TOP TIER Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director Susan Clovechok (fourth from the left) was recently recognized as the Executive of the Year by the British Columbia Chamber Executives. Photo submitted
By Breanne Massey
Pioneer Staff
A pillar of the Columbia Valley has been rewarded for her efforts to make the community stand out.
Susan Clovechok, the executive director of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce (CVCC) was recently recognized by her peers with the Gerry Frederick Memorial Executive of the Year Award at the British Columbia Chamber Executives (BCCE) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference.
I was surprised, honoured and moved, explained Ms. Clovechok. There are many deserving chamber executives throughout the province that are deserving of this award and without the support of the Columbia Valley and the nomination package that was submitted by the CVCC board I would not have been selected as a recipient. It is a tremendous honour to be considered a peer of the previous recipients.
The British Columbia Chamber Executives organization established the Executive of the Year Award in 1990 to honour individuals who make outstanding contributions and whose accomplishments can be viewed as models of chamber management within and outside the work environment.
Susans role as a Chamber of Commerce Executive Director makes her a pivotal person in all discussions related to regional collaboration and initiatives including valley-wide marketing, potential amalgamation of Columbia Valley Visitor Services and Columbia Valley membership with Invest Kootenay, wrote Radium Hot Springs Mayor, Clara Reinhardt in a letter of support for Ms. Clovechok. When the Temporary Foreign worker program was curtailed, she recognized the impact on businesses in our area and has been working tirelessly to advocate with all levels of government for either reinstatement, exceptions to and/or options to fill the gaps left by the federal government decision.
According to BCCE past president Allan Asaph, Susan is an amazing person to have as part of our Board and has been a pleasure to work with. She has been a driving force behind the success of our annual general meeting and conference and is tireless in her enthusiasm and commitment to our organization.
Many of Ms. Clovechoks peers agreed with that sentiment.
As a member of the BCCE, I have found Susans level of enthusiasm and her outstanding contributions to our network exemplary, wrote colleague and previous award winner Cori Lynn Germiquet in a recent press release. Susan has embraced not only her local leadership role but she has inspired many provincially as well.
The Executive of the Year recognizes an individual who exhibits the highest standards of excellence, dedication and accomplishment over a sustained period of time and who is highly skilled and creative at all levels of chamber management. It also recognizes an executive who has served as a champion of the chamber network, as a mentor to new executives and deemed to be a leader by their peers and their chamber.
I may be the named recipient of the Gerry Fredericks Award but I couldnt have accomplished what I have without the support, trust and confidence of our membership and the boards of directors since I started in 2010, said Ms. Clovechok. I see this award as recognition for our entire organization and the Columbia Valley business community.
Ms. Clovechok plans to use her prize as another motivational tool to add to her belt of specialties.
Being recognized and rewarded for doing what I love is incredibly reaffirming and inspires me to work even harder for my community, said Ms. Clovechok.
