Pam was born in Winnipeg, grew up in North Vancouver and relocated to the Okanagan Valley in 1993. She left the big city to take over the operation of Mt. Baldy Ski Area in Oliver, where she had been skiing at the family cabin since 1973. In 1994 she had her son Shayne and for the past 23 years she and husband John, are happy to call this area home. Pam’s background involves over 25 years in the travel industry, many years in the ski and golf business as well as being a big part of the wine and tourism industry.

Passionate about golf, skiing, and wine, there is no better place to live. She feels privileged to be an Ambassador with the Penticton Chamber as her way to give back to the community.

The Penticton Chamber is an important venue for the promotion of Penticton’s business community within the city, the surrounding area and the Province of British Columbia.  As a small business owner, myself, the promotion of our community is of foremost importance to the growth and development of our business community and as a community as a whole.  If you can’t grow your community then your community will become stagnant.

My wife and I have operated our own business in Penticton and West Kelowna for over 25 years.  In 1993 we started operating the Skaha Mohawk service station which we operated for 15 years.  In 2003 we added the operation of Ross Road Mohawk which we ran for 10 years and for a period between 2008 and 2009 we also operated the West Bank Mohawk.  In 2013 we purchased Aladdin Flooring Carpet One and have been operating it to this date.

In 2011 I was appointed to the Retailer Advisory Committee for Husky Energy.  This is a committee for which retailers present the issues and concerns to the management team of Husky Energy for consideration.  This panel is made up of the top 25 Husky station operators in Canada, for a one-year term.  I have also been apart of and supported local organizations such as the Salvation Army, SPCA, Penticton Elks lodge, Canadian Home Builders South Okanagan and Penticton Junior Curling.

I was born in Whistler; My father owned a pub, beer and wine store, and restaurant in Creekside for 20+ years. My family moved to Penticton in 2007 so my sister and I could play for the Okanagan Hockey academy. After finishing high school, I spent 7 years working on a drilling rig in Northern Alberta. Tired of the transient nature of the job, I moved back to Penticton full time in April of 2018. Not long after that, my business partner and I started Silverback Marketing, a digital ad agency with a focus on “lead generation campaigns”. In February of 2019, I started working full-time as a Sales Consultant at Penticton Hyundai. I am a proud member of JCI Penticton, avid “gym-goer”, and podcast and audiobook enthusiast. I am always looking for opportunities to give back to the community, whether it is through volunteering or sitting on committees.  After attending multiple B.A.B.’s, Business excellence awards, and numerous other Chamber Events, I am excited to be a Chamber Ambassador!

Some words to live by: “If you want more, you have to become more”

Debra Lehune is your Small Business Advisor with TD Canada Trust. With over 30 years of business banking experience, Debra understand the pressures of owning and operating a business and is committed to helping you with your business banking needs. Debra has been an active Chamber Ambassador since 2008, we thank Debra for her commitment and dedication.

I currently serve as an Ambassador with the Penticton Chamber and frequent BAB events assisting with each event in some capacity.

From a young age, my passion has been community involvement and giving back. I believe getting involved as a board member with the Penticton Chamber will help me give back more to the community and help implement changes for the better. I am all about supporting local businesses and helping each other be successful. With stakeholders and great working relationships, Penticton can have continued growth success and maintaining strong relationships will drive this. With a back ground in law enforcement I can appreciate and understand dynamic situations, problem solving, cohesiveness, teamwork and what its like to be a leader. This gives me the ability to create a connection and relate to the tasks at hand. I have always been active in the communities where I have lived whether it be from a young age helping with the special Olympics to my current role as an Ambassador with the Chamber of Commerce. I also was elected to the Board of Directors for the South Okanagan Brain Injury Society and currently sit on the board. In addition to this role, I am active on the Finance Committee and Resource Development Committee. I am always looking for ways to improve the quality of life where we live, and I believe that being a board member will allow me to put my experience to use in that capacity. My mom previously worked for the Society of Community Living in Ontario and I got to spend a lot of time with the wonderful people that resided in this community and watched my mother nurture and develop their skills daily. I want to give back just as she did.

With a diverse background and a wealth of knowledge in different industries it has allowed me to become well rounded and a suitable candidate to serve on the board for the Penticton Chamber. I spent 5 years in law enforcement which entailed knowledge of enforceable criminal code offences, provincial statutes, city by laws. I was well versed in processes and union environment processes. I was promoted to Sergeant at a young age with my lead by example approach, leadership skills and being able to put together a cohesive team/unit. I have several years of experience in a management capacity during my time in law enforcement and shifting into the automotive business where in 4 years worked my way up to my current position as General Manager. In law enforcement I worked directly with counselling services and rehabilitation centers for the vulnerable community members we served. My current position allows me the understanding of business practices and processes. Leading a team of 25 employees I am well versed in sales and service flow while maintaining a strong customer service approach and positive store culture. I am very knowledge with managing a business’s financial standings with reviewing and approving financial statements, charges, credits, monthly. I also have extensive knowledge in forecasting profit margins both gross and net, expense control and strategic overall dealership short and long term goals/plans. I have strong people skills and work very well in a team environment. My lead by example approach has allowed me to become promoted in several industries at a young age. My problem solving, and reasoning skills can be attributed to both my law enforcement and automotive industry careers. I am respectful and cooperative and am always willing to learn and hear other opinions/suggestions. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the South Okanagan Brain Injury Society and as an Ambassador with the Penticton Chamber of Commerce. If fortunate enough to serve as a board member I bring a fresh positive approach to new beginnings and continued opportunities with growth. My commitment, dedication and passion for community will allow us to serve a greater good and hopefully increase the quality of life and support for local businesses here in Penticton. I want to give back and this would give me that opportunity and have continued personal growth. I also plan to run for city council one day and want to lay deep routes in Penticton, getting involved in the community as much as I can.

