For years, Ester Pike admired the work of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce from afar.
"The Kelowna chamber has a truly amazing amount of impact and influence in the community," she said.
"It supports and informs and advocates for local business."
Pike's observations were made while working as the development manager at the Kelowna Women's Shelter.
"I wasn't looking to change careers, but when I had the posting for director of operations at the chamber forwarded to me by a friend, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity," she explained.
"I applied and was lucky enough to be hired."
Just two months into the new job, Pike has already hit her stride.
"The chamber office is like a family," she said.
"We're a small staff of seven, but the amount of work we get done and, as I said before, the amount of impact and influence we have in the community is incredible."
Pike has a postgraduate degree in occupational psychology and also previously worked at the Canadian Red Cross and YMCA Okanagan.
She's a member of Junior Chamber International and was honoured by the Kelowna chamber's Top 40 Under 40 program in 2020.
Pike had big shoes to fill.
She replaced office manager Dicky Dack, who knew the chamber inside and out and retired in August after 29 years.
One of the projects Pike is excited to be involved with is the Kelowna Chamber's 35 annual Business Excellence Awards coming up Nov. 23.
"Because I'm so new to the chamber, my role for the Business Excellence Awards is almost like providing an external perspective," said Pike.
"I can give strategic input and support to the programs and supports team, led by member services manager Lauren Martell, who really put everything together."
The responsibility of pulling off a massive awards gala is not lost on Pike.
"The Kelowna Chamber's Business Excellence Awards are really reflective of our community," she said.
"It's the biggest business award you can win in the city. It's recognition that people believe in what you do. Really it's an honour to be nominated, to be a finalist and, of course, to be a winner."
This year, a near-record-high 319 businesses and individuals have been nominated in 15 categories.
See the complete list here.
A panel of independent judges is reviewing all the nominations and will pick three finalists in each category who will be announced at a reception at the Coast Capri Hotel on Monday, Oct. 17.
Tickets to the reception are available here.
Tickets to the Nov. 23 gala at the Delta Grand hotel, where winners will be announced, will soon available at KelownaChamber.org.
