: Nominations have closed in the race for the eight open seats on the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
Eleven candidates are running for the positions including three incumbents seeking re-election.
Members have been mailed official ballots on which they will mark their choices to fill eight two-year terms. The positions up for grabs represent about one-half of the makeup of the board, with the other elected members seeing their terms expire next year. Over 350 members are eligible to vote in the election.
Chamber members have until Dec. 31 to return the ballots to the Chamber for counting. Results will be announced by Jan. 7.
The candidates are:
MALCOLM ANDERSON
Malcolm (better known as "Mal" by his friends and colleagues) brings a complete canvas of commitment and experience in the hospitality industry. The wealth of experience gained over 40 years in this demanding industry; and in particular the 18 years as a member on an executive level of the Jasper Chamber of Commerce and the Ski Jasper Consortia, has well prepared him to make a significant contribution to the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce.
Although "new" to the Battlefords, the past two years have proven to be an excellent opportunity to experience all that these communities have to offer. As the general manager of the Gold Eagle Lodge, Mal is daily focused on ensuring the care and comfort of all of our guests drawn from the regional, provincial, national, and international markets. That focus has resulted in the nomination (and awarding) for the hotel of a number of local and provincial awards. This success is due to the tremendous team at Gold Eagle Lodge and Mal carries that "team building" commitment to all aspects of his professional life.
"Additionally, both my wife Linda and I, know the importance of contributing back to the community in which we live, and we look forward to doing so in the Battlefords, for many years to come," Mal says.
KELLY ATCHEYNUM
I am the general manager of the Gold Eagle Casino and a member of the Sweetgrass First Nation. I graduated from North Battleford Comprehensive High School and continued my education at Lakeland College in business administration. I have also completed an executive development program conducted in Reno, Nevada.
After 20 years of playing music, I decided to pursue a career in gaming. In April of 1997, I obtained employment with the casino as a cashier. Over the years I have been promoted to the position of general manager. I take pride in our employees and how the Gold Eagle Casino is a positive business within the community.
My family is active in the rodeo circuit and has also branched out by raising top line quarter horses.
I feel the Battlefords is a great place to raise a family, and feel honoured and committed to improving the Battlefords.
BRENDON BOOTHMAN
Originally born in Lloydminster, Sask. He moved to the Battlefords in March of 2010 to build a business as an investment advisor with RBC Dominion Securities. Brendon graduated from Lakeland College in 2005 and started working with the RBC in January of 2006. Since this time he has become certified as a financial planner effective January 2009.
As a community participant, Brendon is a part of the Raise the Roof fundraising committee, a project to see a multi-purpose facility built in the Battlefords. He also has become a member with Battlefords United Way to stay involved in the community once the fundraising project ends.
He also enjoys an active lifestyle playing various sports throughout the year. This has helped him to meet a lot of people in the community outside the regular working environment.
HEATH GABRUCH *
Heath Gabruch is an active community member of the Battlefords, where he was born and raised. Today, along with his wife, Colleen, and daughter, Samantha, he resides near North Battleford, on the family farm.
Heath is an investment advisor with RBC Dominion Securities. A past business owner and farmer himself, Heath's expertise is most solidly based in agriculture, having attained a diploma in agriculture from the U of S and contributing to agriculture-based businesses in the area. In addition, Heath's involvement in the community is unwavering. His contributions include volunteer work with: the North Battleford Kinsmen Club, the Battlefords United Way, Battlefords Chamber of Commerce and as a director on the Battlefords and District Community Foundation and co-chair of the fundraising commitee for the Credit Union CUPlex multipurpose facility project. As well, he has served in various capacities with other functions and organizations within the community.
Heath has served in many capacitieswith the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce over the years, including being apast president, and sitting on various committees within the Chamber including economic development, immigration andthe BBEX committee. This vast array of experience has provided Heath with a unique perspective and understanding of the challenges facing businesses in the Battlefords, and the community as a whole.
RANDY GRAHAM
Randy moved to the Battlefords in 1990 when he was working for the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Saskatchewan. In 1992 hebegan his career with Battlefords Credit Union as an account manager and remains with the credit union to this day where he currently holds the responsibility of manager Commercial and Agricultural Services - North Region.
Randy is married to Diana who is a lifelong resident of the Battlefords. He has been busy in the community since arriving in 1990 with his first few years spent coaching various minor sports teams. Randy has been an active board member on many associations over the years including Battlefords North Stars Hockey Club, Battleford Promotion Society and North Battleford Golf and Country Club. Today heremains involved in the Ducks Unlimited committee, and has been a board member ofthe Battlefords and District Co-op for the past nine years. He has been board chair for the past five years.
Randyremains passionatewhen it comes to our community and would like the opportunity to serveon the chamber board to provide further positive influence particularly to the business community.
