A true champion of the local business community will be calling it a career in just three months.
The Quinte West Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that Suzanne Andrews, who has been a driving force behind the Chamber’s growth and regional impact for two decades, will retire from her role as Chief Executive Officer at the end of June.
Andrews began her service with the Chamber in January 2006, marking the beginning of a transformational period for the organization.
She has also contributed beyond the local level through her involvement with provincial organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ontario and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
I have spoken to Suzanne countless times about community events, challenges and opportunities affecting local businesses, and often during elections where she helped the chamber coordinate all-candidates events.
It was at these events that you could easily see the passion she had not just for the local business community, but for the entire city and region in terms of good governance and community engagement.
Under her leadership, the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce was always at the forefront of promoting and encouraging success for local businesses, but also of getting people to know more about their community and how to get involved themselves.
She is always knowledgeable, driven and willing to take time to fully engage the community, local governments and organizations, and the media. The search for the next CEO is now underway. They can put someone else in her office, but you can never replace Suzanne Andrews.
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.


