– Dan Rogers is the General Manager at the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce and can be reached at manager@vernonchamber.ca.
VERNON – It may be a great time to relax and enjoy the summer sun in the Okanagan but there is no slowing down for the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce (GVCC). The Chamber is teaming up with KPMG to bring the 2nd Annual Top 20 Under 40 Awards to the North Okanagan.
This initiative is looking for young professionals under the age of 40 years of age who are making their mark through business success and community involvement. The program will also feature something new this year, as it will recognize up to five Rising Stars, those who are under the age of 30 and have already made an impact in business.
“The region is fortunate to have many young professionals and entrepreneurs who are rapidly becoming our next leaders and it’s important for us as a community to recognize and foster their development,” says Murray Smith, partner with KPMG’s office in Vernon. “KPMG is proud to sponsor this program and to recognize the many individuals who are making a positive impact in the Greater Vernon area.”
Starting in mid-September twenty recipients will be announced over the course of four weeks and will be featured on the KPMG Top 20 Under 40 website. The recipients will also be honoured at a special recognition event on Thursday October 20th during Small Business Week.
“Recognizing some of the talented young professionals in the region has multiple benefits,” says Tracy Cobb-Reeves, GVCC president. “It’s important for our community to know the calibre of talent we have and what they are doing to sustain and grow our region. It can also encourage investment and attract other talented professionals to our community. ”
If you know a resident of the Greater Vernon area who is excelling in their career, passionate about the community, helping to raise the profile of the Greater Vernon area, and will be under the age of 40 as of the end of this year, then they are a perfect candidate. Nominees can be entrepreneurs, executives, managers, or professionals in public, private, or not-for-profit sectors. For more information you can check out: www.20under40vernon.ca.
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The other major event that is in the works for this fall is the second annual Chamber Golf Classic scheduled for October 6th. Participants and sponsors for the networking event are now being finalized with a few spots still open. Anyone interested in having a blast while building their network should contact the Chamber office.
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In other news, the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting is fast approaching marking the end of the term for another President. Tracy Cobb Reeves of Kal Tire joins a long list of dedicated Chamber Presidents who have worked tirelessly to improve the business environment in the area since the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce (previously known as the Vernon Board of Trade) was founded in 1897.
The AGM is scheduled for Tuesday Oct. 4th and it will include elections to the board. The Board is of course made up of volunteers who are passionate about what they do and eager to see economic growth and greater prosperity for the region.
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Finally the Chamber is pleased to welcome its newest members; Spine & Sport Physiotherapy, Bosman Accounting, Picnic Bakery & Catering, and Doug Cuthbert ReMax Real Estate.