Roll out the welcome wagon for the chamber's new executive director

My Melanie Jacob
Journal Staff Writer
[email protected]


The Humboldt & District Chamber of Commerce is welcoming Debra Nyczai as their new executive director.


Although originally from Swift Current, Nyczai was a single mother whose strong motivation took her from a Master's degree specializing in Public Management to this latest position.


"I have always had a passion for nonprofits and it was my goal to be an executive director for a nonprofit group," said Nyczai. "I saw this as an opportunity; I have a strong business background and I've been involved with chambers before in different positions."


Nyczai is a strong individual who had to learn how to balance her own needs with the needs of a daughter and a father with dementia. Since her daughter is fully grown now and married in Ontario, she's had a bit more free time over the last few years to jump back on the horse.


"My initial goal is to get out and meet every single business in Humboldt and the surrounding area," she said. "I know that is going to take a bit of time, but I'm very excited and happy to do that."


She may only be into her second week on the job, but Nyczai hasn't wasted any time. She's already been invited to sit on the board of the Humboldt & District Regional Newcomer Center and is looking to jump into other volunteer work.


"I've always wanted to be involved in the community I live and work and spend my money in," said Nyczai. "I'm all about helping and being involved and every organization has their focus obviously, but my passion is (senior care), since I have personal experience with a father with dementia in a care home."


"My family is very important to me and they're always going to remain a big part of my life, even if it's unfortunately at a distance."


Maybe it's because of the importance she places on family that she was drawn to Partners Family Services. After hearing about the services they provide, it's one of the places on Nyczai's list that she's considering volunteering.


"I'm a very strong advocate when it comes to domestic violence and abuse against children, so that's a strong passion of mine," she said. "I definitely want to focus on the chamber first, though, that's my priority. I'm going to be living and breathing chamber."


It's not just volunteer work Nyczai is looking to jump into. She's also an extremely active person who likes to engage in a few risky sports. Not many people know that she once was involved in roller derby. She fast walks half-marathons and also has plans to start mountain biking.


"I do like to be physically active as much as possible," she said. "So I'll be doing the Queen City Marathon in Regina again."


Nyczai's personal experiences are undoubtedly a part of what gives her strength and it's what has driven her over the past many years to reach her goal. While she has worked in a few different positions, all of them equipped her with the understanding she has today.


"I've always worked in some capacity or another and sometimes they were just jobs and not careers, but I've always put in 110 percent," she said. "I've always learned a new skill set so that's how I've gained the knowledge I have-- through different job experiences."


When referring to herself, Nyczai said that while her greatest strength is her ambition and motivation, her downfall would be her inability to slow down. With so many things on the go all the time, it's difficult to find the time to just sit back and relax.


"I'm a very driven and passionate person; I believe in what I do and I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe in the organization as well as the community," she said. "I like to think I bring that passion across. I'm very sociable; I love meeting people and getting to know them. I'm very easy to get along with."


Despite everything Nyczai already has to do and to look forward to, there are a few more immediate events she's anticipating. The Summer Sizzler happening this weekend would be one and the trade show in the fall would be another.


"Humboldt is a great little-sized community. It's a slower pace than Regina or Saskatoon, but smaller communities generally have big community spirit where everyone helps out and gets involved in community charities," she said. "People are involved and take pride in their community and that's what makes a community run."