DEREK GRATZ
KELOWNA – The Kelowna Chamber announced its new Board of Directors following the conclusion of electronic voting earlier this week.
“We are pleased to welcome our new Board for the coming year,” said incoming Chair-Elect Derek Gratz. “2025 is already shaping up to be an extraordinary year for businesses, and we know that we have a strong and diverse group of directors to help our members meet the challenges.”
Directors will be ratified at the in-person AGM April 2 at the Innovation Centre.
Table Officers were elected by acclamation and include incoming President-Elect Derek Gratz of UBC Okanagan – Industry Liaison; Patrick Bobyn of Pushor Mitchell as Vice-President-Elect; and Treena Piva as Secretary-Elect.
Eleven Director positions were open during member voting over the past two weeks and the following candidates received sufficient votes through electronic balloting to be among those to represent membership on the Board for 2025-2026. Six new Directors join five incumbents.
1. Binny Boparai-Gill – Farming Karma – new
2. Dobrila Braunstein – Sandhill Winery
3. Narinder Nagra – Mission Group – new
4. Laurel Hogg – Rush Ihas Harwick LLP
5. Ryan Malcolm – Emil Anderson Group
6. Kristian de Pont – Good Sorts Property Services – new
7. Caroline Gilchrist – BCG Enterprises Inc – new
8. Jessica Samuels – HUB office Furniture Inc – new
9. Trevor Moss – Central Okanagan Food Bank – new
10. Curtis Tarapaski – Cairo Developments
11. Rhona Stanislaus – KPMG LLP
The new Board will also include an advisory position representing the City of Kelowna. Incoming President-Elect Derek Gratz, on announcing the Board, said “We are very pleased to introduce this new Board to our members.”
“The Kelowna Chamber’s growing influence, both within B.C. and as part of the broader Canadian network of chambers, is something we can all be proud of. Over the next year, our focus will be on further strengthening our collective voice to secure the outcomes that our local businesses need in these challenging yet promising times. Working collaboratively with like-minded organizations and in a spirit of inclusion will further enhance our success. This approach, underpinned by sound and modern governance practices, will be the key driver of our Board over the coming year.”
“I also would like to thank our outgoing President, Maryse Harvey, for leading us for the past year. Maryse will stay on the Board as an ex-officio member this year. I also would like to offer our gratitude to those Directors who are stepping down. You were important contributors to our success last year.”
Derek Gratz is Chair Elect of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce
