Gaurav Parmar will have an extremely busy year.
He holds down a demanding job as a partner in the law firm Heather Sadler Jenkins LLP, and as the newly elected president of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce he will help guide the organization into its second century.
Parmar, elected president designate Wednesday night, will be tasked with, among many other things, helping the chamber celebrate its 100th birthday.
"This is a major commitment," said Parmar. "I'm both excited and apprehensive.
"I understand it's a huge time commitment. Roy [Spooner, president for 2010] put in a tremendous amount of work, and I'd like to stress it's all volunteer work. But when an opportunity comes along to give back to the community [at large] and the business community I had to seize it."
Also elected Wednesday night was a full slate of directors as well as a first and second vice-president.
The chamber aims to give businesses large and small a voice they might no otherwise have.
Parmar noted a recent survey among chamber members which polled local businesses on minimum wage. Most of the businesses, which responded to the survey taken between Dec. 13 and Feb. 28, were in favour of the hike. But Parmar noted many members in the retail and restaurant sectors felt any increase would be a serious hardship.
Parmar and the rest of the new executive will be sworn in Apr. 9 during a gala dinner at UNBC.
Highlights for Parmar will be May 29 to 31 when Prince George hosts the B.C. Camber of Commerce annual general meeting and in September when the chamber officially turns 100 years old. While still in the planning stage, Parmar expects this to be a special evening.
The AGM at the end of May will be special for second vice-president Tracy Peterson.
She was particularly active in getting the Open Skies resolution through last year's AGMs, both provincially and nationally.
"I'm thrilled to be elected second vice-president. Policy is near and dear to my heart so I'm sure that will be a continued focus for me," Peterson said.
She was "especially" happy with her success with the Open Skies resolution, but stressed the work has only begun.
"There's is still a lot of opposition to it from the airlines, but [making it a reality] will be so beneficial to airports like ours. It would create more flights, which means more competitions and more local jobs."
With two more resolution coming from the local chamber at May's AGM the current executive will have plates full to overflowing.
Peterson said she was not at liberty to cite the resolutions but said one concerns workforce issues and the other crime issues.
FACT BOX
The new Prince George Chamber of Commerce executive
-President: Guarvar Parmar, partner Heather Sadler Jenkins LLP
-First vice-president: Bill McGill, professor ecosystem science and management program UNBC
Second vice-president: Tracy Peterson, general manager CMO Data Systems Corp.
-Treasurer: Derek Dougherty, senior business advisor CIBC
-Past President: Roy Spooner, president Polydactyl Associates
Directors: Bill Phillips, editor Prince George Free Press; Brad Gagnon, owner Zoe's Java House; Cindi Pohl, account manager Waste Management Inc.; Doug Andrews, general manager Coast Inn of the North
