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Okotoks chamber's efforts cut red tape in 2019

Chamber announces Adam Stepa as 2020 president

The cutting of red tape highlighted the Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce’s 2019.

“One of the things the chamber is most proud of over the past 12 to 14 months is the Red Carpet, Not Red Tape policy,” said chamber out-going president Sara Noyes on Jan. 15 at Jerry’s Restaurant at D’Arcy Ranch Golf Course.

The red carpet policy was presented to Okotoks town council in September of 2018. The proposal was to make it easier in Okotoks to start and retain businesses.

She said the past 12 months is evidence town council and administration have listened to the chamber.

“Kudos to the chamber board and the membership for compiling this Red Carpet, Not Red Tape policy,” Noyes said. “But we have to recognize the town council and administration.

“It has been a complete Town-wide initiative that has involved multiple departments.”

Those departments include economic development, planning, customer services, Noyes said.

She said changes to bylaws in the future will also help promote business.

“They couldn’t have acted more boldly than they have over the last 12 months,” Noyes said. “And let’s face it, it’s a work in progress, things aren’t going to change overnight. There’s no magic wand.”

While she acknowledges the Town – which could have ignored the recommendations -- she credited the chamber’s growth in advocacy and policy as to why the Red Tape policy happened.

Noyes added that looking forward to 2020, the chamber will work closely with the Okotoks Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.

The ecosystem consists of stakeholders such as the chamber, Okotoks Arts Council, Bow Valley College and others, along with the soon-to-be-formalized Okotoks Downtown Business Association, who will work together on events and marketing in the extended downtown area.

The chamber also announced Adam Stepa of Infinite Chartered Accountants as its president for 2020.

“I decided to step up to the role and see if I can make a go of it, we have a great board  and with Sara as past-president and Jayme Hall (chamber executive director) being there for the past two years I think we have a good system in place,” Stepa said. “It’s something exciting.”

He said his goal is continue with the chamber’s growth and collaborate with stakeholders.

“I want to continue to work with economic development and the Town,” Stepa said. “And also to work with some of the other chambers, Diamond Valley, High River and just kind of grow the entire business community.”

He said being involved in the chamber has helped him grow as a professional and learn more about the town.

“To see the operational stuff the chamber goes through and deals with is a rewarding experience," he said

The chamber also had an increase of three per cent in its membership in 2019.

Upcoming major events for the chamber include the trade fair, scheduled this year for the Mother’s Day Weekend.

The new board is: Adam Stepa, president, Infinite Chartered Accountants; Sara Noyes, past-president, Community Futures Highwood; Harlene Day, Mosby Insurance; Chelsea Besuijen, The Eagle 100.9; Sandi Scott, Scott Mortgage; Leanne Sigurdson, One Collective; Twila Lowden, Eiffel Group of Companies; Tricia Arsenault, Guns and Hoses Roofing Exteriors and Insulation; Kathy Thirsk, Remax/First; Pamela Morgan, Baby It's Cold Outside; Janice Giroux, Sun Life Financial; Dawn LeMaistre, Okotoks Oilers; Brad Mauro, Bow Valley College and Shandra Bouchard, RBC.

For more information about the chamber go to okotokschamber.ca

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