8 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 24, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Commerce chair wants government to focus on economy Continued from page 3 Through a professional association, he met Ben Molfetta, who had a background in senior sales and marketing, and the two had a meeting of the minds. By 2005, their company, Core Marketing Strategies, was incorporated. With a home base in Oakville, the company has clients across the GTA and outside the province -- typically firms with under $30 million in sales, that are good at what they do, want to grow, but have hit a wall. It was in 2004 that Alameddine himself joined the chamber to make contacts and build a network. "I realized the way to make the chamber work for you is to get involved, so I joined a committee," he said. He then chaired the marketing committee and is now chairing the chamber. Alameddine said it was an honour to be asked to chair the chamber. Though the weight of responsibility was not fully realized until he drew close to the role, Alameddine said he believes his marketing experience, along with the perspective of being a local small business owner could be applied to the role of top job at the chamber. Alameddine tips his hat to the chamber's executive director John Sawyer and said in recent years there has been a transformation of the chamber and he's proud to have been part of it. "We have a membership that is increasing at a time when you may think it would be the opposite," he said, noting event attendance is also increasing. In recent years, former Cabinet Minister Perrin Beatty, Québec Premier Jean Charest, Canadian General Rick Hillier, federal NDP Leader Jack Layton, BMO economic strategist Dr. Sherry Cooper, Canadian Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, referee and businessman Ron Foxcroft, Auditor General of Canada Sheila Fraser, Bank of Canada 20 - 50% OFF BRAS & SWIMSUITS 2008 COLLECTIONS BRA FITTING EXPERTS from t-shirt bras to push-up bras Sizes A - JJ Eighteen years ago, Mike Glugosh was a hostage to his own fears and depression. Constantly worried about his health and his own state of mind, he found himself wanting to avoid situations that made him feel anxious such as being alone,going to work and socializing. In time Mike realized he was not alone in his suffering. Anxiety disorder is the number one emotional problem in our country today. Mike will share the story of his recovery and provide coping skills at a FREE seminar open to the public in your area. 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When others are lucky to maintain their numbers if not decline in number, the gains at the Oakville chamber are "significant," according to its chair. Events are tailored to assist all members, from large companies to small. In late December, Alameddine said the chamber drew together 18 members representing all sizes of local businesses, put them in one room with Oakville MP Terence Young and closed the door. "Terence then took their concerns back to the Minister of Finance as part of the budget consultation process," said Alameddine. "There is very serious concern about the future of the economy and the country. There is very serious disappointment with how government is handling the situation," said Alameddine. "In a very non-partisan way, we need our government to focus on the economy and not on politics." While the Canadian and Ontario Chambers of Commerce liaise with those levels of government, the chamber would like to see the municipal government focus on economic development in Oakville. With the vast majority of the population commuting outside the area to work, many would like to work locally, but the jobs just aren't there, said Alameddine. While commercial/industrial development takes longer to develop, much longer, than residential or retail, Alameddine said it takes political will to protect those lands from conversion to residential/retail in the short term, but it can pay off in the long run. The chamber is also keenly aware that a cut to the Town of Oakville's economic/tourism budget was defeated by just one vote in recent budget deliberations. Alameddine believes an economic development strategy on behalf of the Town is crucial to ensuring Oakville is a livable community. "We'd like to see support of Council on the issue of economic development," said Alameddine, noting businesses pay two to three times more property taxes than residences and use far fewer of the local services. He noted Oakville has one of the lowest percentages of business as a portion of the tax base. And while he understands development charges are a complex issue, he said other municipalities are using development charge discounts to lure businesses to their area. Though Alameddine may bring a little bit of healthy chaos in his wake, he ultimately strives for structure. "I bring a little chaos, but I quickly try to bring order. It is underpinned with the hope and objective of structure and organization and ultimately getting things right," he said. His bid to join the Canadian Armed Forces in 2003 was born of a desire to do something very different, he said. As an immigrant, it is important to Alameddine to be involved in his adopted country and to integrate into the fabric of Canada without necessarily having to lose one's identity. "It's so interesting and so different and I bring another perspective as an Arab and a Muslim," he said. While his ethnicity or religion has never been problematic in his military career -- he's a logistics officer for the 32nd reserve combat engineering regiment in Toronto -- he has found the endeavor has presented the opportunity to get to know a whole different set of people than otherwise he would. "It's about what is best for the country," he said. "I am not a maverick. I believe in the power of other people's opinions," said Alameddine, noting, "There are 18 people on the chamber's board and I feel I'm least intelligent of them all. What I think I can do is to get each of their thoughts, get them to share their experience and thoughts, which is where you get the power of an organization. Oneman shows rarely go anywhere and if they do, it only lasts until the one man is gone and then it just goes away."