Amber White, a versatile entrepreneur and community leader, was born and raised in Brandon, Manitoba. Together with her husband Bryan, she has cultivated a legacy of business success spanning over a decade, firmly establishing herself as a cornerstone of the local entrepreneurial scene.
Amber’s journey into entrepreneurship began in 2001 when she embarked on a career in professional photography. Specializing in school and sports photography as well as Santa photos, her keen eye and passion for capturing precious moments propelled her to lead a dedicated team for 15 years. It was during this time that her love for photography, particularly in the realms of school and sports, ignited a new venture. In 2011, she seized the opportunity to purchase Champion Digital Photography, marking the inception of a thriving enterprise.

Amber and Bryan expanded their portfolio with the inauguration of two locally owned and operated fitness clubs. Anytime Fitness Brandon, established in 2013, and Anytime Fitness Souris, inaugurated in 2021, stand as testaments to their commitment to promoting health and wellness within their community. As an Elite Certified Personal Trainer, Amber has played an instrumental role in guiding numerous clients towards their fitness aspirations over the past decade.
Despite the demands of entrepreneurship and parenthood – she is a devoted mother to three children aged 7 (Brynn), 11 (Braylon), and 17 (Keenan) , as well as billeting many Brandon Wheat Kings– Amber’s altruistic spirit shines through her dedication to volunteering and organizing charity events. As a Mentor with Futurepreneur Canada, she empowers aspiring business owners on their entrepreneurial journey. Additionally, her involvement as co-lead of the Fitness Council of Manitoba underscores her advocacy for the fitness industry’s interests.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Amber’s philanthropic endeavors are both extensive and impactful. From participating in Memory Missions to aid in the construction of schools in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, to volunteering at the hospital, she consistently channels her energy towards uplifting her community. Notable initiatives include organizing the Wheat City Fun Run, the Annual Strongman Competition benefiting various charities such as the Dream factory, and an Anytime Fitness golf tournament in support of Special Olympics Westman as well as sitting on a board called “100 Women Who Care”.
In recognition of her remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication, Amber was honoured with the prestigious Westman’s Top 4 Under 40 award in 2022. Her spirit, coupled with her passion for entrepreneurship and community service, continues to inspire and uplift those around her, solidifying her status as a beacon of hope and positivity in Brandon, Manitoba, and beyond.

Charles Tweed is the owner of Tweedia Social Media Agency in Brandon. Tweedia, which focuses on digital advertising and content creation for businesses on social media, operates out of a downtown office in the Wheat City. Prior to starting Tweedia, Charles worked as a journalist and city editor at The Brandon Sun. Before coming back to Brandon, Charles, who is originally from Killarney, chased an oil rig across Western Canada for close to a decade. He has a diploma in media from Assiniboine Community College.

“I believe my experience starting and growing a business coupled with my time served in the news industry is an asset to the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and its membership,” Tweed said. “Whether it’s the elimination of the payroll tax or ensuring Brandon has enough capacity in the form of energy, land and services to continue to grow the business sector, I believe I would be a good ally for the business community and I’m asking for your vote in order to serve on the board.”

Tweedia was awarded the “Outstanding New Business Award” from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce in 2023 which was its fifth year in business.

Away from work, Charles is a volunteer coach with the First Shift program for Hockey Brandon. He is also a coach with the Special Olympics Westman curling and slow pitch programs; and serves on the Special Olympics Westman board. Charles enjoys curling, golfing, playing volleyball and cheering on the Edmonton Oilers (Jets a close second!) and Cleveland Browns.

Chris was born and raised in Brandon, attending Brandon University and graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2004. Chris joined Mazergroup in 2005, which operates 18 agriculture dealerships in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. As the V.P. of Parts, Service, and Precision, he is responsible for the operational and strategic direction of those departments. Having not grown up on a farm, he is grateful that his career has found him working in such an important and rewarding industry.

Chris has been on the Brandon Chamber board and has chaired the workforce alignment committee for the past 4 years. Through this committee work, he has also joined the IANE Westman board in support of indigenous employment in Westman. He is truly thankful for his time on the chamber board and values the opportunity to work alongside a great group of people for the betterment of our business community.

Chris has been married to his wife Diane for 15 years. Diane is also a Chamber member, and owner of a small business in Brandon. They are proud parents to their sons Maxwell and Otis.

Conner Ross is the Branch Manager for Sunrise Credit Union. With over a decade of experience in the Credit Union system, Conner has spent the last 7 years in branch management with a focus on all aspects of the operation including commercial lending, day to day operations, and business development. He is committed to helping business’ achieve success and work alongside them as a trusted financial partner.

