Leadership of Wanganui's Chamber of Commerce passed from one impressive woman to another this week - and was hailed by the first woman ever elected as the city's mayor.
The Chamber of Commerce had its 125th annual general meeting on Wednesday night. Bronwyn Paul stepped down as president after four years,
for personal and business reasons, and Jenny Duncan stepped up.
Mayor-elect Annette Main was the speaker. She praised Ms Paul and talked about the benefits of environmentally sound business practice.
Ms Paul is the co-owner of Wanganui Security, the first female president of the chamber and the second longest holder of the job. She has spent about 25 hours a week on the job.
She was surprised to get a standing ovation at the AGM.
"I was so shocked. I nearly flipped out," she said.
Ms Duncan and partner Mark Daniels own the Wanganui Action Coach Business Coaching franchise, an internet business and a nursery. She has a masters degree in business and has worked for Wanganui District Council as an accountant.
These days she spends a lot of time doing "community things".
One of them has been serving on the Chamber of Commerce board for four years. Another was managing Annette Main's mayoral campaign.
"I'm just an entrepreneur with a community focus," she said.
During Ms Paul's time as chamber president the annual business awards grew, membership grew to 250 and Business After 5 functions grew. The chamber made submissions to Wanganui District Council on finance matters and hosted a trades facilitator.
It would this year unite with the Employers' and Manufacturers' Association - which Ms Paul said would bring benefits for members. The recession had left it short of funds, and it had to farewell its CEO Philip Shackleton in August.
Undismayed by the recession, Ms Duncan said a spirit of co-operation would do wonders for district businesses.
"There's not a lot of money around, from Government or from council, for a lot of initiatives. The chamber isn't flush, but working together we will come up with solutions that don't require big bucks."
