Board of Directors

The Chamber is governed by members of a highly dedicated volunteer Board of Directors. Our board members are from companies of various sizes and sectors and reflect the diversity of our membership.

Each member brings with them a wealth of knowledge and experience and is committed to community leadership and supporting The Chamber’s mission.

The Board meets regularly to approve policy, engage in discussion around issues affecting the business community and to make decisions around the general governance of The Chamber.

Executive

Lois Ruston has provided leadership to not-for-profit and private organizations in Brandon for more than two decades.   With diverse experience in a number of areas, from construction to tourism promotion, and community development to newcomer settlement services, she has experience in managing the human, financial and capital assets of organizations and providing them with a solid foundation from which to grow.

As the Executive Director of YWCA Westman, Lois leads a team dedicated to providing shelter and support to women and their children experiencing domestic violence, while building capacity, leadership, and opportunity within Brandon and the Westman community.  She has served on several Boards and committees throughout her career, including the numerous Chamber committees, the Rural Northern Immigrant Pilot program, Brandon First and Travel Manitoba. In 2014 she was honored as a recipient of the YWCA Women of Distinction Award.

Lois values the integral role of the Chamber of Commerce in our community, region, and province and looks forward to bringing her passion for building our community’s businesses and organizations to the board table.

In her spare time, she enjoys running and kayaking.  Lois is married with a teenaged daughter, and a golden retriever who seems to think she is the second child!

Jennifer Ludwig was born and raised in Brandon, Manitoba and graduated from the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Pharmacy in 2005.  She is an owner and pharmacist at Super Thrifty Pharmacy (Richmond) and in 2022 became President of Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd, which operates 16 stores across Manitoba and British Columbia.

Jennifer is very active in the pharmacy profession, having been a member of the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) Council for eight years and acting as Executive Treasurer, President, and Past President. She also maintains positions on various committees involved in promoting patient safety and governance within the pharmacy profession.  In 2022, she was appointed once again to Council and the role of Executive Treasurer.

Her love for her community has also seen her volunteer with the Westman Dreams for Kids Advisory Committee and Assiniboine Community College Foundation Board.

She is married to her husband Jordan, and together they enjoy spending time with their canine fur baby, Lou Bixby.

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.

Board Directors

Matt Berg was born in Brandon and raised in a small rural town just 20 kilometers away. Working as a landscape labourer in highschool, Matt developed a love for the outdoors and the creative freedoms that landscaping offered. He purchased Livingstone Landscaping in 1999 as the sole employee to pay his way through university.

Matt graduated with a degree in Business from Brandon University, focusing on Finance with a minor in Economics. He completed the Prairie Horticulture certification program by Distance Ed from Olds College, Red River College, University of Winnipeg, and ACC. Matt also taught Landscape Design at our local Assiniboine Community College to pass on industry knowledge to those interested in landscape design.

In 2020, Matt was one of the founding partners of their sister company, Livingstone Outdoor, a landscaping retail supply store and greenhouse set to open in spring 2021. Today, the two companies employ ninety-five staff members and operate interprovincially in MB & SK.

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. 

Chris Finley 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, construction, and turf equipment 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. Chris is proud to call Brandon home, and having not grown up on a farm, is grateful that his career has found him working in the agriculture industry.

Chris has been married to his wife Diane for 13 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.

Tilda Fortier is the Business Manager for Greenstone Building Products, a family-owned building technology company founded in 2015. Greenstone manufactures the ICE Panel, an energy efficient building envelope panel for residential and commercial buildings. With projects shipping as far north as Cambridge Bay, Nunavut and south as Freeport, Grand Bahama, Tilda is primarily responsible for strategic growth and development for the business.

Tilda has enjoyed serving as a director of the Brandon Chamber and member of the Workforce Alignment Committee. As a proud graduate of Brandon University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2008, Tilda also serves on the board of the Brandon University Foundation.

Tilda and her husband Chris have an eleven-year-old and twin seven-year-old daughters to keep their evenings and weekends full of adventure.

Meredyth is a fourth-generation member of Leech Group, a print and digital communications provider serving Brandon as well as Western Canada for over 95 years. With a background in Interior Design, Meredyth began her professional career in Vancouver, BC, before joining the family business in 2014 and is currently the Director of Sales & Marketing.

Having been involved in various Chamber committees, events and initiatives over the years, Meredyth recognizes the importance of her role as a Director for the Chamber to represent and advocate for our local business community. Meredyth truly believes that Brandon is the best place to work and live.

Meredyth is wife to Brock and mother to Wallis and Rhodes.

Amber White, born and raised in Brandon, launched her entrepreneurial journey in 2001 as a professional photographer specializing in school, sports and Santa photos. Her path led to the acquisition of Champion Digital Photography in 2011. Together with her husband Bryan, they expanded their ventures to include two local fitness clubs: Anytime Fitness Brandon in 2013 and Anytime Fitness Souris in 2021.

In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Amber is deeply committed to health and wellness as an Elite Certified Personal Trainer, guiding clients towards their fitness goals for over a decade. She actively mentors aspiring entrepreneurs with Futurepreneur Canada and is co-lead of the Fitness Council of Manitoba. Amber contributes significantly to her community through initiatives such as the Wheat City Fun Run and the Annual Strongman Competition, supporting charities like the Dream Factory and Special Olympics Westman. Amber is a devoted mother to three children aged 7, 11, and 17.

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.   

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. 

Rob Starkell is a Brandon-born seasoned entrepreneur and business professional who holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from U of M. Rob has spent a good portion of his career working overseas for large Fortune 500 companies and is now co-owner of West-Can HR in downtown Brandon.

With over 25 years of experience, he has developed a reputation for providing innovative and effective solutions to complex organizational challenges. Robert is committed to helping organizations optimize their people practices and achieve their business objectives and has a proven track record of delivering results for clients across a wide range of industries.

Rob is a current CARM (Construction Association of Rural Manitoba) board member and has sat on both the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Business Development and Government Relations committees in the past. Rob is passionate about supporting local businesses in Brandon and the exciting cultural diversification and opportunities in our community.

Currently the General Manager of the Victoria Inn, Brent has shown tremendous dedication to his work and to the community. Volunteering with the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Board of Directors for over 13 years,  Brent brings awareness to agriculture through helping bring rural and urban communities together. Brent even sat as President of the Provincial Exhibition Board for 2 years, and has also been a part of their Summer Fair Committee, Dome Building Restoration Committee, and more. Notably, Brent played a lead role in helping determine how the Provincial Ex would continue to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic, and executing the activities that held them afloat.

Enver is driven by work that creates generational impact and measurable ROI for people, organizations, and the community. 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.