Chamber president leaving for BC job

Tracey Gard will step down later this week as president of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, SooToday.com has learned.

Gard, currently employed at Algoma's Water Tower Inn as communications manager, has accepted a new position in British Columbia with Standard Broadcasting.

She advised Chamber general manager Gene Nori and first vice president Don Mitchell yesterday, and also gave notice at Algoma's Water Tower Inn.

Gard, a resident of Kinross, Michigan, is expected to leave for BC's Peace Region on January 2.

There, she'll be responsible for four radio stations and a television station, as both general manager and sales manager.

Gard's resignation will be formally submitted at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce's board on Thursday.

The following memo was distributed this morning by Don Shafer, Standard Radio's vice president and general manager of BC Interior group stations:

**************************************************************** MEMORANDUM

TO: All Staff

FROM: Don Shafer

DATE: December 16, 2003

RE: Tracey Gard

I am pleased to announce that Tracey Gard has accepted the position as the General Manager and General Sales Manager for our stations in the Peace Region.

Tracey will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of our radio stations in Ft. Nelson, Ft. St. John, Dawson Creek as well as CJDC TV.

Tracey brings to our company a love for cold weather, smaller trucks and country music.

She can sell, manage, solder, set up and tear down remotes and has built a few programming clocks in her 15 years of broadcasting.

She is currently the President of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce.

I understand however that her husband (Phil) is a better cook than she is.

Tracey comes to us from Sault Ste. Marie where she recently managed CHAS-FM and CJQM-FM.

Tracey joined Mid Canada Radio and Television as an account representative in the 80's.

She worked in this very competitive market for Mid-Canada, Pelmorex, Telemedia and Rogers.

As GM and GSM she was responsible for Canada's first Local Marketing Agreement (LMA).

I had the privilege of working with Tracey while at Pelmorex and I am confident we will be well served in the Peace.

She is an exceptional manager and broadcaster.

I know you will be pleased as I am to have Tracey join our team and I am certain that I can count on your support to welcome her to your stations.

Tracey's first day with us will be January 5, 2004.

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