All business

New general manager takes helm at the Chamber

Michael McLeod moves in as the general manager of the Chamber of Tourism and Commerce.

I’m all about building bridges,” said Michael McLeod, the newly appointed general manager of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce (PECCTAC).

It’s a skill McLeod is likely going put to use frequently in his new job. Prince Edward County boasts a variety of organizations and agencies whose mandate, in whole or in part, is about driving economic growth and prosperity. From the
local business improvement and industry associations to the municipal Economic Development Office, to federal Community Futures Development Corporations there are a lot of players in the prosperity business in Prince Edward County.

McLeod will have to build bridges, not only with these organizations but with their couterparts in neighbouring municipalities. He must also forge a better connection with Taste the County. The two organizations share the primary task of tourism in the County:Taste is responsible for destination marketing, that is marketing and advertising outside of the County; the Chamber is tasked with assisting and guiding visitor once they have arrived, through information, maps and responding to inquiries.

McLeod is just days into his job and eager to listen to members and other stakeholders. He knows, however, his first job is to work toward making the “commerce” part of the Chamber of Tourism and Commerce a more prominent part of the organization.

He spent 21 years in the provincial civil service, first with the Ministry of Natural Resources and then with the Ontario Energy Board. For the last decade he has been a consultant to electrical utilities across the province.

“Having moved here recently I was going to continue my consulting business,” said McLeod. “But when I saw the job notice I thought I would try something new here in my new home.”

His goal is to broaden the scope of the Chamber beyond its tourism focus.

“I’ve been a member or the board of Trade in Toronto and other Chambers of Commerce but when I looked at the Prince Edward County Chamber’s website I didn’t see my business reflected there,” said McLeod. “I realized the focus was on tourism and food and thought this was great but didn’t really have anything to do with me. I figured that if I tossed my hat in I might be able to help the other businesses—the ones like mine. It was the commerce side I was most interested in and that was my spiel to the board.”

It was the right message.

The Chamber board, under the new stewardship of Kemp Stewart of Hillier Creek Estates Winery, is likely to gain more structure and become more process-oriented.

“I saw an opportunity to bring more process and procedures to how our organization conducts itself,” explained Stewart on McLeod’s hiring.

Stewart, too, believes the Chamber needs to ensure the organization is relevant to a larger base.

“Our organization has done an excellent job of supporting the tourism and accommodation sectors,” said Stewart,“We have an opportunity here to refocus on small business. We are more than tourism—we need to represent all business in this community—of which tourism is an important part.”