Board of Directors

The Chamber is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by the membership at our Annual General Meetings. Director positions are open to all of our members. Contact us for more information if you would like to get involved!

Ray Noonan

President

Biography

Ray Noonan is the District Vice President for Scotiabank with responsibility for all of Northern BC and the Yukon. He has been with the Scotiabank Group since 1996 and worked throughout BC in Customer Service, Small Business, Wealth Management and Branch Manager roles. He currently leads a team of over 200 providing full service financial services to Personal and Small Business clients. Ray holds professional designations of Personal Financial Planner (PFP) and Specialist of the Trust Institute (STI).

He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998 and a Masters degree in Business Administration in 2006, both from UNBC. Ray joined the PG Chamber board in 2017 and is a member of the Advocacy Committee. Ray also has 10+ years experience on the PG Community Foundation board, serving as President for three years. In addition, Ray has volunteered for several years with the UNBC Advisory Board on Advancement, as a volunteer program leader with the College Heights Community Association, the McLeod Lake Indian Bands Duz Cho Group and is a long standing member of the PG Estate Planning Council.

Kiel Giddens

Past President

Biography

Kiel Giddens is the B.C. Project Director, Public Affairs for TC Energy and the Coastal GasLink Pipeline. Based in Prince George since 2013, Kiel has responsibility for the company’s government and stakeholder relations activities in B.C. Prior to joining TC Energy, Kiel held various senior advisor roles for Cabinet Ministers in the B.C. Government, including the Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure and Minister of Environment.

He is currently the Past-President of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce Board, and a longtime member of the Chamber’s Advocacy Committee. Kiel strives to #SupportPG however he can to make it the best possible community for his two young sons.

Micaela Roque

Vice President of Finance

Biography

Micaela Roque was born in the Azores, Portugal, and raised in Terrace, BC. She moved to the big city of Prince George to attend the University of Northern British Columbia. She obtained her Bachelor of Commerce majoring in accounting and took an articling position with KPMG LLP where she developed her career over the last 15 years and continues as a Partner at the firm here in Prince George. Being a Chartered Professional Accountant, she works with many different businesses daily and understands how important each one is in the community and economy today and into the future.

Growing up in an immigrant family where she couldn’t speak English while trying to get a job and obtain basic life necessities was a huge undertaking. She believed having the support of her community and local businesses can be life-changing for a family like hers. Being a successful businesswoman in Prince George currently today with her accounting background provides that financial literacy that is needed in business but she also looks through the lens of an immigrant family new to Canada and the struggles that can bring.

Cathy Mackay

Vice President

Biography

Cathy Mackay is the Chief Operating Officer of EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. She is a professional biologist, an agrologist, and holds a Master of Science degree from UNBC. EDI is an environmental consulting business that began in Prince George in 1994 and has grown to 120 staff in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. We recognize with gratitude that EDI’s founding office is located on the traditional territory of Lheidli T'enneh. Cathy leads a team committed to the practical application of aquatic and terrestrial science to help their clients while maintaining the integrity of the environment that we all share.

Cathy is originally from Taylor, BC, and has called Prince George home since 2003 after living in Williams Lake and Burnaby. She is a passionate advocate for business in Prince George and northern BC. Away from work, Cathy’s interests are cycling, knitting, fishing, and playing music. She has served as a director on the Prince George Chamber of Commerce since 2016.

Peter Sia

Vice President

Biography

Kara Biles

Director

Biography

Kara Biles is an accomplished HR leader, facilitator and business partner with progressive experience in unionized and non-unionized environments in private, public and non-profit sectors. Her passion is diagnosing complex problems and providing talent solutions for her clients by helping them build strong HR foundations through technology, programming and people. In addition to her role as Canfor’s Director, Corporate HR & Employee Experience, she instructs in the Bachelor of Commerce program at UNBC and is passionate about growing the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders. Kara is a CPHR and holds a Master of Arts in Leadership, a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and HR, a diploma in Marketing and Management and a certificate in Conflict Resolution and Leadership. She is also a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) ® Practitioner.

Kim Hayhurst

Director

Biography

After many years of stable leadership positions in marketing, communications and public relations, Kim Hayhurst decided to quit her day job and open a small business during a global pandemic.

Today, Kim is the owner of The Makerie Craft and Coffee Bar, located downtown Prince George, where folks can enjoy specialty drinks and treats while enjoying crafts and creativity.

Before opening the Makerie, Kim spent more than 20 years fine tuning her skills in communications, marketing, program development and graphic design. Most of her experience came from working at a $500 million dollar economic development agency; one of Canada's top universities; and freelancing with businesses, communities, and non-profit organizations throughout Northern BC.

Some of Kim’s career highlights include taking on the role of media liaison during the 2019 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships; assisting with crisis communications during the 2017 Cariboo wildfire and evacuations; leading more than 200 initiatives as part of UNBC’s 25th Anniversary; and leading the expansion of Love Northern BC, one of the largest shop local programs in North America.

When not working her day jobs, Kim has been an active community member, volunteering on numerous boards focusing on the arts, the bioeconomy and various community events.

Donna Flood

Director

Biography

Donna Flood is the Executive Director of the Prince George Hospice Society since 2015. She has provided leadership in healthcare for over 30 years. Donna is Master's Certified in Health Leadership and Project Management. Donna's role as ED has allowed her to build skills in the not-for-profit sector and small business world with the running of a resale store, all the while continuing to utilize her healthcare experience.

