When Catherine Holt took the helm of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce last May, she knew that despite her extensive business-leadership experience, there would be a learning curve.
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty new to this whole network of people,鈥� admitted Holt above the din of the Chamber鈥檚 Marketplace Mixer, in full swing on Thursday afternoon at Delta Ocean Pointe Resort.
For the past 18 years, Holt ran her own management consulting company. She has worked with Crown agencies, First Nations organizations, not-for-profits and private sector firms including IBM and SNC-Lavalin.
One of her biggest surprises on the job so far, a revelation that she said 鈥渋s hard to tell from the outside looking in,鈥� was the can-do attitude she has encountered within the Chamber.
鈥淚 just really like the spirit of the people associated with it,鈥� Holt said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e energetic, enthusiastic, trying to get things done, very action-oriented 鈥� a really sociable, outgoing group of people.鈥�
That spirit was obvious during what board chairman Al Hasham described as the Chamber鈥檚 busiest such showcase so far for goods and services offered by local businesses, with a record 44聽exhibitors.
Typically, two Marketplace Mixers are held annually. Past locations have included the Bay Street Armoury and Victoria鈥檚 Comfort Inn and Marriott Hotel, but the showcase was consolidated into a single event this year.
Hasham, owner of Maximum Express and Max Furniture, said he, too, has discovered aspects of his job as chairman he didn鈥檛 expect when he was appointed in October of 2015.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a very rewarding time and a humbling experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 realize how overwhelming the support would be. I get around, but I wasn鈥檛 used to being in the limelight as much as I鈥檝e been.鈥�
Three hundred attendees milled about the Arbutus Ballroom to network and check out what鈥檚 new and exciting at dozens of stations staffed by representatives of local companies, academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations.
Exhibitors included Extreme Outreach Society, Camosun College, the University of Victoria and Wilson鈥檚 Group, its table adorned with green St. Patrick鈥檚 Day bling and a chocolates-filled leprechaun鈥檚 hat.
鈥淧eople are loving it,鈥� said Wilson鈥檚 digital media and sales co-ordinator Erin MacLean, telling passersby about services including its airport shuttle and corporate group rates for its new Langtoria bus service.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to get more recognition for our Green Line we just started, but we鈥檙e also just part of the community and we like to be involved.鈥�
The Canadian College of Performing Arts consistently attracted attention to its station, a beehive of creative activity.
Student performers Dylan Karlsson and Danielle Campagnora enthusiastically worked the room in character as Beauty and the Beast鈥檚 Cogsworth the clock and Belle, respectively, to promote CCPA鈥檚 big spring show and others, including the alumni group鈥檚 June production of Avenue Q.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so important to stand out in a crowd,鈥� said Melanie Sibbitt, who had no problem doing that herself in a bright orange sweater at her Two Crazy Ladies table.
Accompanied by her sister Kim 鈥� a designer, photographer and house painter who noted: 鈥淚鈥檓 not one of the crazy ladies鈥� 鈥� Sibbitt displayed some of her creative marketing company鈥檚 promotional products, including notebooks, pens, eyeglass-cleaners and other items bearing a client鈥檚 logo.
鈥淗aving a name like Two Crazy Ladies is a mixed blessing,鈥� Sibbitt said. 鈥淧eople remember it, but they don鈥檛 necessarily know what we do. So this gives people an opportunity to see what we do.鈥�
And, yes, wearing orange to this event, amid a sea of networkers in darker colours, was by design.
鈥淐olour makes people feel good, and it shows creativity, and that is the basis of what our company is,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e always thinking out of the box.鈥�
