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!

Kiel Giddens

President

Biography

Kiel Giddens is the B.C. Public Affairs Manager 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 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.

Lorna Wendling

Past President

Biography

Lorna Wendling, CPA, CA, is a Partner in MNP’s Private Enterprise team in Prince George. Lorna works closely with her clients, helping them achieve enhanced financial success and reach their organizational and business goals more easily. Lorna delivers personalized audit, assurance and non-assurance accounting, consulting and business advisory and litigation support services to clients. She helps Indigenous Nations and organizations, forestry-based private enterprises including logging and lumber producers, manufacturers, government organizations and not-for-profit societies. Lorna’s extensive experience includes nearly two decades at one of the Big Four accounting firms, where she was a partner. Lorna is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in 1993. In 1990, she earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in business from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. She has completed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) In-Depth Tax Course Parts I and II.

Frankie Albano

Vice President of Finance

Biography

Frankie Albano, CPA, CA is a partner providing business advisory services at TBJ Terlesky Braithwaite Janzen LLP .

Frankie received his designation as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) in 2012 after earning a BComm degree from UNBC with double majors in accounting and finance. Frankie was involved with the UNBC JDC West, which is a regional business competition within universities, where he coached and competed as a student.

In his down time, Frankie enjoys spending time with his loving wife Natasha, daughters Briella and Kailyn and two dogs, Kapo and Ema. They are expecting a son in December 2020.

Ray Noonan

Vice President

Biography

Ray Noonan joined the Scotiabank team in February 1996 and is responsible for defining and implementing the strategic direction, goals and execution of key initiatives for the Branch Network across Northern British Columbia and in the Yukon.

Ray has held progressively senior roles across various banking areas including; Branch Banking, Small Business Banking, Wealth Management, Project Management and Executive Leadership. He is passionate about creating an inclusive culture, sourcing and developing diverse talent and building high performing teams that focus on delivering solutions and building financial literacy for our customers.

Ray completed his BSc and his MBA at the University of Northern BC and holds the designations of Personal Financial Planner and Specialist of the Trust Institute. He is exceptionally proud of his UNBC Alumnus of the Year Award for Community Service received in 2015. Ray and his wife Rae-Ann have two sons who keep them very active.

Peter Sia

Vice President

Biography

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.

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, Learning & Leadership / Inclusion & Diversity Lead, 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.

Cathy Mackay

Director

Biography

Cathy Mackay, RPBio, PAg, is the Chief Operating Officer of EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. Cathy works with her clients to assist them navigate regulatory processes related to environmental requirements. She is responsible for operations at EDI, which is a business that began in Prince George in 1994 and has grown to 90 staff across western and northern Canada. Cathy joined EDI in 2006 as a biologist, after she earned her BSc from Simon Fraser University in 1997. She worked in her profession until she returned to school and completed her MSc degree at UNBC in 2006. Cathy is both a Registered Professional Biologist and a Professional Agrologist. She is originally from Taylor, BC. Away from work, Cathy’s current interests are cycling, knitting, and music.

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.

Jamie Rivard

Director

Biography

Jamie grew up in a small rural town in southern Saskatchewan. She and her family moved to Prince George in 2012 to attend UNBC. She completed her Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and Human Resources Management. She had two small children at home when her and her husband decided to attend university. She focused hard on her studies and completed her Bachelor's Degree in 2 years and 8 month so that she could get working and support her family. She decided to get back into banking as she was a teller at a financial institution before having her children. Over the last 5 and half years of work she has focused her training in working with small, medium and large businesses. One of the best parts of her job is listening to people talk about their dreams and goals and that she can play a part and help them execute on them. Since moving to Prince George both of her children were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder which has helped grow a strong desire to support people with disabilities. She volunteers her time with the Northern Interior Autism Society as a board member, and at TD Bank where she works she sits on the Pacific Region People with Disabilities Committee.

Kevin Botham

Director

Biography

A proud husband and father Kevin is a 4th generation resident of Prince George, starting with his great grandfather Al Huble Sr. of the Huble Homestead. Prior to being elected to the board Kevin spent more than 20 years as an insurance and investment advisor focusing on business owners and helping them attract, retain, and maintain a strong workforce through their benefits and pension offerings. Having been an employee, self-employed and consulting with hundreds of businesses he has gained valuable experience and insight into the challenges entrepreneurs face in the region. Kevin is passionate about Prince George and its residents as he gives back through several charitable/advisory boards.

Kevin Gemmell

Director

Biography

Kevin is the General Manager of The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group LP radio and television stations including 99.3 The Drive, 101.3 The River, CKPG-TV and CKPGToday.ca. Kevin is a career broadcaster having lived in the three western provinces during his 25-year career. During that time, Kevin has been a part of three 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.

