Battlefords Chamber of Commerce deadline to cast ballots in the current election to fill vacancies on the board of directors is Dec. 31.
Ballots have been mailed to more than 340 members, who are encouraged to make their choices to fill nine two-year terms on the board and to return the ballots to the Chamber of Commerce office.
Results will be announced by Jan 8.
Those running for the positions are profiled here. The names designated with * are incumbents.
Anderson, Malcolm *
Recognized as a strong supporter and promoter of the Battlefords community, Mal, his wife Linda and youngest daughter Lindsay, a teacher at Connaught Elementary School, are proud and happy to call it home.
As the general manager for the past three years of the Gold Eagle Lodge, Mal has dedicated the property to a "commitment of excellence," which has been recognized by being a finalist and/or recipient of a number of local, provincial and national awards. Most recently, the Gold Eagle Lodge was the proud winner of the Battlefords Business Excellence Award for Customer Service. Always willing to lend a hand, Mal and his team at the Gold Eagle Lodge are well recognized and respected for their support of local charities, the arts and sports in and around the Battlefords.
Mal has been an active member of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce for the past two years serving a year on the Education Committee and this year as a chairman of the Building and Maintenance Committee. Additionally, Mal has been involved with a number of "steering committees," as well as a director of the Battlefords Hotels Association and a driver of the Battlefords Destination Marketing Fee.
Mal looks forward to continuing his representation of the Battlefords business community as a director of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce.
Atcheynum, Kelly *
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 and continued my education at Lakeland College in business administration. I have also completed an executive development program conducted in Reno, Nev.
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 up 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.
Fuhr, Donna
I am the owner/operator of DMD Studio located at The Pleasant Garden in the town of Battleford.
We moved to North Battleford in 1971 from Winnipeg, Man. and have lived and worked in this community for approximately 41 years. Having worked for the RCMP both in the city and town, I believe I have an understanding of the dynamics of both communities. My husband and I farmed for 17 years and raised four children in the rural area, which gives me a great respect and knowledge of the farming community.
I have had the privilege of volunteering for Battlefords Tourism for about six years. I enjoyed participating at the trade shows both in Regina and Edmonton promoting the Battlefords and telling the public about our beautiful area, its history and its future potential. Battlefords Tourism has kindly recognized me as their Volunteer of the Year in 2010.
I believe the Battlefords is a great place to live and raise a family. This area has a strong sense of community, volunteerism and commitment to get things done
Gatzke, Trent
Trent Gatzke was born and raised approximately one hour north of North Battleford and grew up in the business environment, as his parents owned and operated their own business in the small community. Trent moved to North Battleford in 1982 to start his own career in an industry that he is still in today. Trent has 25 years experience as an automotive technician. Five years of that he owned and operated his own automotive repair business. The last five years have been spent at Scott Campbell Dodge as the Fixed Operations Manager. Trent is also currently involved in the Kidsport organization, has been active on the curling club boards as well as volunteered and coached minor sports.
Trent and his wife Lindy have raised their family in North Battleford, and are proud to call this their home.
Trent feels his background in business and the community could be valuable assets to the Chamber of Commerce in aiding with the decisions facing our business community. He is also a strong believer that it is important to promote and provide a positive environment for business to excel.
Gieni, Dr. Melissa
Dr. Melissa Gieni is from the Battlefords and is excited about recently returning to the community that has provided so many opportunities.
Since leaving the Battlefords she has attended the University of Saskatchewan where she earned a Bachelor of Science accepting the President's Medal, and her medical doctorate. She then spent five years in Hamilton, Ont. where she completed a residency and returns to the Battlefords as a general surgeon practicing out of the SpesMed Medical Specialist Center, in association with Prairie North Health Region. Professionally she is actively engaged within the medical community, including direct patient care, medical education, and critical care expansion within our community.
Dr. Gieni is impressed with the growth and cultural expansion that the Battlefords has seen within the last 10 years. After being away for a period, she notices the downtown core is prospering, that cultural diversity and immigration is growing, and that many young families are being attracted to the Battlefords because of its economic success and recreational facilities. She remains committed to the health of the community, and is hoping that through the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce we can collectively build a safe, economically prosperous, and culturally diverse community.
