Chamber Blog

The Steinbach Chamber of Commerce is buzzing with positive energy, and Executive Director Tessa Masi offers some exciting insights from her recent travels to conferences in Halifax. With the Chamber experiencing unprecedented growth, Masi returned inspired and invigorated by the networking opportunities and best practices shared among fellow chamber leaders across Canada.

“I was fortunate enough to go to Halifax for the Chambers of Commerce Executives of Canada conference and AGM,” Masi shares. “It was amazing because I sat in a room with almost 300 people who do the same job as I do across Canada. I got to meet people from small chambers, from huge chambers, figure out, what are they doing? What are new ideas? What are their best practices? Just get advice and really be able to network and build relationships.”

Masi describes the experience as a perfect opportunity to learn and grow, confirming that it met her expectations.

“I wanted to build relationships with other chambers and hear what they’re doing and what they enjoy about their job. One of the biggest things that I walked away from that conference, and then also the Chambers of Commerce of Canada conference, which was on the heels of that, was feeling so fortunate with what we have here in Steinbach.”

What sets Steinbach apart? Masi highlights the Chamber’s robust staffing compared to many others she encountered.

“We have a Chamber that has multiple staff members. There are other places that have one staff member that’s expected to do it all—that must be really difficult for them,” she explains. “We are able to throw amazing events. We have great engagement with our members. We have over 500 members. That puts us in a totally different category than we’ve been in previous years.”

Masi’s enthusiasm is palpable as she notes that the growth and engagement of the Chamber are drawing attention on a national scale.

“For people hearing that the Steinbach Chamber is coming to the Canadian level and that we have over 500 members, a lot of people are surprised by that in the best way possible.”

As the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce continues to expand its reach and influence, Masi’s recent experiences have only reinforced her commitment to fostering relationships and innovative practices.