I was born in Venezuela, Caracas and raised in Sudbury, Ontario. My family moved to San Francisco Bay area where I acquired an Associates Art Degree in History and Philosophy from Merritt College and University California of Berkeley. After seven years, I left California moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where I met my present wife of 46 years.

I worked in the Yukon, British Columbia and Alberta area acquiring over 40 years of practical Experiences in the Customer Service industry. As a mature, reliable person with a positive mental Attitude and a good sense of humour, I have extensive life experiences with the general public.   I worked 28 years as a transit operator, 3 years of Community Service worker, 4 years in Marketing/Sales agent and 3 years of Supervisory/Managerial capacity.

My wife and I moved to Penticton this spring in 2018. I have had the opportunity of volunteering, at several local events such as; Penticton Airport Day, Elvis and Peach Festival, JazzFest, Rotarian’s RibFest, OctoberFest, Penticton Ironman Competition, and other non-profit activities.

In the near future, I shall attend Okanagan College to update Spanish skills and register for Wine and Food Studies.  I look forward to meeting, sharing and working with all the members as an Ambassador for the Penticton Chamber of Commerce.  For additional information, please check LinkedIn.

My personal mantra is: “Another Day in Paradise”

Branch Manager of St. John Ambulance, Penticton.  Bev has worked in business for over 30 years with a career in the financial and health care fields and took the opportunity of relocating to the Okanagan Valley in 2018 from North Vancouver with her work at St John Ambulance.  Bev has two daughters who were raised in North Vancouver for the last 25 years after emigrating from the U.K.

With a passion for volunteering and being active in the community Bev is also a member of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Penticton and volunteers as Vice Sea Cadet Chair for the British Columbia Division of the Navy League of Canada where she has supported local youth cadets for over 14 years. Being an ambassador for the Chamber Bev is looking forward to continuing to promote local business and community involvement within the Okanagan Valley.

Currently the Executive Administrator of Penticton Women in Business, she was one of several directors within the group that encouraged that organizations participation in our Penticton Chamber. Breakfast of Champions is another of the groups she co-ordinates for the empowerment of women building businesses locally. She utilizes her background, training and experiences in education, volunteer management and administration within all the groups and businesses she works with.

An entrepreneur at heart, Marlene welcomes anyone interested in learning more about her work with the Opportunity Companies, Ariix and NuCerity, to have a chat regarding the time, financial, health, travel and freedom rewards of a home based, mobile, global business. Always eager to promote Penticton and all it has to offer, Marlene has facilitated hospitality and customer service training programs, organized conferences and events, worked with the Medical Foundation and the SS Sicamous Restoration Society, and volunteered with everything from the Art Gallery to Peach Fest, Junior Hockey to Jazz Fest, Okanagan College to Meadowlark, and more.

Marlene is a registered British Columbia Marriage Commissioner, and is happy to talk with all couples with regards to officiating their wedding ceremony.

She sums up life in Penticton with, ‘How does it get any better than this?’

I have been an ambassador with the Chamber for 3 years now and I feel it is time for me to offer more to the Chamber and the Business Community. Joining the Board of Directors will allow me to have more of an input into and impact upon the decisions made which will benefit the community at large.

I have spent close to twenty five years in the hospitality industry in roles ranging from managing 30+ staff members in bars and restaurants, assisting in promotions and fulfilling budget demands. The remainder of my forty years were spent in sales meeting quotas and providing customer care.

Aside from the 3 years as an ambassador for the Chamber, I have volunteered my time and services on several occasions over that period.

Joseph is a business warrior, starting and growing many businesses of his own and through Coaching, advancing the success of hundreds of decision makers in their own businesses. The most recent clients are finding greater success in the communities of the Okanagan, Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax and London England. Joseph believes that a vibrant business community is important to all and thus he is an active member of Chamber. He has earned the International Coach Federation credential of Master Certified Coach (MCC), only attained by about 8% of all accredited Coaches.

In addition to Joseph’s love of business, he thrives in the outdoors, rides a touring motorcycle, collects pre-centennial Canadian stamps and is an avid writer with three books published, a weekly newspaper column and an active blog.

Joseph has been on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce since the Autumn of 2018.