Hochbaum, Norman
Norman Hochbaum grew up on a farm south of the Battlefords. After completing his commerce degree at the University of Saskatchewan he returned to the Battlefords to work in the finance industry. Norman is employed as a Commercial Account Manager at the Bank of Montreal.
Norman and his wife Krista have made Battleford their home since 2008. They love the community atmosphere of the Battlefords and feel it is a great place to raise their growing family. Krista is employed as a teacher with the Light of Christ Catholic School Division.
Norman enjoys participating in the recreational programs the Battlefords offer and supporting various groups and organizations in their fundraising. Norman knows the value of giving back to the community and sees the importance of supporting local businesses and organizations.
Kennedy, Meghan
Meghan Kennedy relocated to the Battlefords in 2009 from Edmonton, Alta. where she attended the University of Alberta, pursuing a Masters of Science in Physical Education and Recreation., which focused on social support and athletic injuries. She currently works at TD Canada Trust as a Financial Advisor. This role allows her to meet many of the local business people and to share their desire for success.
Megan continues to pursue her passion for wellness, physical activity and athletic injury rehabilitation as a certified personal trainer and volunteer around the Battlefords as a director for Rivers West District for Sport, Recreation and Culture and previously as the secretary for the North Battleford Granite Curling Club.
Meghan is an avid runner and loves travelling and skiing. Involved with the Chamber of Commerce, her goal is to promote the Battlefords and continue fostering the development of a strong community.
Korpach, Terry
I have been a proud resident of the Battlefords for 43 years and have over 27 years of experience in customer service in the Battlefords. More than 30 years of farm experience has helped with my ability to understand the needs of our agriculture based businesses in the Battlefords. I have been with Anderson Pump House as sales manager for more than four years.
Staying active in the sports community in the Battlefords has been important to me. Activity, fitness and access to sports and recreation programming are vitally important for all community members of all ages. I have volunteered and been involved with many associations in the Battlefords over the last 25 years. Serving as a volunteer, executive member and coach with several sports associations, including minor softball, baseball, hockey, volleyball, and curling has been rewarding to me. I have 17 years of experience as a volunteer coach with minor hockey in the Battlefords, provincially and internationally, as well as four years as director with the Battlefords Minor Hockey Association.
With our growing economy, I see our community poised to take a leadership role as a provincial and national leader in business development. There isn't a better place to live than the Battlefords where I enjoy my most important role of all; dad to three great kids, born and raised in the Battlefords.
McGuinty, Moe
Since 1977 Moe McGuinty has held progressively senior management and consulting positions in Canada's tourism industry. He has been involved in the conceptual development, feasibility analysis and bringing on stream of some of the most respected resort and attraction projects in Ontario. Deerhurst Resort, home of the recent G8 Summit, and Hockey Heritage North, Kirkland Lake, Ont. are two successful projects to which Moe's participation has been integral. A partner in the management consulting firm Christopher Gordon Associates, North Bay, Ont. from 1993 to 2008, Moe provided professional services and direction to private business and industry, all levels of government and not-for-profit associations.
Moe is a past board member of the Muskoka Tourism Marketing Agency, past co-chair of Ontario Youth Theatre and past chair of the Public Relations Committee of the Resort Timeshare Council of Canada.
Moe and his wife Wendy have five grown children. They moved to the Battlefords in March 2011 and Moe currently enjoys his position as general manager of the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts. He would be honoured to be of service to the Chamber and looks forward to giving back to this community that has welcomed he and his wife so warmly.
Sullivan, Thomas
Thomas Sullivan is new to North Battleford and is the incoming manager of the North Battleford RBC Royal Bank. After six years of gaining a diverse experience with RBC, including living in the northern communities of Norway House and Cross Lake, and the last two years in Melfort, he, his wife Melissa (a goldsmith), and their six-month-old son Angus are ready to settle down in the community of North Battleford.
Thomas has been an active volunteer his whole life, was the secretary for the Melfort Kinsmen, and on the board of directors for the Melfort and District Chamber of Commerce during the last two years.
He has a passion for community development and has a strong recognition about the importance of community aesthetics and the connection it has to promoting business traffic and out of town visitors.
Volk, Bill *
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, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture 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. Bill currently sits as a director on Innovation Credit Union board, and is currently developing some retail space in the former Norsask Farm Equipment property.
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.
