Calling the position “an honour and a privilege” to hold, the chief executive officer of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce bowed out this month following the golf classic tournament.
Michael Hind served in the leadership role for 11 years, becoming a well-known figure and steady hand who hosted events for the board of trade that boosted the business community.
Among them were economic summits, excellence award galas, business showcases, educational panels, senior government politician talks, mayors barbecues and all-candidates’ meetings.
Hind also launched the Women in Business and Young Professionals programs and helped to create campaigns to stimulate the economy like the Taste of the Tri-Cities and Tri-Local.
He also saw Chamber membership grow by 20% while he was at the helm.
“I started this job because I wanted to give back to the community,” said Hind, a Port Coquitlam high school graduate who previously led Basketball BC. “I wanted to make a difference.”
Hind said he’s been take aback by the number of Chamber members who have recently thanked him for making business connections or solving challenges on their behalf.
Still, he said, a decade at the top is long enough. Hind wanted to leave the position last year; however, with the COVID-19 lockdown in full swing, he felt the timing wasn’t right.
“Michael has served our Chamber exceptionally well for over 10 years and we will miss him greatly,” said board chair Mary Vellani in a news release. “We thank Michael for his tireless efforts in bringing the Chamber to where it is today and for skillfully navigating us through the pandemic.”
Hind’s departure is the second shake-up for the business organization following the resignation this past spring by Stephanie Rennie, the Chamber’s director of operations.
Hind, whose last day was on July 15, said he’ll continue to be a resource for the Chamber but he’s now got his sights set on his next gig: as the community liaison with Icona Properties, which owns Anmore South (formerly the IoCo lands) and plans to develop the 150-acre property.