Micaela Roque

Director

Biography

Micaela is one of our newest board members and is a Partner at KPMG LLP where she has developed her career over the past 14 years. Micaela works with many different businesses on a daily basis and understands how important each one is in our community and for our economy today and into the future. Micaela is passionate about financial literacy and ensuring our local businesses have the understanding they need.

Micaela was born in Portugal but grew up in Terrace before moving to Prince George to attend the University of Northern British Columbia and begin her accounting career.

Travis Stringer

Director

Biography

Travis is Associate Wealth and Investment Advisor with Kozlowski Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities where he advises successful business owners and individuals on strategies that preserve lifestyle and enhance wealth. Travis is a strong community supporter and has volunteered with many local organizations including IMSS, Caledonia Ramblers, Salvation Army Food Bank, and PGSO. The success of any community is dependent on the success of its local businesses, and Travis has joined the Chamber movement to help facilitate that success.

Travis grew up in Northern BC and currently lives in Prince George with his wife and teenaged daughter.

Board of Governors:

Did you know the Prince George Chamber of Commerce has been operating since 1911?

2017 – Corey Naphtali
2016 – Cindi Pohl
2015 – Cindi Pohl
2014 – Ranjit Gill
2013 – Derek Dougherty
2012 – Bill McGill
2011 – Gaurav Parmar
2010 – Roy Spooner
2009 – Adele Yakemchuk
2008 – Albert Koehler
2007 – Garth Frizzell
2006 – Michael Kerr
2005 – Myron Gordon
2004 – Bruce Sutherland
2003 – Bruce Sutherland
2002 – Lee Hill
2001 – Ed Graydon
2000 – Victor Bowman
1999 – Lorne Calder
1998 – Ron Epp
1997 – Darrell Wade
1996 – Wayne Ward
1995 – Laurie Kerr
1994 – Dave Hodgson
1993 – Erik Zwiers
1992 – Pete Newman
1991 – Sandy Nauroth
1990 – Leyla Szabo
1989 – Rick Willliams
1988 – Judy Jackson
1987 – Des Peake
1986 – Tom Griffiths
1985 – Tom Griffiths
1984 – Bjorn Nilsson
1983 – Richard Ingram
1982 – Brian Phillips
1981 – Bob Holtby
1980 – Ron Drane
1979 – Ron Drane
1978 – Len Shuster
1977 – Fred Garnett
1976 – Wally West
1975 – Bob McFarlen
1974 – Dave McIvor
1973 – John Rahier
1972 – Hugh Handrieder
1971 – Ludwig Weilmeier
1970 – Alex MacGregor
1969 – Ken Bishop
1968 – George Kellett
1967 – Frank McLaughlin
1966 – Ralph Williamson
1965 – Lloyd Hunter
1964 – A.L. Murray
1963 – Harold Assman
1962 – Alex Clark
1961 – Wm. D. Ferry
1960 – John R. Morrison
1959 – John R. Morrison
1958 – Walter T. Burns
1957 – Walter T. Burns
1956 – W.E.R. Dale
1955 – Harry Loder
1954 – A.G. Bowie
1953 – Norman Napier
1952 – Alex Cross
1951 – H.B. King
1950 – C.O. Albins
1949 – Harry R. Bowman
1948 – L.J. Ratledge
1947 – A. M. Patterson
1946 – Gordon S. Wood
1945 – Wm. Bexon
1944 – F. J. Shearer
1943 – Martin Caine
1942 – H. Hewlett
1941 – W. J. Pitman
1940 – I. B. Guest
1939 – Karl Anderson
1938 – W. L. Hughes
1937 – W. R. Munro
1936 – S. T. Watson
1935 – G. B. Williams
1934 – W. L. Hornsby
1933 – A. B. Moffat
1932 – John McInnis
1931 – C. C. Reid
1930 – C. C. Reid
1929 – H. B. Guest
1928 – Wm. Coop
1927 – Chas A. Pyne
1926 – W. L. Armstrong
1925 – P. E. Wilson
1924 – P. E. Wilson
1923 – Ernest Jones
1922 – A. McB. Young
1921 – J. H. Johnson
1920 -W. P. Ogilvie
1919 – H. G. Perry
1918 – P. E. Wilson
1917 – J. H. Johnson
1916 – W. J. Gillett
1915 – H. G. Perry
1914 – H. G. Perry
1913 – J. A. Shearer
1912 – G. M. Lewis
1911 – D. F. M. Perkins

Board of Directors

Kiel Giddens

Lorna Wendling

Frankie Albano

Ray Noonan

Peter Sia

Kristine Newell

Kara Biles

Cathy Mackay

Matt Hutcheon

Jamie Rivard

Kevin Botham

Kevin Gemmell

Micaela Roque

Travis Stringer

Board of Governors:

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