Board of Directors
Richard Wong
McLennan Ross LLP
Chair
As a resident of Spruce Grove, Richard Wong has been an invaluable volunteer with the Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce since 2021. Over the years, he has held the positions of Chair-Elect and Treasurer, and has led various committees including the Governance, Finance, and Emerging Leaders Group Committees. His dedication extends further as an active participant in both the Advocacy and Indigenous Business Committees.
Professionally, Richard is a lawyer at McLennan Ross LLP, a full-service regional law firm. His commercial litigation practice primarily focuses on construction disputes, representing contractors, owners, and developers in all types of construction-related lawsuits. Additionally, Richard is well-versed in immigration matters, providing essential assistance to individual and corporate clients seeking both temporary and permanent status.
Through his professional and volunteer endeavours, Richard remains committed to fostering a collaborative environment that promotes professional excellence and ensures an efficient, effective, and memorable experience for all stakeholders.
Vice-Chair
Chris is a Networking, Communications, Marketing, Advertising, PR, and Social Media expert. He builds productive relationships with clients, partners, VIPs, and dignitaries. Chris is heavily involved in supporting our Tri-Regional business community by consistently attending grand openings, fundraisers, landmark achievements, anniversaries, business luncheons, award galas, etc., and then reflecting the corresponding stories and photos of these events on social media.
Chris formally served as a Board Director with the Spruce Grove Chamber of Commerce between 2017-2020, and the GPRC between 2021-2022. He made very good use of these platforms to enhance his commitment in shining a brighter spotlight on our region's business realm and advocating for its growth.
Originally from Buenos Aires, Alberta has been his home since 2003, when he first arrived in Canada. Chris and his Family have been Spruce Grove residents since 2007 and have no intention to leave. He also takes part in backing local sports (especially soccer), as well as diverse community and society events.
Chris is VP, Sales & Marketing, at PANDAROSE.
Chris Penn
Panda Rose Consulting Studios, Inc.
Jennifer Fancey
RBC Royal Bank
Treasurer
Jennifer joined the GPRC in 2023 as a member of the Membership Committee and has served on the Board of Directors since 2024. Throughout her 2024 Term, she Co-Chaired the Membership Committee. She is an active volunteer supporting local community events.
Jennifer is a strong advocate for business owners in the Tri-Region. As a Relationship Manager in Business Markets for RBC Royal Bank, she provides strategic financial advice to business owners encouraging sustainability and growth. Her passion to support business owners has evolved during her 20 years of accounting and finance experience. She has always had an interest in entrepreneurship and the value that local businesses provide to our communities. Jennifer and her family are residents of Spruce Grove.
Board Member
Katrina Kelly is a distinguished American PGA Golf Professional, instructor, and coach with over a decade of experience in the Canadian golf landscape, following her transition from notable teaching roles in Orlando and Chicago.
With a solid educational foundation in business economics and law, along with a background in biomechanics and kinesiology pertaining to golf, from respected institutions, Katrina has built a commendable career that includes pivotal roles at numerous golf academies and driving ranges across Canada.
Katrina Kelly
GolfBiz
Darren Smith
Good Land Farms
Board Member
I was born in Stony Plain in 1965. I was raised on a mixed farm near Onoway and attended the University of Alberta where I earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree. I have recently retired from a 30 year career in the insurance industry. I was fortunate to build a large insurance brokerage which focused on providing Employee Benefits and Pension contracts to independent businesses across Western Canada. I am happily married to Maria, am the father of 5 and grandfather of 4. I currently farm near Stony Plain, raising high quality Angus and Wagyu breeding stock and supplying fantastic beef to family, friends and neighbours. We are committed to regenerative farming practices, a high level of animal welfare and a desire to leave the land we manage better than we found it for future generations.
Board Member
Lorraine Stewart, PhD, R.Psych, has lived in the Stony Plain/Parkland County area for 51 years. She holds a doctoral degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta and is a registered psychologist. Lorraine has over 15 years of experience as an educator and 12 years in senior management at Alberta Education. She is deeply involved in various volunteer roles on boards and appeal hearings at local, provincial, and national levels. Lorraine is passionate about education, emphasizing the importance of family and community engagement, and strong legislative support for the education system.
Lorraine is excited to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors and as Chair of the Advocacy Committee. She is also serving in her second term as a Trustee for Parkland School Division (PSD), which serves over 12,650 students across a vast area west of Edmonton.
The Chamber can play a significant role in supporting local education by fostering collaboration between businesses, schools, and community organizations. Through advocacy, the Chamber can help ensure that local education needs are met, promote programs that connect students with career opportunities, and provide a platform for dialogue on how to improve educational outcomes. By working together, the Chamber and education stakeholders can strengthen the community's overall educational landscape and support the development of a skilled and well-rounded workforce for the future.
Lorraine Stewart, PhD, R.Psych
Parkland School Division
Dyvonna Edmondson
Grove Decorating/Benjamin Moore
Board Member
Dyvonna was born and raised in Stony Plain, and is now raising her 3 girls with her husband in the same neighborhood she grew up in. She stepped in to run her dads business Benjamin Moore: Grove Decorating Centre in 2015. She passions after serving her community with any interior design or DIY projects that they may have.
Board Member
A product of Spruce Grove Minor Hockey; its development taught him early in life the qualities and values of leadership. Drafted into the Western Hockey League, he left home and his roots behind in Spruce Grove, taking his talents to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Many years later as one door closed another opened upon his return home to the city that he loves.
A brief stint with the Spruce Grove Saints Jr A hockey club would lead him into a career in the transportation industry. This opportunity turned the page to a new chapter in his life. Engrained with a hard-working attitude and willingness to learn he cemented a career in the waste and refuse industry for the past 12 years, the last 5 of which have been managing Handi-Can, a locally owned and operated business in the heartland of the Greater Parkland Regional Chamber.
Serving his community in its events and construction has instilled pride in him that cannot be conveyed in just simply words. His knowledge and expertise in the waste and refuse industry has fostered his passion for sustainable environmentally conscious development.
Chase Henituik
Handi-Can
Landis Vanthuyne
All Trailer Repair
Past Chair
Landis grew up in Stony Plain, attended Memorial Composite High School, played hockey for the Stony Plain Flyers, and owns and operates All Trailer Repair, here in Stony Plain. Landis has been a Director with the Chamber for the past 3 years, and for the last year and half has been the GPRC's Treasurer.
As the Treasurer he not only looked to provide financial support and focus to the chamber to transition in to a strong and prosperous organization but has also completed a complete review of reporting to ensure that any decisions that need to be made can take into consideration accurate and up to date financial data. He is a focused and engaged Director and community member and believes that Small Business is not for the faint hearted; it is for the brave and persistent.
Board Member
Bio to follow
Michael Thomas
Mainstreet Law LLP
Derek Koizumi
Canadian Western Bank
Board Member
My name is Derek Koizumi, I am a commercial banker with Canadian Western Bank, specializing in business finance and advisory services. I currently reside Spruce Grove, AB having moved to Spruce Grove with my family over 5 years ago. I grew up all over Alberta as a child, and what makes me so happy about living in Spruce Grove and Parkland County is the current and future opportunities that are available to all people. I am inspired by entrepreneurship and value creating opportunities for all businesses and people in Parkland County. I am looking forward to continuing to add to the momentum that the Chamber has created through its engagement in the business community to ensure continued growth and development of the economy in Parkland County. In my spare time I enjoy being outdoors, playing sports and spending time with my wife and 2 kids.
I look forward to the opportunity to support the chamber in a board member capacity, focusing on the prosperity of the region and aim to providing a great future for the generations to come.