Staff & Board of Directors
Chamber Staff
-
Tracy Bell
CEO -
Carole Cunningham
Director of Special Events and Administration -
Michael Sadavoy
Director of Growth & Business Support -
Deb Tremblay
Membership & Marketing
Carole Cunningham
Director of Special Events and Administration
506.634.8111
ccunningham@TheChamberSJ.com
Board of Directors
-
Fraser Wells
Chairperson -
Serene Allen
1st Vice Chairperson -
Greg Hierlihy
Treasurer -
Eleanor Austin
Regional Vice Chairperson - Grand Bay/Westfield -
Meagan Kozak
KV Vice Chair -
Glen Fillmore
Westside Vice Chairperson -
Doug Jenkins
Saint John Vice Chairperson -
Mohamed Bagha
Immediate Past Chair -
Melanie Cooke
Director -
Andrew Costin
Director -
Heather Acker
Director -
Anne McInerney
Director -
Sunny Khosla
Director
Fraser Wells
Chairperson
Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities
Fraser was born in Saint John. A graduate of Queen’s University, Fraser is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). After graduation, he began his wealth management career with a major Canadian bank in Toronto, before moving back to Saint John to join RBC Dominion Securities in 2017. He works with business owners, corporate executives, corporations, pension funds, and foundations primarily throughout the Maritimes and Southern Ontario.
Fraser is passionate about community involvement; he volunteers on the board and investment committee of the Greater Saint John Community Foundation. He lives in Rothesay with his partner, Emilie, and their rescue Australian Shepherd, Rocky.
Serene Allen
1st Vice Chairperson
Vice President, Strategy & Performance - Port of Saint John
Serene Allen is a dynamic leader with over a decade of experience in Leadership, Human Resources, Corporate Services, and Project Management. Serene has been a member of the Port Saint John team since 2015, taking on positions of progressive responsibility within the organization. She is currently the Vice President, Strategy & Performance leading many areas including finance, accounting, procurement, IT, and organizational strategy.
Serene holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick. Through her dedication to professional and leadership development, Serene has achieved designations as a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and Project Management Professional (PMP). Serene’s commitment to continuous improvement and delivering results make her a focused leader for strong organizational performance while developing individuals and teams.
Serene believes in giving back to the community and sits on the Boards of the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce and the Saint John Seafarers Mission.
Greg Hierlihy
Treasurer
Vice President of Finance and Operations - Saint John Airport
Greg Hierlihy has over 30 years of work experience in finance and accounting. Greg is currently the Vice President of Finance and Operations at Saint John Airport Inc.. In March 2021, he took on an additional role as the Interim President and CEO of the company, which lasted until December 2021.
Prior to his current role, Greg worked at J.D. Irving, Limited from 2003 to 2017. During his time there, he held various roles including Director of Finance, Corporate Services; Director, Accounting and Reporting; Director Financial Planning and Analysis; Director of Finance, JDI Financial Services; Director of Finance, Irving Equipment Division; and Director, Business Development.
Eleanor Austin
Regional Vice Chairperson - Grand Bay/Westfield
Founder, New Marketing Today
As Founder of New Marketing Today, Eleanor Austin is a leading LinkedIn branding and positioning coach, and LinkedIn Workshop Facilitator.
She specializes in helping leaders discern their unforgettable brand story to create a strategic Profile and Presence on LinkedIn – to grow their brand, business, and career.
Eleanor awakens voices – and has throughout her career.
As a CBC journalist, Eleanor produced creative radio shows brimming with experiential stories, amplifying voices of storytellers reflecting the heart, mind, and soul of our community.
In Tech Marketing, she conducted experiential research to champion the customer’s voice in the boardroom, and in the design of new products and services.
Curiosity infuses Eleanor with a love for storytelling, learning, and sharing what she learns; speaking at conferences, and bringing her marketing savvy to volunteer commitments, including serving on boards for the iconic Imperial Theatre and, the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce.
Meagan Kozak
KV Vice Chair
CEO and Founder of MK Media
Meagan has established herself as a dynamic and visionary leader at a young age. Passionate about growth and small businesses, Meagan is dedicated to leveraging the unique opportunities that the Saint John region has to offer.
Under her leadership, MK Media is committed to helping small businesses thrive in the online world by elevating their social media marketing strategies. Meagan's innovative approach and deep understanding of the digital landscape enable her to drive remarkable results for her clients, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential in the competitive market.
Glen Fillmore
Westside Vice Chairperson
Executive Director of Strategic Growth and Transformation
Glen Fillmore is the Executive Director of Strategic Growth and Transformation, and leads Saint John Energy's evolution towards a cleaner, more resilient future. With extensive experience in energy sector transformation, Glen implements innovative solutions that not only reduce emissions and modernize our grid but also strategically advance our local economy and business community. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to community engagement and sustainable energy ecosystems, fostering partnerships and initiatives that support local businesses and stimulate economic growth. Spanning energy, telecommunications, and information technology, Glen's diverse background uniquely positions Saint John Energy for sustained innovation and strategic growth in the evolving energy landscape.
Beyond his professional achievements, Glen's dedication to service is evident through decades of volunteerism with the Saint John Police Force as an Auxiliary Police Constable and as a board member and chair of the Boys and Girls Club of Saint John. Glen's multifaceted contributions to our board enrich our vision for a brighter, more sustainable future, grounded in economic prosperity and community resilience.