VERENA HASKINS
My name is Verena Haskins and I am happily married with three beautiful children and one adorable granddaughter. I moved to North Battleford from Saskatoon three years ago. I am very much in love with the small town feel and quality here, but of course with city living perks. I would like to be a part of the growth process as I can see big things happening here with huge economic growth. It's exciting to see so many young families coming back to the Battlefords to make this their home.
I am currently the General Manager of Aarons Sales and Lease which is a fairly new company to this community. It has only been here seven months but is growing effortlessly everyday. I enjoy this line of work, getting to meet all types of people from this area and seeing how ready they are for changes to the economy.
I wouldlike to help andto be a part of this ongoing growth and change and am excited to be involved. I feel the Battlefords is a wonderful place to raise a family and experience an ever changing, growing community.
TONI MONTANARO
Toni,her husband Chris and little dog COCO have lived in the Battlefords since 2006. Loving the outdoors, the Battlefords was a perfect choice to make a home and eventually raise a family. Upon first moving to the Battlefords, Toni worked at Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre.
Having a strong desire for a multi-cultural and diverse community, Toni and her husband enjoy participating annually in Taste of Culture. Believing in the strength and importance of local businesses and seeing great things for the future, the Battlefords was the perfect place for Toni to make her dream of becoming a business owner come true. In June of 2010 Toni opened Brio Fashion Boutique.
"The Battlefords is a progressive, vibrant community; one which my husband and I are proud to call home," says Toni.
MEGAN PORTEN,
Megan Porten is the branch manager of the North Battleford Bank of Montreal. She received her financial services diploma from SIAST in 2004. Since then, she has worked in both the financial services and insurance industries. She has been a member of several organizations, fundraising committees and has volunteered at multiple community events in her past few years while living in the Saskatoon area. Megan, a former resident of the Battlefords, was recently offered the opportunity to move back. When presented with the prospect to return, the decision was not hard to make.
Becoming part of the board of directors brings an opportunity to positively support and play a role in the overall sustainability and improvement of the business community. Megan believes in innovation, promotion, and the benefits of team work to see the Battlefords succeed in all aspects of business. The Battlefords presents a quality of life found only in remarkable communities. Megan would be honoured to join a team of individuals who share a passion to maintain strong values, a commitment to continually improve, and a vision for leadership that will prolong the Battlefords as a great place to work, live, and enjoy.
DAVE TAYLOR *
Dave Taylor has lived in the Battlefords since the age of 11. Dave started his working career at the place he presently owns with his wife Sharon. Having worked for Chris Odishaw for a two-year period at Battleford Furniture and later for Rob Hildebrand at Sound City for 10 years, he feels he has learned a lot about the community and the people who reside in it, and has a good knowledge of business and good business practices.
Dave and Sharon currently own the two McDonalds locations in North Battleford and one location in Meadow Lake.
"It has been challenging and fun at the same time, having to deal with a market as diverse as the one we are in," says Dave.
Dave is a strong supporter of the buy local program and tries to support both communities as best he can. He believes the number one issue facing this community as well as the west in general is people. People are our number one commodity and we must take care of them, he says.
To quote Ray Kroc founder of McDonald's "If you work just for money, you'll never make it, but if you love what you're doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours." Dave strongly believes this, as we all should in the Battlefords.
BILL VOLK *
Bill was born and raised on the family farm at Denzil. He is married with three grown children. He and his wife Carol have resided in the Battlefords since 1988 and have raised their family here. They have had many good years in the Battlefords, have found it a great place to live and raise a family and have no desire to live anywhere else!
Bill has a wealth of knowledge and educational background in agriculture, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree in 1975. He has owned and operated many successful ventures, one being Norsask Farm Equipment.
After selling Norsask Farm Equipment in 2008, Bill enjoyed a couple years of relaxing, spending a bit more time with family, and a bit of travelling. He found total relaxation just a bit too much and recently re-entered the work force. Bill is now a marketing rep for Dynagra VRT, a company based out of Alberta selling Variable Rate Technology to farmers.
Bill is active in the Lions Club and has previously held the positions of president, secretary, director and membership chairperson with the organization. When his boys were young, he was also active in Boy Scouts. He has served on the board of directors of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce in the past.
In his spare time, Bill enjoys a bit of horseback riding, summer camping and the family cabin at Turtle Lake.
WARREN WILLIAMS
My name is Warren Williams and I am running for the position of Board member for the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce. I, along with my wife Cindy and our son Dakota, were all born in North Battleford and consider the Battlefords to be a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. We have a vested interest to contribute to our community, and to see it flourish.
Currently an account manager for Bralin Technology Solutions, I have over 30 years experience in customer service and public relations. I serve as a director of the Rotary Club of the Battlefords and also enjoy membership in the North Battleford Golf and Country Club and am a past volunteer for the Sexual Assault Centre.
It is my belief that the Battlefords are a vibrant community; strong, caring, and poised to enjoy a premier place in Saskatchewan's growing economy.
