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35 SUMMER 2023 BRANDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Brandon Chamber staff enjoyed the 140th awards gala event. From left to right: Erin Houck, events and program co-ordinator; Connor Ketchen, general manager; Jessica Saler, membership and marketing co-ordinator. SUBMITTED PHOTO T he chamber, like business, has evolved over the years and become more diverse and grown to adapt with change. But in many ways, we've also stayed the same. Our mission is to encourage growth in the Brandon com- munity by fostering a progressive business environment favourable to enhancing ex- isting and attracting new business," general manager Connor Ketchen says. "As we continue to grow, our umbrella will get bigger. You'll find more opportuni- ties and see the expansion of some events but, really, the vision and the mission stays the same. We're looking to encour- age growth and attract new business in Brandon. We're here to advocate and work with business. It definitely has changed but, in many ways, it stayed the same, which I think is a testament to all those who have come before myself." The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is an independent membership-funded non-profit organization representing local businesses. The chamber works at the level of lobbying and advocacy with local, provincial and federal groups to ensure the business community's perspective is heard. "The power of over 800 delegates, representing over 600 different busi- ness types, sectors and sizes, gives the chamber a voice that can effectively speak louder than one business alone," states the Brandon Chamber of Commerce web- site (brandonchamber.ca). The chamber is truly for all businesses, Ketchen adds. "We want to be as inclusive and diverse as possible. A lot of our member- ship right now is single organizations to small businesses, but we've got large- and medium-sized businesses and not- for-profits," he explains. "So there is no real barrier to a cham- ber membership. There is no exact defini- tion of who can be a member, and there's value to all." Membership in the chamber helps busi- nesses with leads, referrals and network- ing through workshops, resource offerings and events. The chamber offers educa- tion and development opportunities and supports its members with cost-reduction programs such as group insurance, payroll and merchant discounts. It also supports awareness and promotion of local busi- nesses through event sponsorship and advertising opportunities. "As a chamber, we're connected to other chambers and organizations, so we're constantly putting out information on workshops, grant opportunities. If there's a small business loan that somebody may be offering, we're constantly putting those resources out there to our membership," Ketchen illustrates. "Monthly, we have chamber luncheons with informative business-related topics catering to our membership. On the first Friday of every month, we have a free cof- fee event for networking at our office. We run multiple events each month." In fact, Ketchen was drawn to his current role after attending a chamber luncheon. "The ability to have an impact on my community, the community that my daughters are going to grow up in, [to] be a part of the change, the collaboration and the advocacy was something that re- ally interested me," he says. "You drive by some of these businesses your whole life where you have transac- tional relationships, but when you're in the chamber world, you get to know the story and the people behind the business. So it becomes a lot more personable, which has been of great value to me." Ketchen is optimistic about the future of the Brandon business community and says new growth opportunities will continue to flourish in a post-pandemic reality. "We're still recovering, but you will see new things come out of that. You will see growth. You will see new opportunity. You will see new virtual opportunities," he says. "People have adapted and persevered through it, so I think you'll see a lot of new and innovative businesses working along- side those that have been here for years." If you'd like to learn more about how your local chamber of commerce can sup- port your business, all it takes is a call or an email. "Never be afraid to reach out," Ketchen says. "We've got a very inclusive group here, and we love hearing new, fresh, innovative perspectives and ideas. If you're ever curious about how you can get involved or if you think something may be a fit with the chamber, we're always happy to have that initial conversation." ■ " "The power of over 800 delegates, representing over 600 different business types, sectors and sizes, gives the chamber a voice that can effectively speak louder than one business alone."

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