Born and raised in rural Manitoba, Conner developed a strong passion for rural economic development. Whether forging connection with local entrepreneurs or facilitating financial solutions to their needs, Conner is committed to working with local community member’s and business’ in our community!

In his spare time, you can find Conner hiking and camping throughout Manitoba with his dog Ellie!

Elizabeth Modersohn is an accomplished executive recognized for her analytical skills and versatility. She is passionate about continuous improvement and driving strategic execution, all while maintaining a positive attitude and a fun work atmosphere.

Elizabeth loves a challenge and is incredibly versatile, using her skills as an engineer to move with ease from the manufacturing plant floor to the world of financial institution management. Elizabeth applies her skills seamlessly from industry to industry with an innate ability to apply the basic principles of process and program management in every situation. As a seasoned facilitator, Elizabeth loves leading groups in discussion and discovery with incredible enthusiasm and candor.

She’s a strong proponent of lifelong learning, recently adding an MBA in Innovative Leadership to her long list of degrees and certifications including her Professional Engineer designation (PEng), a Project Management Professional (PMP), PROSCI Change Management Professional and Six Sigma Black Belt designations. She believes that learning and opportunity doesn’t just happen in the classroom, readily taking on diverse business portfolios to learn and grow. From building a Project Management Office from scratch, to managing Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing and Business Process Management, Elizabeth quickly identifies drivers of success and strategic complexity across many business channels.

Moreover, Elizabeth is committed to community, leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts within her organization, volunteering for numerous community events, and coaching and mentoring employees to rise to challenges and strive to meet their goals. With boundless energy she puts her hand up to lead any initiative as she believes that through these experiences she gains as much as she gives.

Emelio Brown, a proud Brandonite, is a dynamic entrepreneur hailing from Kingston, Jamaica. In 2014, he journeyed to Brandon to earn his Bachelor of Computer Science at Brandon University. Upon graduation in 2017, Emelio identified an unmet local demand for digital marketing services, sparking his entrepreneurial spirit. He founded IntriTech Digital Marketing, where he currently serves as CEO.

Emelio’s commitment to local economic growth extends beyond his business. He is also a passionate board member of the Rural Manitoba Economic Development Corporation, contributing to the economic vitality of Brandon and rural Manitoba. He seeks to foster an environment conducive to business growth and economic prosperity, leveraging his technical knowledge and entrepreneurial experience.

On a personal note, Emelio is a dedicated family man, cherishing his roles as husband to Kaylee and father to Mila. His love for his adopted home of Brandon is as fervent as his dedication to his family and his pursuit of economic development in the region.

Enver is driven by work that creates generational impact and measurable ROI for people, organizations, and the community. He is dedicated to support the economic growth of Brandon as a member of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

With local and international leadership experience in the non-profit and private sectors, strategic partnership development, and an MBA in Community Economic Development, Enver brings an innovative toolkit and unique perspective to address complex issues and implement strategy.

Currently, Enver serves as CEO of Westman Immigrant Services (WIS) which includes a team of 80+ staff across 9 locations supporting immigrant settlement, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. Enver also leads the Rural Manitoba Immigrant Employment Council (RMIEC) which is part of a national network to help employers and communities attract, hire, and retain immigrant talent.

He has served on the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Business Development Committee, the Manitoba Immigration Advisory Council, and currently the City of Brandon’s Community Safety & Wellbeing Steering Committee.

He and his wife Cora are proud to call Brandon home.

Jackie Kamann-Oke was raised in Brandon, although born in Windsor, Ontario. A graduate of Vincent Massey, Jackie attended Brandon University for a couple years in math/sciences; then pursued her diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology at Red River College in Wpg, 1992. She dedicated 30 years to Westman Regional Laboratory; performing many diverse roles in Manitoba’s third largest referral and teaching lab. These included Supervisory, Educator and Leadership positions in the numerous disciplines at Westman Lab, the Brandon Regional Health Center and in the Prairie Mountain Health region. In 2005, Jackie and her husband Sam, took over the Velvet Dip from Jackie’s parents who owned it for 23 years prior. While learning many lessons in business, they succeeded in maintaining and building the Velvet Dip to the iconic, landmark ice cream shop everyone knows today.

They fully acknowledge and respect the fact that “Staff are your MOST important asset”, and to be successful in any business, you need to recruit, retain, genuinely respect, appreciate, and take care of your staff. They in return, will take care of your business/ and clients. Maintaining a positive, and supportive workplace culture is key!

Jackie appreciates that the Velvet Dip is often the first job experience of their young staff and are grateful they can help teach and improve fundamentals in work ethic. They employ approximately 30 staff annually between both locations. Helping them grow, become confident young adults, and get prepared for their futures is an honor they don’t take for granted. “Their experience in your business and workplace, will always have an impact on their lives.” Feeling like their own family at times; they get to know them often from Grade 8 or 9 through Graduation, University to sometimes getting married! They are proud of the fact, that numerous staff have returned for many seasons; and are grateful there is always a waiting list of resumes and anxious kids applying.

