Board Profiles

Chair, Milvia J. Bauman
Sports Connection
Committees
Serves on all committees as ex officio 

Born in Milan, Italy, Milvia immigrated to Canada at age 6. During her youth she lived in many cities including Toronto, New York, Montreal and Edmonton. Milvia has over 20 years experience in the financial sector and in 1994 left her position as Commercial Account Manager with CIBC to become a full time mom. Presently, she is the Office Manager and Financial Director of her family business. Her love for Medicine Hat and strong sense of civic duty to give back to her community has lead her to serve on many local boards of directors including The Canadian Cancer Society, The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat, The Medicine Hat Safe Community Association and several parent council school boards. She is married with two children and two grandchildren.

1st Vice-Chair, Jason Melhoff
Melhoff Security & Technologies

Jason moved to Medicine Hat in 2006 to start Melhoff Security & Technologies. Since that time Jason has expanded the Security business into other communities and has also merged with ProComm Solutions in Medicine Hat as a partner. Jason is very passionate about his community and feels that the only way to truly understand the heartbeat of a community is to get involved. Jason served previously as Chamber of Commerce Chair in 2008-2009 and is a past board member of the Community Foundation of Southeast Alberta and current Trustee with the Health Foundation. His involvement in these organizations has given him a rewarding understanding of this community and where we need to work at enhancing the continued quality of life for our community and surrounding area. Jason is married to Elizabeth and has one daughter, Paige.

*Jason's photo courtesty of Photologic Studio

2nd Chair, Les Postnikoff
Paradise Valley Golf Course
Committees
Executive Committee
Finance Committee
Business Advocacy Committee
 
Les and his wife Dawn own Paradise Valley Golf Course in Medicine Hat.  Prior to buying the golf course he was a corporate executive with over 25 years of Canadian and international business experience.  His multi-functional background includes strategic planning, international business operations, product marketing, sales management, strategic alliance development and mergers & acquisitions.
 

Treasurer, Remi Poissant
Ensminger, Beck & Thompson
Committees
Executive Committee
Finance Committee
 
Raised in a small farming community just outside of Regina Saskatchewan, I moved to Medicine Hat in January 2001. In 2008 I obtained my Chartered Accountant designation and am currently employed with the accounting firm of Ensminger Beck and Thompson as an associate CA. Through my work experience in Medicine Hat I have had the opportunity to interact with all members of the community from the individual taxpayer to some of the largest corporations in the city. I have been married for five years and my wife and I have two beautiful daughters. I have been both a volunteer and member of several local not for profit organizations in the city since my immigration in 2001.

Director, Kirk Wright
Classic Communities Ltd.
Committees
Finance Committee
Membership Committee
 
Kirk Wright is the Chief Financial Officer with the construction company Classic Communities. Kirk was born in Weyburn, SK and while his previous Banking career took him all over western Canada he moved to Medicine Hat in 2000. Always maintaining a strong community spirit, he has been active in service organizations and committees in all of the cities in which he has lived. From the Junior Chamber and Rotary clubs to Municipal Economic Advisory committees, Downtown Business revitalization committees and the Urban Development Institute, he has always demonstrated civic pride and a belief in doing what is best for the City in which he lives. Kirk is married to Jennifer and has one daughter, Madison.

Director, Fred Weinheimer
Telus Communications
Committees
Communications Committee
Governance Committee
 
Fred has resided in Medicine Hat for 40 years and is the General Manager of Customer Solutions Delivery with TELUS Communications. His previous volunteer experience includes the involvement with the Community Foundation of Southeast Alberta and the Spectrum Festival Board. Fred currently serves on the Medicine Hat Men's Curling League Board as well as being a volunteer for the Canada Cup . Along with his wife and 2 boys, he participates in numerous local sports and events throughout the year, especially enjoying time in the boat wakeboarding and tubing. With an interest in giving back to the community, Fred is looking forward to his continued participation with the Chamber Board during a period of economic recovery in a city that is in need of continued growth. He is also looking forward to the development of a collaborative relationship with the City of Medicine Hat, which encourages the growth and development of a healthy local business environment.

Director, Deanna Haysom
Medicine Hat College
Committees
Communications Committee
Membership Committee
 
Deanna has called Medicine Hat home since 1995 when she moved here to attend The College. Deanna has worked in both the communications and construction industries, always in the field of sales and marketing, and she has a passion for devising new and inventive ways for companies to connect with consumers. In 2008 Deanna opened her own small business in Medicine Hat with her husband Matthew that met a local need for high quality, affordable children’s and maternity wear. Most recently Deanna joined the team at the Medicine Hat College’s Advancement Department as a Development Officer.  In addition to her work, she is also the mother of two young children. Deanna loves the community of Medicine Hat and the opportunities it offers young people.

Director, Wes Paterson
Connections Career & Safety Services Ltd.
Committees
Communications Committee
Membership Committee
 
Wes Paterson is the Program Coordinator for Connections Career & Safety Services Ltd. He has his diploma in marketing and a Bachelor of Management. Wes was born in Taber and has resided in Southern Alberta his entire life. After moving to Medicine Hat in 2004, Wes gained employment in the oilfield and obtained his Journeyman Crane Operator ticket and Blue Seal Accreditation through Alberta Industry & Trade. He is currently a member of Jest Toastmasters International, the Southern Alberta Hogosha Institute, and has volunteered as a Coach for Choices Seminars in Calgary. Wes enjoys spending time with his two boys, as well as skiing, martial arts, scuba diving, and yoga.

Director, Kevin Smith
Bank of Nova Scotia
Committees
Business Advocacy Committee
Finance Committee

Born in Summerside, PEI and raised in Riverview, New Brunswick . Over the past 26 years I have lived in a number of communities in Western Canada, including Yellowknife, Drumheller & Saskatoon before settling in Medicine Hat in 2008. I am a long time banker having worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia, primarily in Commercial and Small Business lending for the last 18 years. Throughout my travels I have had the privilege of volunteering in a number capacities through my involvement in sports and other business associations along with my involvement with the Knights of Columbus. I have been married to my wife Jacqueline for 20 years and we have two beautiful daughters.

Director, Amy Zuk
Safety Buzz
Committees
Communications Committee
Membership Committee

Amy Zuk moved to Medicine Hat just over a year ago after successfully founding her own small business, Safety Buzz, in Bonnyville, AB in 2005. With ambitions of expanding her business, she opened a branch of Safety Buzz in Medicine Hat and has spent the past year getting to know the community, building partnerships, and meeting new people. In Bonnyville, Amy served as a director for the local Chamber of Commerce and gained valuable experience during her tenure. Combined with this experience, she believes that her "fresh new spin" will add greatly to the dynamic of the Chamber's Board of Directors and is looking forward to assisting wherever needed.

Director, Simon Hersey
Smith & Hersey Law Firm

Raised in Ontario, I moved to Medicine Hat in 2001 for what was supposed to be a temporary work position.  Within three weeks of arriving in Medicine Hat I had decided that “the Hat” was going to be my new home.  After graduating from the University of New Brunswick (Fredericton) with a law degree in 2005, I returned to Medicine Hat for my Articles.  I have been practicing law in Medicine Hat since 2006 and recently became a partner in the newly-formed firm of Smith and Hersey Law Firm.  I believe that Medicine Hat’s best days are still ahead of us and that the Medicine Hat area has lot to offer the aspiring business owner.  I have been married to my wife, Karla, for 7 years and we recently had our first child.