BRANDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
“The team that I manage is highly engaged. There are also 14 board members I connect with regularly, plus we have 600-plus members who can offer guidance and insights. I really like to consider others’ perspectives, and I never want it to be one thought, one mindset. You lead when you have to lead, and you listen when you have to listen.” Ketchen says that when he began to pull back the curtains on the chamber’s activities, he was in awe of how much a business could gain from membership. “It really is limitless what you can get from being involved in the chamber network. Everyone in Brandon talks about how amazing our events and networking opportunities are, from golf tournaments to our Friday coffees, awards, and luncheons, but to me, it’s the voice we have in an established and respected community. If you’re a small business owner facing some hurdles, you can tap into expertise from people who have fought some of the same battles. This is a great place to connect and learn, and we can support businesses as an advocate.” Ketchen says that he wants to see Brandon continue to grow, for his future and his growing family. “Big businesses bring jobs; small, independent businesses bring uniqueness and diversity to the landscape; new Canadians bring a whole new layer to the economy. I want to see continued growth in all our industries, and I am very committed to maintaining strong, positive relationships with government so we can advocate effectively for our members.” In addition to his new role with the chamber, Ketchen is busy doing the “full-time dad thing” to his daughters, now ages six and two. “I’m a sports-lover, and I will likely coach football again someday, but for now, I am just following whatever way the wind blows for my daughters’ sports interests. I stepped up to coach T-ball last season, and right now, I get off work and I do daycare pickup, and we get to go to the park, or we do swimming lessons, or gymnastics. They are keeping me extremely busy and I’m loving every minute of it.” "I really like to consider others’ perspectives, and I never want it to be one thought, one mindset. You lead when you have to lead, and you listen when you have to listen.” – Connor Ketchen, general manager of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of Manitoba Chambers of Commerce; Carolynn Cancade, former general manager of Brandon Chamber of Commerce; and Connor Ketchen, current general manager of Brandon Chamber of Commerce.
Buy? Sell?
33 WINTER 2022
Powered by FlippingBook