Bill Saunders, current CEO of the Belleville & District Chamber of Commerce, announced his resignation this week. Photo: Michael J Brethour/Quinte News
The Belleville & District Chamber of Commerce will be looking for a new CEO in 2017.
Bill Saunders, who has held the leadership of the organization for the last five years, announced his resignation this week.
Saunders took over the Chamber’s reigns in November of 2010.
Saunders spoke to Quinte News about his tenure at the Chamber, stating that he is happy with the progress of the chamber and the city as a whole with his involvement over the past five years.
Though the successes of the Chamber have been many, Saunders was quick to point out that none would have been possible without the dedicated staff at the chamber’s Wood Cabin.
Prior to obtaining his position at the Chamber, Saunders served as the executive director of Volunteer and Information Quinte in Belleville. The Chamber’s board of directors credited Saunders for rebuilding VIQ into a driving force of community involvement. In 2009, under his leadership the organization was awarded the Quinte Business Achievement Award for not-for-profit agency of the year.
Saunders is also a former Proctor and Gamble employee. He’s a graduate of McMaster University’s Industrial Management certification program and the University of Tennessee’s Applied Process Improvement program.
Saunders was also president of Sauncorp International, specializing in process management and organizational design.
Though he has few regrets, Saunders said that looking back to when he came on board with the Chamber, he had some very ambitious goals to increase chamber membership.
Despite his best intentions the membership has remained a solid 600, roughly a third of the business community in Belleville.
Tim Farrell, president of the Belleville Chamber, praised Saunders’ work for the Chamber and his steadfast presence.
Farrell noted that Saunders has given the Chamber a very thoughtful time buffer with his lengthy notice.
Farrell added that the organization hopes to have the successor in place by the new year, allowing Saunders to train and advise the new CEO.
As for Saunders’ future, it’s looking pretty bright.
