Charla Robinson is the new head of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.
Robinson, formerly the executive director at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, takes over her new role on April 29.
"The Chamber plays a very important role in the community. Being the voice of business is an important advocacy role to play. I've been involved in the Chamber for quite some time and I just thought it was a good opportunity to for me to move forward and I'm really looking forward to the opportunity," Robinson said Tuesday.
Among her first duties will be helping the organization, whose membership is at an all-time high, finalize its stategic plan.
"Basically it will be just trying to stay more engaged with the members and ensure that we're making their voice heard and trying to improve the business environment," she said.
"Certainly things have been on the upswing with the mining and forestry renewal happening. And I'm sure there are opportunities where we can even make those things move smoother."
It has been a challenging few years for chamber of commerces across the province, Robinson added.
"Certainly the last five years have been challenging, with the economic downturn. But things are starting to improve. There's a lot of potential for growth and that's good for the Chamber, for the business community and for the entire community," Robinson said. "Of course any time the economy grows, that's a positive thing for the community."
Robinson said it was a tough decision leaving her NOMA post. She said she was proud of what she helped that organization accomplish over the past three years.
But it was time to make the move, she said, emphasizing the two groups share many of the same goals and have worked well together in the past.
"I'm sure we'll be still working together in my new role with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce. We have a good partnership between the two organizations."
Ed Schmidtke, chairman of the TBCC board of directors, in a release said Robinson was the perfect choice for the position.
“Charla brings a wealth of experience in advocacy and government relations that will serve the membership well in ensuring that the “voice of business” is heard by all three orders of government,” said Schmidtke.
Robinson's predecessor, Harold Wilson, left the role at the end of February to pursue a career in politics. He plans to run for the Conservatives in Thunder Bay-Atikokan in the next provincial election.
