Annual General and Special Meeting 2024
September 25, 2024
6:00 ~ 8:00 p.m.
Four Points by Sheraton
3530 Schmon Parkway, Thorold
Registration & Networking 5:30 ~ 6:00 p.m.
Annual General & Special Meeting 6:00 ~ 7:00 p.m.
Networking 7:00 ~ 8:00 p.m.
Hors D’oeuvres & Cash Bar
The Annual General & Special Meeting is open to the designated representative of your organization which is a member in good standing of the Niagara Board of Trade & Commerce (NBOTAC).
This is a very important meeting as we will be revising the by-laws and articles of incorporation of the NBOTAC to meet the new requirements of the Ontario Not for Profit Corporation Act (ONCA). Your attendance in person is requested. If you or your designated representative cannot attend in person, please send a proxy form. We also look forward to catching you upon the past year’s work done by the NBOTAC and discussing our future goals.
We also have open board positions this year. If you would like to put your name forward for consideration, please complete the nomination form below and send it to secretary@nbotac.com.
All pertinent information for the Annual General & Special Meeting is below.
IMPORTANT – VOTE BY PROXY
If you cannot attend the AGM & Special Meeting it is IMPERATIVE that you provide a proxy. The proxy form should be completed and emailed to secretary@nbotac.com . Alternatively, you may send a designated representative in your place to vote on your behalf, but you must either send a letter to secretary@nbotac.com or have the representative submit it at the AGM & special meeting. This letter should be clearly written, authorizing the representative (please identify them with their first and last name) to vote on behalf of your organization. It should be dated and signed by you as the owner/registered representative of the organization and have your name printed as well. The link to the proxy form is above.
Information on Board Nominees
George Callura
George Callura is the owner/operator of Alert Carpet Cleaning. He has been in the business for over 40 years, starting off in Toronto and then moving to Niagara around 25 years ago. He is very active in the community, being a longstanding and well-respected member of the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls.
George has been both a full and associate board member of the NBOTAC for the past 7 years. George wants to extend his community involvement by being elected to the board of the NBOTAC for another term.
Joydeep Chakraborty
Kelly Westlake
As co-owner and funeral director at Bocchinfuso Funeral Home since 2015, she understands the importance of supporting local business, knowing that giving back to her community helps to create a stronger and more vibrant community for all.
She has been a Class One Licenced Funeral Director since 2010 and is a second-generation Funeral Director, the eighth generation of the Liddycoat family and sixth generation Bradley family to call Thorold home. She adores dogs, a good book, and hanging out in any garden or forest space around.
She has previously served on the board of the Thorold Community Activities Group, is a supporting member of One Thorold, and has supported countless community activities. Bocchinfuso Funeral Home is a pillar of the Thorold community, and has been a member of the Niagara Board of Trade & Commerce and its previous incarnations for decades.
Steve Simkus
Steve’s career in marketing, sales and business consulting spans more than 35 years. He has worked with a range of companies, from entrepreneur-led start ups, through established mid-sized organizations and multi-national corporations. His experience spans numerous industries, including technical services, standards development, apparel, retail, I.T services and not-for-profit organizations.
A true data-driven, results-oriented professional with well-honed creative instincts, Steve is equally comfortable working with an owner-operator as he is addressing the c-suite of global enterprises.
Steve brings a deep knowledge of business and internal processes and a keen understanding of the importance of integrating marketing, sales and operations functions into comprehensive strategies designed to advance and achieve a company’s goals and objectives. He also has a well-earned reputation for his ability to take complex subject matter and turning it into easy-to-understand, accessible content and ideas.
Steve currently offers business and marketing consultation services. He has extensive experience in a variety of senior volunteer and board of director roles with several not-for-profit organizations. He is also the midday on-air host at Fort Erie Radio, an internet-based radio station and news website committed to restoring a dedicated local media presence to support the growing community of Fort Erie.