Real Board Solutions are pleased to announce another sucessful recruitment, congratulations Cheryl!
Kitsilano Chamber Announces New Executive Director – Cheryl Ziola
The Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Cheryl Ziola as the new Executive Director.
A journalism graduate of Langara, Cheryl was a reporter at various lower mainland newspapers, before moving to community relations at the non-profit BC Forestry Association. Over the past 20 years, Cheryl has since managed a variety of non-profit organizations and charities, including the sustainability education group FORED BC Society, the BC Association for Charitable Gaming and the Learning Partnership of BC. With responsibility for over 100 employees, she also directed an annual multi-million dollar social enterprise in the form of fee-for-service forest firefighting contracts between FORED BC and the provincial government for many years. Cheryl has volunteered for a number of local and national committees including the VANOC 2010 Sustainability Group, Canadian Network for Environmental Education & Communication (EECOM), Canadian Council for Human Resources in the Environment Industry and a major federal political party.
She has won a number of national and international communications awards, including the Business in Vancouver Top 40 under 40 for Non-Profit Leadership, and the Canadian Society of Association Executives’ Best Magazine and Best Website in Canada. Cheryl is credited for helping to restore millions of dollars in funding to BC non-profits through her media and government relations advocacy work. She will bring her enthusiasm and energy supporting the Kitsilano Chamber mandate to promote a vibrant, thriving business community and represent the interests of its 600 plus business members by bridge-building between members, government and the community.
“Business represents the economic past, present and future of our community and province,” she says. “Our own provincial government states that 98% of business in BC is considered “small business”, employing over one million British Columbians. We hope all governments will consider more incentives to help this small business sector continue to grow, providing more jobs for youth, entrepreneurs and the unemployed.”
She encourages members, non-members and citizens alike to “think and buy local. You’re supporting jobs made in BC by entrepreneurs.”
When she isn’t working, you can find Cheryl sailing, jogging, roller blading, golfing or snowboarding, not necessarily all at once.
