Saint John chamber of commerce names new CEO

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The Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce has named its new chief executive officer.

In a media release issued Monday, the organization announced it has appointed Tracy Bell as the new CEO, noting she will “oversee its strategic direction and efforts to foster economic growth, drive innovation, and improve the overall business climate in Saint John and surrounding areas for its member companies, as well as for the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.”

Bell joins the chamber fresh from her role at Saint John startup Millennia TEA, where she served as co-founder and CEO. Bell brings years of experience to the chamber as her previous roles have included stakeholder relations, communications and public affairs leadership in emergency medicine and post-secondary education, as well as journalism and media relations.

In the media release, Bell stated she is “honoured to be leading the team at the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce. Since the chamber’s inception over 200 years ago, the organization has been a cornerstone in the Greater Saint John business community.”

Speaking to Brunswick News, Bell said she comes to the chamber with a fresh set of eyes as, prior to her appointment, she had no experience with the chamber and was not even a member.

“I had no involvement with the chamber prior to taking on this role,” she said. “This is new for me. I am looking at this organization as though it were a new business venture. I know there’s a long-standing history with the chamber and we’re doing good work, but I’m looking at with a fresh lens and one that looks a lot like entrepreneurship.”

Bell said that fresh set of eyes could be advantageous to the chamber and its more than 500 members as she’s bringing innovation, courage and resilience, all qualities and strengths she learned through her own business. Part of that, she said, involves falling down, getting dirty and then getting back up to keep fighting.

The chamber’s role, she said, is to assist its members, learn what issues they are facing and work with them and for them to address those matters.

“The chamber exists to help businesses make more money, save money, reduce risk… and we do that through a few different vehicles, one of them is advocacy, and certainly a place where business leaders can come together and learn from one another and support one another,” she said.

Mohamed Bagha, chairperson of the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce, stated in the release the chamber is “thrilled” to have Bell as the new CEO.

“She brings a wealth of experience across a variety of disciplines, from entrepreneurship to community and media relations. We look forward to working with her as she leads the chamber with an innovative, partnership-driven approach,” Bagha stated.

Carole Cunningham, who had been serving as the chamber’s interim CEO since the departure of David Duplisea late last year, will resume her role as director of events and administration.