.”

The British Columbia Chamber Executives organization was founded in 1981 to promote and deliver professional development to the executives of chambers of commerce throughout the province.

The British Columbia Chamber Executives organization proudly established the Executive of the Year Award in 1990 to honour individuals who make outstanding contributions and whose accomplishments can be viewed as models of chamber management within and outside the work environment. The Executive of the Year recognizes an individual who exhibits the highest standards of excellence, dedication, and accomplishment over a sustained period of time and who is highly skilled and creative at all levels of chamber management.

Clovechok is just the third East Kootenay resident and chamber exec to garner this achievement. Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce’s now retired B.C. Chamber legend Karin Penner received the award in 1997 and Sparwood Chamber of Commerce’s Paul Wortley received it in 2006.

The award also recognizes the commitment made to the individual’s peers through involvement in BCCE and other chamber associations (CCEC, Northwest Chamber Leaders and/or BC Chamber of Commerce)

Past winners

2014      Patti Noonan – Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce

2013       Maureen Czirfusz – Houston Chamber of Commerce

2012       Colleen Evans- Campbell River Chamber of Commerce

2011       Peter Roaf – Delta Chamber of Commerce

2010       Bruce Carter – Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

2009       Coralee Oakes – Quesnel & District Chamber of Commerce

2008       Deb McClelland – Greater Kamloops Chamber of Commerce

2007       Claudia Blair – Williams Lake & District Chamber of Commerce

2006       Paul Wortley  – Sparwood chamber of Commerce

2005       Doreen Faval  – Sicamous & District Chamber of Commerce

2004       Cori Lynn Germiquet  – Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce

2003       John Singleton – Penticton Chamber of Commerce

2002       Adelheid Bender – Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce

2001       Bonnie Bates Gibbs  – Kelowna Chamber of Commerce

2000       Sherry Sethen – Prince George Chamber of Commerce

1999       Lynn Whitehouse – Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce

1998       Judi Ainsworth – North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce

1997       Karin Penner –  Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce

1996       Peggy Chute – Lytton & District Chamber of Commerce

1995       Bobbie Phillips  – Terrace Chamber of Commerce

1994       Inge Wilson  – Hope & District Chamber of Commerce

1993       Roslyn Castleden -BC Chamber of Commerce

1992       Lou Biggeman – Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce

1991       Gerry Frederick – Kelowna Chamber of Commerce

1990      Dianne Rempel – Surrey Chamber of Commerce

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