CEO & CAO Messages

 Janet Roy, Chair & CEO, Board of Directors 2012 – 2013

On behalf of the 2012-2013 Board of Directors and the staff of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, we are delighted to serve you, our membership.

With over 180 years in the local business community, the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, in one form or another, has been a part of the history of Guelph since it was founded in 1827.  Over the years the name may have changed, but the founding objectives continue to support the vision established by the founding members; the betterment of Guelph through economic & community development.

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce, like all of your businesses, has been in continual transformation to address the current global economic situation and to represent the voice of local business through advocacy, connections and education.  Our strategic plan ties in with the business plan through the five pillars of accreditation:  membership, policy, administration, strategic planning and governance.

We have committees and peer groups, representing key business sectors, working to implement the strategic plan and focusing on core activities attached to our Performance Score Card.  We are taking the initiative to support all of our businesses, in all sectors, to influence, support and change the direction at all three levels of government.  The strength of the Chamber network will be used to accelerate business growth, collaborate with educators, and connect our businesses to new markets.  The success of your business here in Guelph and the surrounding Wellington Region is important to your Board and the staff at the Guelph Chamber of Commerce.

We encourage you to become involved, share your accomplishments, ideas, goals and visions, and to take full advantage of all the Chamber has to offer its members.  Let's lay the foundation for the year ahead through everyone's commitment to the success of Guelph businesses.

Thank you - it is my honour to be your Chair/CEO, serving you, the members, with an impressive and amazing group of Board colleagues and Guelph Chamber of Commerce staff.

Janet Roy
Chair and CEO 
Guelph Chamber of Commerce
2012-2013

Mr. Lloyd Longfield, President and CAO

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce helps you to grow your business. The Chamber opens doors to professional development, government resources, and best practices. It is the place to be to connect with business, and your business will be measurably more successful if you are a member of the Chamber than if you are not.

Being a member of The Guelph Chamber of Commerce is an essential part of being a good community partner. Being active in the GCC connects you to the community dialogue on important issues, knowing where the community is heading and how you can both contribute to and benefit from Guelph’s success.

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce is an independent, non-partisan organization that prioritizes community-building, existing exclusively for the benefit of the Guelph community.

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce is committed to being the connecting point to a wider range of community organizations (not-for-profits) and businesses (public, independent) than any other group or organization. Through our provincial and national Chamber networks your business can connect to the broader community. Beyond that we are active participants at AM Cham, the American Chamber in Canada as well as other international Chambers of Commerce.

If the Guelph Chamber of Commerce doesn’t have an in-house answer to your business question, it represents a resource base of over 800 local businesses that can provide an answer or support your plans for business growth. The Guelph Chamber has achieved the Accreditation with Distinction quality standard from the Canadian Chamber, providing business support in Policy and Advocacy, Membership Services, Administration, Governance and Strategic Planning.

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce represents the voice of business contributing to economic growth, profitability, competitiveness and community involvement for all types of businesses and business people in Guelph.