After 12 years as CEO of the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce, Dan Pearcy is set to retire. He has let the board know he will be stepping down this summer, in order to do some travelling with his wife and spend time with his new grandson.
Pearcy was hired as CEO in 2006. He credits the boards and members with the longevity of his career.
“Working for the boards that I have, they’ve just been fantastic. They’re very community-minded, and very supportive of the work and the guidance and the direction that they give us.”
The past 12 years have included multiple economic cycles, and Pearcy says he’s been impressed by the resilience of the local business community. He’s also especially proud of the work the chamber has done on the new Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.
“We’ll see economic benefits from that years going forward that will help grow this community. Also, the work that we’ve done lobbying for highways in the area, and we’re starting to see those come into play; it takes a great deal of time and a great deal of dollars from the provincial government to see those come in.”
When Pearcy returns from his travels, he plans to look for some contract work and other ways to support the community. In the meantime, Chamber Chair Cris Seppola-Podsada says the board has begun the process of filling the CEO position.
“Dan has created a strong legacy. His leadership and dedication to the job have made the Chamber a trusted voice of business not only in Grande Prairie and area, but at the provincial and national level as well.”
As for his replacement, Pearcy says they’ll need to be deeply committed to the community. He has one piece of advice: “Enjoy the ride.”