Ontario Chamber of Commerce award catches Guelph chamber CEO by surprise
Global News
Shakiba Shayani was awarded the 2023 Burnie Gillespie Memorial Award at the OCC annual general meeting in Niagara Falls.
It was quite a surprise for the president and CEO of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce.
Shakiba Shayani was awarded the 2023 Burnie Gillespie Memorial Award from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce as the top chamber executive who best exemplifies leadership and community service.
“I had no idea until the evening of the event,” Shayani told CJOY and Global News. “The team (at the Guelph Chamber of Commerce) kept it from me, and the Ontario chamber obviously knew who the finalist was but no one told me.”
Shayani received the award at the OCC annual general meeting this past weekend in Niagara Falls.
“Shakiba’s proactive and trusting relationships with all levels of government is helping raise Guelph’s profile and create impact for local businesses,” Daniel Safayeni, vice-president, policy with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement.
Shayani has been with the Guelph chamber since September 2019 and feels her hard work over a short period of time has paid off.
“I appreciated the recognition so much and it’s an honour and privilege to be the recipient.”
The Burnie Gillespie Memorial Award is named after the long-serving OCC board member, and is the highest honour given to a chamber executive in the province.
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