Ready for a new challenge, in 2019, Jackie met with and was encouraged by an amazing, supportive team at Century21 Westman Realty Ltd. She obtained her license in real estate while finishing her last year at Westman Lab; ready to serve the community in a new way! She “retired” in 2021 from her career in healthcare, to focus on real estate. Then, surprisingly, was presented the opportunity to open a second location, “Velvet Dip Lakeside” at Clear Lake, RMNP. “When an opportunity presents itself…. ready or not; sometimes you just need to go all in! “ It was a whirlwind to say the least, but it has been successful, and they enjoy being part of the Clear Lake Country business community as well.

Jackie is currently on the board for Samaritan House Ministries; and is grateful to help advocate for their many, tireless, beneficial programs and services for the people of Brandon in their time of need. Jackie is a proud Auntie to thirteen nieces and nephews and Great Auntie to four so far. As a small, seasonal business; they are always committed to sponsoring many community sporting events, charities, school clubs/ teams and support many organizations. They collaborate with other local businesses such as Chez Angela, Kuipers Family Bakery, Camp Cantina etc.. Being huge animal lovers, they’ve always supported our local pet rescues and shelters. Most recently hosting a fundraising day in support of Funds For Furry Friends.

Jackie is honored to have been nominated for this important role and would welcome the opportunity to help serve and proudly represent Brandon’s Business Community! She strongly believes “You did not wake up to be mediocre, we can always do better”.

Jordan Sisson is a professional strategist and project manager with special focus on the creation and influence of public policy, government relations, crisis management, successful granting application and permitting and, political advice at all levels of government.

As CEO of Strategize Inc. an emerging locally Manitoba owned Public Relations, Government Relations and Communications firm Jordan is a industry leader with diverse experience in a multitude of sectors and specialties.

Jordan has held roles at the highest level of government office. Most recently as both Principal Secretary and Chief of Staff to the former Premier of Manitoba and as Director of Operations and Stakeholder relations to previous premiers. Providing strategic guidance and policy creation and implementation for over a decade Jordan has played integral roles in a multitude of successful government projects locally and across Canada. Advising leaders at all levels of government has given Jordan the experience necessary, and the knowledge on how to get the job done and he is known for that exact reason.

In 2016 Jordan was part of a team that lead the PC Party of Manitoba to the largest ever majority government and included a win for the first time ever in the constituencies history as campaign manager in Brandon East. Serving various roles on leadership campaigns across Canada and as target seat manager in the 2019 Manitoba provincial campaign delivering a second historic majority government Jordan had officially become a recognized name in back room political circles as a key organizer. Successfully electing Former Premier of Manitoba as leader of the PC Party of Manitoba and the first female premier in Manitoba’s history will always be a personal highlight.

Jordan calls Brandon Manitoba home and has for the majority of his life where he and his wife are busy raising five children. When not in the office Jordan can be found coaching a minor hockey team, volunteering for a community organization and making memories with his family on the lake or in the family room.

Karin Griffin is the Co-Owner and General Manager of Alternative Group. Started 26 years ago with her partner Chris, Alternative group includes a garden centre, landscape design build, yard care and excavation Company. Karin has a passion for beautifying her community. She has an in depth knowledge a facets about business, and over her time at Alternative, she has filled almost every role. Active in her community, Karin passionately has supported local charities including the Pinkest Owl, Westman Crisis Centre, Discovery Centre, Westman Dreams for Kids, YWMCA, and ACC to name a few. In her spare time, Karin enjoys listening to podcasts, gardening, spending time with family, and working on refurbishing furniture.

Lisa Andrew was born and raised in Brandon, getting her Bachelor of Arts degree at Brandon University before venturing forward into accounting. A partner at BDO Canada LLP, Lisa has spent the last 14 years primarily specializing in owner-managed businesses in western Manitoba. She utilizes her past experience working in industry and her knowledge in corporate and personal tax to assist her clients. Using tax strategies and innovative solutions she guides small business owners to grow and realize their ambitions.

Passionate about helping her community, Lisa most recently volunteered as the Treasurer of the Brandon Regional Hospital Foundation Board. Her time spent on the Board included navigating through the Covid-19 pandemic with the additional safety measures and the impact they played on the crucial fundraising needed to ensure the Foundation could continue to provide essential equipment to our community.

Lisa is proud to call Brandon home and is passionate about building her community. She is married to her husband, Cory, and they enjoy spending time with their rescue dog and cats.

