Corey Werner is the latest business person to take the helm of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce.
Werner said he felt he was ready to take on the role as president.
“I’ve been a Board member for 10-years,” he said. “I thought it was time to step up to the plate and take on the role.”
Werner said he does feel a certain level of obligation to give back to the larger community.
“I’m a business owner in the city and like to contribute, and this is a great opportunity to be able to do this,” he said. In his first Present’s Message in the recent ‘The Voice of Business’ publication of the Chamber Werner expanded on that vision of vein g involved.
“The Chamber is an environment where a number of intelligent people, representing a diverse group of businesses come together to advocate, promote and help to improve trade and/or commerce in all segments of business. The Chamber also looks at factors affecting the agricultural, economic, civic and social wellbeing of Yorkton,” he wrote.
Of course in terms of Yorkton business there is great diversity. Werner was asked if that was a challenge, balancing the needs of a diverse business mix.
“Yorkton as a whole is based on small business,” said Werner, adding that small business base gives back in many ways.
But he added “big shops are great too.
“If we didn’t have the big stores we probably wouldn’t have the big draw.”
That draw in turn helps small business to thrive too.
Looking ahead to 2016 as Chamber president Werner said his primary goal is to build communication between the Board and the Chamber’s members.
“I want to work with Directors making contact with business members, to have intimate conversations one-on-one,” he said.
Werner touched on the concept in his newsletter message.
“The past two years I have accompanied the Mayor and the YBID committee on the annual “Business Walk with the Mayor”. I would like to thank Mayor Maloney for taking time out of his schedule and joining the Chamber with meeting the Chamber Members face-to-face. What a great way to connect and be informed on issues and topics affecting our local business owners! Very positive conversations and dialogue between all,” he wrote.
Werner told Yorkton This Week the conversations will be an opportunity for members to tell the Board directly what issues it should be focusing on in terms of supporting local owners.
“And they can tell us about good things happening in the city we should be talking about,” he added.
Werner said it is simply fulfilling finding in the Chamber’s Strategic Plan “to engage our membership.”
The process will go a step farther as well, said Werner. He wants Board members talking to business owners who were once Chamber members but have stopped renewing.
“What was it that they didn’t renew?” he asked.
If they can find a common element which could be addressed it might bring those former members back into the fold.
Then there is continuing efforts by the Chamber to work with all three levels of government, which is interesting with a new regime in Ottawa, and an election about to happen provincially.
“We can’t take sides,” said Werner. “We just deal with issues that come in front of us.”
But Werner did have a message for all candidates and their parties in the provincial election; “just listen to input from the business community.”
And then there is the economy.
“We all know that there is a lot of uncertainty in the world economy right now. We must remain hopeful that there is light at the end of the tunnel. These are the times for small business owners to come together, help and support one another,” he said in the president’s message.
However, Werner told Yorkton This Week locally things are still good.
“I don’t know if we’re really seeing a huge recession in Yorkton,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve been hit as in Alberta.”
In fact, some areas are rather robust, said the new Chamber head.
“In my sector it’s been really strong. We actually saw a price increase last year in the real estate industry,” he said.