Doug Jenkins
Saint John Vice Chairperson
Founder & President - Ispire Technologies
Doug is the founder and President of iSpire – Inspired Technologies Inc. In January 2015, Doug co-founded ConnexionWorks, a collaborative co-working space in uptown Saint John where iSpire resides. Doug graduated from UNB with an Electrical Engineering degree and is an avid motorcyclist, working part-time as a certified motorcycle instructor. He is driven by helping individuals and companies reach their goals.
Mohamed Bagha
Immediate Past Chair
Managing Director The Saint John Newcomers Centre
Mohamed Bagha is the Managing Director of the Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC). He has been involved in the Newcomer Settlement Sector for over 10 years. Mohamed is very excited to bring a voice for newcomers on the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He wants to see newcomers have a voice and an opportunity to contribute to the socio-economic well-being of Greater Saint John. Mohamed envisions communities across Atlantic Canada like Saint John will have an opportunity to thrive through diversity, where newcomers actively participate in society by fully contributing their talent, skills, and culture. He believes newcomer contributions act as a catalyst to improve economic conditions and cultivate cultural understanding. This enriches the lives and living standards of everyone across Atlantic Canada. Mohamed was recently named as one of the "Most Inspiring Immigrants in the Maritimes” for his leadership and vision. His work has helped foster economic growth and created positive community impacts here at home and across the Atlantic Region. Mohamed holds a Master of Interdisciplinary Degree focusing on Community Economic Development from the University of New Brunswick.
Melanie Cooke
Director
Director of Environment, Health, and Safety - Irving Oil
Originally from Nova Scotia, Melanie Cooke completed a law degree at Dalhousie University before living in Alberta for a number of years where she practiced law at Blake, Cassels, and Graydon LLP and as in-house counsel at Chevron Canada Resources.
Melanie moved to Saint John in 2019 as General Counsel at Irving Oil and currently holds the position of Director of Environment, Health, and Safety for Irving Oil’s Saint John Refinery.
Melanie and her husband live in Rothesay with their two children.
Andrew Costin
Director
Andrew is partner with the law firm of Gorman Nason primarily practicing in the areas of corporate and commercial law.
As a very active member of the business community, Andrew has acted for public and private corporations, banks and individuals in complex and diverse transactions and has acted for some of New Brunswick’s largest real estate developers and private corporations on a wide array of matters.
Andrew is a former chair of Uptown Saint John and currently serves on the New Brunswick Law Society’s Property Law Advisory Committee and Ethics Committee.
Andrew lives in Rothesay with his wife Harriet, and three yorkshire terriers, and enjoys travelling, cooking and developing his skills as an amateur sommelier in his spare time.
Heather Acker
Director
Co-Founder Connexionworks
Community leader, trailblazer entrepreneur and advocate for community involvement. Heather Acker is a champion for providing inclusivity and support for small to medium businesses. As a co-founder of three companies that actively support her vision to grow our Saint John community in multiple capacities her style is that of a pioneer, innovator, and solutions provider.
She co-founded ConnexionWorks in 2013, an open, collaborative business workplace in the heart of the city. Heather recognized the need for a community workspace to help support new start-ups, solopreneurs, and small businesses to grow strong and flourish in the city, including facilitating growth instead of competition.
She became the Host of Rogers TV's "What matters Most" New Brunswick community television show to help with the awareness of talented people, events, and services that are all doing great things in our Saint John community.
Heather's ability to leverage meaningful relationships contributed to winning ConnexionWorks the Passion for Change Award in 2016 from the Saint John Chamber of Commerce. Again, in 2021, she was awarded by the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce the Excellence in Collaboration Award.
In recent years Heather volunteered with many of local non-profits to raise awareness and sustainability, such as New Brunswick Mental Health Foundation, ONE Change, Family Resource Center, Red Cross, PRO Kids, YMCA Development, CBDC Women in Business, Crossroads for Women, to name a few.
Anne McInerney
Director
Vice President Communications J.D. Irving Limited
Anne McInerney brings more than 20 years of community engagement and communications expertise to the Chamber’s Board of Directors. She is currently VP, Communications for J.D. Irving, Limited and has previously served as senior-level communications counsel in consulting and creative firms, and as Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Communications for the Province of New Brunswick, leading a team of close to 50 communications professionals while acting as chief strategic counsel on all proactive and reactive government communications.
In addition to her role as Chamber Director, Anne sits on the boards of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation and MindCareNB and is a member of a national task force for ethical public relations.
Anne has a Public Relations degree from Mount Saint Vincent University and is an accredited and active member of the Canadian Public Relations Society.
Sunny Khosla
Director
Sunny Khosla, CPA New Brunswick, USA, & RCIC
Sunny Khosla is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and founder of NAAS Immigration Services. He is a Certified Public Account, New Brunswick, and New Hampshire. He has more than 18 years of experience in the professional industry, with 15 plus years in the leadership roles, with companies like, Royal Bank of Canada, American Express, EXL services. He worked with the Royal Bank of Canada for 3 plus years in different capacity (Commercial Account Manager and Branch Manager).
He is in Saint John from last 5 years. He has made Saint John his permanent home and likes helping the community. He sits on the board of New Brunswick Social Pediatrics and as a Treasurer for EDA.
He served the board for the Three Sisters Condominium corporation as a Treasurer. He was awarded as an emerging leader award in the year 2021 from the CPA New Brunswick.
He brings his diversified experience in the finance world and Immigration. He is bringing lot of people in New Brunswick and helping the existing newcomers in settling down and getting their Permanent residency. He loves what he is doing now and is passionate about helping the community. He also started the Atlantic India Free Kitchen Service for all, to serve food at Outflow, which was replaced by donation model in pandemics.