Kristine Newell

Director

Biography

A long time resident of Prince George, Kristine Newell is a realtor with a locally owned independent brokerage, Team Powerhouse Realty, member of the BC Northern Real Estate board of directors, in addition to sitting on the Membership Committee and Business Excellence Awards Nominating Committee for the Chamber. She also owns a construction company with her husband. Recently elected to the Board, Kristine hopes to impact real change in the business community and the city as a whole through promoting our shared business interests, advocating for real change to tackle our unique challenges and empowering the business community to take full advantage of the opportunities available here in the north. When she isn’t selling real estate or attending committee meetings you’ll find her in the woods or at the lake enjoying the amazing natural landscape surrounding us with her husband, kids and dogs.

Elisha Brown

Director

Biography

Elisha Brown is the owner of the Prince George based design agency DUC. Elisha has dynamic roots of first, second and generational Canadians; both industrious and entrepreneurial. She is married to another local business owner and they share vested interests in several community-minded, retail companies.

After 10 years of business management and 4 years travelling and working in Scotland, Elisha obtained a New Media Communications & Design Diploma from CNC. In 2014 she launched her Graphic Design business, focusing on brand identity development. Since then, DUC has expanded its web services and worked with hundreds of unique Northern clients. Career highlights include creating the original FanCon logo, designing the retail hoarding installation for Pine Centre Mall’s new wing, and consulting for Hubspace’s DER3 program. DUC was previously nominated as a Business Excellence Awards finalist and has been the Design Sponsor and creator of the BEA Awards brand visuals for 5 years.

Elisha strives to cultivate excellence as well as inspire and inform fellow business owners. When Elisha isn’t making logos or running web projects, she is devoted to her most important creations, her three children.

Kevin Gemmell

Director

Biography

Kevin is the General Manager of Pattison Media Ltd., Prince George division radio and television stations including 99.3 REWIND Radio, 101.3 The River, CKPG-TV and CKPGToday.ca. Kevin is a career broadcaster having lived in the three western provinces during his 28-year career. During that time, Kevin has been a part of four Chamber boards and is a Past-President of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce. Kevin is also the Past-President of the BC Association of Broadcasters.

Kevin and his wife Alison moved to Prince George in January 2020 and enjoy all that BC’s Northern Capital has to offer.

Geoff Payne

Director

Biography

Dr. Geoff Payne is the current Interim President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia. Prior to taking on this role in January 2020, he served as the Vice-President, Research since 2015. Dr. Payne is also a Professor with Division of Medical Sciences in the field of vascular physiology. During time at UNBC, Dr. Payne has served in a number of leadership roles including the inaugural Assistant Dean for Education and Research between 2009-2015.

Dr. Payne came to UNBC in June 2004 as founding faculty of the medical school following a Post-Doctoral fellowship at Yale University in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and John B. Pierce Laboratory. He holds a PhD from Memorial University of Newfoundland in the field of cardiovascular and renal physiology. Dr. Payne has also held a number of leadership positions at the national and international level and various Board appointments.

Jessica Brown

Director

Biography

Jessica Brown is the Marketing Manager at Geotech Drilling. Because of Jess’s passion for community wellness and group success you’ll often find her ‘checking in’ with retailers and community partners offering to lend a hand and help out wherever she can. Jess likes to be kept on her toes and going above and beyond is her regular state of operation, especially when faced with a challenge. Jess was born and raised in Prince George and drawn back to the community after moving away because of Prince George’s enticing mix of entrepreneurialism, group & fitness activities and culture. In her spare time Jess loves to wander and experience new and exciting things, turning anything into an adventure. Whether it’s exploring the local shops and restaurants with her spouse Rob, spending time with local adventure/running/fitness groups or tackling a local hiking trail, Jess is always up for the challenge and never hesitates to venture off the beaten path. When she’s not off exploring Jess loves to spend time at home cuddled up with her two frenchies, Vito and Stella for some good old fashioned couch surfing.

Matt Hutcheon

Director

Biography

Matt is the Director of Conterra Financial and Founder/CEO of Taxwerx Canada. For 25 years his work has focused on providing businesses, First Nations and non-profit clients with financial systems, information and plain-language advice to reduce uncertainty and anxiety around the financial aspects of their organization. Matt was also the CEO of the Chamber in his hometown of Kingston, ON for over two years before his move to Prince George in 2014. Matt joined the Prince George Chamber Board in 2019 and is a member of the Advocacy and Membership Committees.

Jordan Thorne

Director

Biography

Jordan Thorne is a business law lawyer, specializing in the areas of corporate and commercial transactions, incorporations, real estate leasing and conveyancing, and estate planning and administration. Born and raised in Prince George, Jordan obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from UNBC in 2013 and a law degree from the University of Victoria in 2016 before returning home to start her career at HSJ Lawyers LLP. Since being called to the British Columbia bar in 2017, Jordan has had the privilege of helping business owners navigate the legal aspects of their particular businesses. As such, she brings a unique perspective of the challenges faced and opportunities available to businesses across a wide variety of sectors.

In her spare time, Jordan can be found volunteering as a director of the Prince George Community Foundation and the Two Rivers Gallery, out at the golf course or exploring PG with her golden retriever.