VIEA will have new leadership as it continues to foster connections among businesses and industries on the Island.
The Vancouver Island Economic Alliance announced Friday, June 17, that Julie Sperber will be the next president and CEO of the organization.
Sperber, executive director of the Gabriola Chamber of Commerce, will officially start her new duties with VIEA in August, but she was introduced to board members Friday at the allianceB次元官网网址檚 annual general meeting at NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
She has been involved with VIEA for several years as a member of the economic summit program planning committee and has experience in economic development and business and in management in the manufacturing, hospitality and non-profit sector.
Sperber said a key role of VIEA CEO is to identify potential for collaboration and partnerships to help multiple stakeholders thrive.
B次元官网网址淥rganizations like VIEA become that community connector piece across sectors and across communities around Vancouver Island and the Gulf IslandsB次元官网网址次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he [Vancouver Island Economic] Summit actually pulls people together to connect and build those collaborative relationships.B次元官网网址�
The past two Island summits couldnB次元官网网址檛 ignore themes of disruption during a global pandemic, and Sperber said recovery B次元官网网址� and the pace of recovery B次元官网网址� is going to be sector-specific.
B次元官网网址淲hat IB次元官网网址檓 generally hopeful about is the idea of those shifts that weB次元官网网址檝e all talked about B次元官网网址� [to] more of a regional focus, [to] building more creative partnerships that maybe werenB次元官网网址檛 even thought about pre-pandemic,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ecause everythingB次元官网网址檚 changed, I think people are more open to the different possibilities now of partnerships and symbiotic relationships that probably wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have been bridged pre-pandemic.B次元官网网址�
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Sperber said sheB次元官网网址檒l lean on outgoing president and CEO George Hanson and his knowledge and experience over the coming months. Hanson, president for the past 11 years, will remain with VIEA until yearB次元官网网址檚 end and after that, he said, B次元官网网址渨ill remain active in some way in the Island economy, IB次元官网网址檓 sure.B次元官网网址�
He said Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 economy has weathered the storm through COVID and heB次元官网网址檚 optimistic about the future, so long as thereB次元官网网址檚 a continued willingness to work together in what he said arenB次元官网网址檛 B次元官网网址渟tandardB次元官网网址� economic times.
B次元官网网址淲e are in a time of transformation,B次元官网网址� Hanson said. B次元官网网址淓verybody needs to embrace change and be ready for change and we have to work together to be effective.B次元官网网址�
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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