Michelle Budiwski brings over 25 years of experience in small business management and entrepreneurship to her current role as the Program Coordinator of Continuing Studies at Assiniboine Community College. Since relocating to Rivers in 2005, she has been a visible part of the Westman business community, founding and managing various enterprises including Muck-Off – A Cleaning Company, Butterfly Consultations, Escape the Final Countdown and Real Westman in Brandon until its closure in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Michelle has held the role of president twice at the Rivers and District Chamber of Commerce and is recognized for her volunteer work and advocacy across the region. Currently, she is also the treasurer of the Interprovincial Association of Indigenous Employment – Westman Chapter, a volunteer mentor with Futurepreneurship Canada, and is working towards completing her Project Management Professional (PMP) designation with the Project Management Institute, anticipated in 2025.

Michelle is passionate about life-long, continuous education and in her role at Assiniboine Community College, she develops and delivers educational programs that bridge academic theory with real-world application, tailored to meet the needs of learners, employers, and community partners. Michelle holds a post-graduate certificate in Teaching for Learning in Applied Education from Red River Polytechnic and is completing her MBA at the Australian Institute of Business, with a specialization in Human Resources and Organizational Learning and Development, in June 2024. Her passion for technology and belief in continuous, holistic learning drives her to create accessible opportunities that promote lifelong learning and community enhancement.

Nirmal Thakar brings a wealth of experience in industrial and technology with 18 years of progressive leadership encompassing technical business management, strategic key account management, planning, and stakeholder engagement. Nirmal Thakar has a proven track record of driving results and spearheading impactful initiatives. His visionary leadership approach, coupled with a steadfast commitment to collaboration and innovation, has propelled Shreem’s expansion throughout Western Canada. Having immigrated to Canada in 2013 from the bustling mega city of Ahmedabad and settling in the new country, Nirmal Thakar faced the challenge of acclimating to a new environment. Despite the transition from a large city to a small town, he recognized the intrinsic beauty of small-town living for raising a family and establishing a company. Today, under his leadership, Shreem employs over 40 individuals across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, reflecting his commitment to local economic empowerment and regional development.

Nirmal Thakar is deeply committed to championing the interests of local businesses, fostering economic vitality, and enhancing the quality of life for all members of the community. With a background in electrical engineering and a leadership style characterized by results-driven initiatives and community-focused endeavors, Nirmal Thakar is uniquely positioned to serve as a Director for Brandon Chambers of Commerce, leveraging his expertise to drive sustainable growth and prosperity for the region.

Premmal Patel-David is a distinguished dual-licensed attorney, bringing over a decade of extensive experience in commercial and business law. As the visionary leader and owner of PPD LAW office in Brandon, she has adeptly guided multinational corporations through complex expansions, particularly in Mumbai, showcasing her prowess in the corporate legal sphere.

An international scholar, Premmal is well-versed in several key areas of law, including Estate Planning and Administration, Real Estate, Family & Civil Litigation, Corporate Legal Services, and Immigration Law. Her dedication to academia and legal reform is demonstrated through her insightful contributions to the discourse on Women’s Rights and Family Violence.

Premmal’s commitment to professional growth is further highlighted by her active involvement in workshops and seminars on Business Negotiations, International Trademarks, Arbitration and Mediation, Constitutional Law, and Property Law. Beyond her professional endeavors, Premmal holds significant roles in various community organizations focusing on welfare and development, where she tirelessly works to enhance community resources and support services.

In addition to her robust professional and community engagement, Premmal maintains a dynamic lifestyle that includes participation in fitness programs, affirming her belief in the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a devoted mother and an active community member, she exemplifies the integration of personal and professional fulfillment.

With her comprehensive legal expertise, international insights, and unwavering dedication to community welfare. Her leadership is poised to influence significant positive developments and continued growth within the community.

Rosa Villamizar, Director of U-Build Steel Buildings, and Director of Marketing & Business Development for BEHLEN Industries LP, has 24 years of experience in Business Management, Sales, Marketing, International Business and Business Development. She holds a bachelor Degree in Business and a Marketing Diploma. Rosa speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. She has lived and worked in North America, Latin America, and Europe.

Sunday Frangi owner and general manager of People’s Place Café Lounge. Born in Sudan, Sunday came to Canada and lived in Manitoba for more than 21 years, first in Winnipeg then moved to Brandon. Attended University of Manitoba – Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies.

Sunday held different leadership roles in public sector and non-for-profit organizations. As part of commitment to local community growth, and diversity, Sunday is currently serving as a Board member of Brandon Downtown Development Corporation, Brandon Food Council and Healthy Brandon committee.
Sunday is passionate to be part of any initiative that will make Brandon A vibrant City.