New board of trade announces its directors

The newly formed Ottawa Board of Trade has begun operating with a slate of 23 directors.

The initiative to amalgamate multiple regional chambers of commerce into a single board of trade to act as an advocate for businesses in the nation’s capital has been ongoing for months.

The West Ottawa Board of Trade consolidated its operations with the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce in July, followed by the Orléans chamber earlier this month, and the board is in talks with other area chambers.

Directors of the new entity are volunteers representing businesses of varying sizes and industries.

The board will remain in place until early 2020 when it will begin accepting nominations for new directors.

Among the directors are Ian Sherman, tax partner in the EY Ottawa office and former chairman of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, who will act as chair of the new organization, Michael Crockatt, president and chief executive of Ottawa Tourism; and Cyril Leeder, chief executive at Myers Auto Group.

Full list of directors:

Ian Sherman, tax partner in the EY Ottawa office

Mischa Kaplan, chief executive of the Cardinal Research Group

Joelle Hall, associate investment adviser at Richardson GMP

Lynn Johnston, small business adviser at TD Canada Trust

Ruby Williams, senior manager at Deloitte LLP

Ian Faris, former chief executive at Ottawa Chamber of Commerce

James Baker, chief executive of the Keynote Group

Craig Bater, a lawyer with Augustine Bater Binks LLP

Priya Bhaloo, vice-president at TAGHR

Dirk Bouwer, a partner at PerleyRobertson, Hill & McDougall LLP

Michael Crockatt, chief executive of Ottawa Tourism

Wayne French, director of public affairs at Waste Management of Canada Corp.

Mark Nisbett, director of sales and marketing Brookstreet Hotel

Robert Rheaume, a partner at BDO Canada LLP

Andrew Scott, former chairman of the Orléans Chamber of Commerce and Pita Pit franchisee

Greg Skotnicki, president of Market Maker Agriculture

Amanda-Lyn Smith, co-owner of The Massage and Treatment Clinic

Wendy Trudel, former director of the West Ottawa Board of Trade and team lead at Community Employment Resource Centre

Shelley True, founder of TRUEdotDESIGN

Jorge Useche, vice-president of commercial financial services at RBC Royal Bank

George Van Noten, vice-president at The Minto Group

Rob White, director at Red Chef Ventures

Cyril Leeder, Myers Auto Group