The NWT Chamber of Commerce has reverted to a ‘volunteer-run’ organization, giving their executive director Michael Bradshaw the chop.
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This is just the latest example of the challenges faced by the North’s business community.
“The move that we’ve made just recognizes that the business community in the North is challenged and the chamber of Commerce isn’t immune from [those] sort of challenges,” explained chamber president Richard Morland.
In a brief interview with Moose FM, Morland said that the decision to fire their executive director of four years and eliminate his position was made to keep the chamber ‘operating effectively’.
With a decrease in membership and reduction in funding, a press release from the chamber called the current business atmosphere a ‘challenging operating environment’ they are currently navigating.
Bradshaw left his position on Feb. 8, following a special board meeting held at the beginning of the month where the decision was made to cut costs.
“The NWT Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has undertaken a detailed assessment of the current operating environment and financial status of the chamber together with its priorities moving forward, and has concluded that there is no longer a requirement for the role of executive director,” read the press release.
Morland added: “In order to keep the chamber operating effectively and to be able to confront the challenges it will have over the next few years, it was prudent to exit our executive director and revert to a volunteer-only organization.”
In the press release, Morland thanked Bradshaw for his work over the past four years, and wished him success on behalf of the chamber.
