Margot Weir planning to spend more time with her family
Feb 02, 2010 - 10:09 AM
By Parvaneh Pessian
WHITBY -- Margot Weir has spent the last eight years dedicating her life to the swift progression of local businesses in Whitby, but it's now time for her to embark on the next chapter.
She recently announced she will be stepping down from her position as chief executive officer of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce.
"I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to be CEO for the past eight years and see what the chamber has accomplished," Ms. Weir said, describing the process of deciding to resign as gut-wrenching.
"It's not just the chamber as an organization but what our members have accomplished and how vibrant the business community has become in their networking and positive outreach with each other, that has been really inspiring."
The organization's membership has shot up from less than 600 members when Ms. Weir started in 2002 to become the largest business organization in Durham with more than 1,000 members today.
"It's incredible that we've raised the profile of the chamber within the business community and the community at large," said Ms. Weir.
"We've been able to institute some great training programs that have been of assistance to our members and helped raise standards within the business community."
She was recognized by the Chamber Executives of Ontario for her accomplishments and received the chamber executive of the year award from the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada.
"Margot Weir has been a dynamic leader and has helped us to move this organization forward," said Whitby Chamber of Commerce president Robert Fraser.
"We have reached many milestones and accomplishments with her expertise and her dedication to this chamber."
Ms. Weir's resignation will be effective April 2, and she will remain in her position until then, while a transition team searches for a new CEO. She plans to use that period to adjust to the reality of letting go of a job that has become a "24-7 lifestyle" for her.
"It's a lot of work and a lot of demands on your time, which I've loved to do but it just comes to a point where I need to step back now and take some time for myself and for my family," she said, expressing her confidence that the organization will continue to climb in success.
"The chamber is very well positioned to move forward -- we've got a great slate of programs for 2010 and we're going to keep continuing to raise the bar and move forward."
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