Simcoe chamber has new president

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Sue Downs has been appointed the new president of the Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce.

Downs is group manager of media sales with Postmedia, which owns the Simcoe Reformer

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In her new role, Downs said she aims to make the chamber more relevant throughout the community.

She said she hopes that when businesses open in town their first step in becoming part of the community will be to join the chamber.

“We need to change the things that we’re doing to make ourselves a lot more relevant in the business community,” said Downs. “That’s my goal during my tenure as president.”

She also plans to start talking to local businesses to see what they want from the chamber.

“I think it’s important to be part of the community, and I think the chamber is an important part of the business community.”

Downs has been a member of the chamber for almost 20 years, filling different positions throughout that time. She has been a staple of the community working tirelessly on a number of community projects, such as the Holiday Soup Luncheon, the Annual Women in Business event and was recently featured on a Passionate Folks of Norfolk County video with GoNorfolk and interviewed by Amelie Chanda.

“I think I joined the Chamber because we worked together for the Springarama Home Show, so it was a natural fit for me to be on the board of directors,” said Downs,

Alan Duthie, general manager of My Broadcasting Corporation, turned the reins over to Downs after 10 months in the position.

During Duthie’s time as president the chamber’s office moved from its Queensway location of 15 years to the downtown core at 10 Argyle St.

Under Duthie’s leadership, the chamber hired a new general manager, Linda Branderhorst, and also welcomed Mirjana Vucic as co-ordinator of marketing and administrative services.

The Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce is led by the executive team of: Sue Downs, President/Postmedia; Alan Duthie, Past President/My Broadcasting Corporation; Wanda Heimbecker, First Vice President/Whistling Gardens; Gail Bouw, Second Vice President/Coldwell Banker Action Plus Realty Brokerage; Renee VanKooten, Treasurer/Stelco; and Kirby Shieck, Secretary/OntarioWest. Completing the Board complement are Alison Muir, CarStar Simcoe; Chris Nunn, MHN Lawyers; Ian Swinton, RBC; Mandie Marques, Rosewood Senior Living; Nick Kokkoros, The Barrel Restaurant; Wendy Brown, Libro; and, Catherine Akins, Norfolk County Agricultural Society.