b'Karey AnneLARGEEntrepreneur turned Administrator, Karey Anne Large Brings Experience on Both Sides to the Scugog ChamberThe new Executive Director of the Scugog Chamber ofare all welcome.Commerce has great ideas for helping the local businessAnadvocateoftheBusiness Achievement Awards, community transition out of COVID and thrive. Karey feels that, Its important that we celebrate all of Karey Anne Large started her new role on Octoberour businesses with feel good stories.18, 2021, and shes full of enthusiasm. An exciting new challenge for Karey will be to fa-A month into her new position, Karey commented,cilitate the promotion of tourist events in Scugog. She also Its going extremely well. People have really welcomedlooks forward to her involvement in community activities me to the community. such as the upcoming Santa Claus parade and Christmas Her mandate is to bring value to our membershiptree lighting contest. and elevate the Chambers profile in 2022. TherecentcallfornewmembersoftheBoardof COVID halted many events, Karey observed. WithDirectorshasbeensuccessful,shereported.Welook thingsgraduallygoingbacktonormal,sheislookingforward to having a full slate by 2022.forward to the Chamber hosting in-person breakfasts, aspeaker series, golf tournaments and other activities.HANGING UP HER APRONSheisplanningaspecialeventinrecognitionofForty-five-year-old Karey gave up cake baking to de-InternationalWomensDaynextMarch.Holdingall- vote her time to her current profession. candidatesmeetingsfortheprovincialandmunicipalShe still resides in her hometown of Whitby, with her elections in 2022 is another idea. husband Jason Large, who is an electrician in Toronto. Being a Chamber member is all about networkingThey enjoy spending their weekends travelling around and making connections and getting involved in the com- Ontario to attend motorsports events.munity, she explained.I love car racing, said Karey, who volunteers with Karey noted the importance of educating local businessCAAR. Her father, the late Roger Riberdy, earned fame as owners on the value of being a Chamber member, whicha Canadian Grand National champion.range from group benefits packages to joint advertising.Their sons Devin, 18, and Nolan, 15, were both born at Atthepresenttime,theChambersofCommerceandPort Perry Hospital. Over the years, her family has often Boards of Trade from all eight municipalities in Durhamenjoyed fishing off the pier at Palmer Park.Region are joining forces for the Shop Where You LiveAs a little girl, Karey always looked forward to spend-Campaign.ing time in Port Perry. Her Dad was an electrician by day The former owner of Kake Kreations in Whitby, Kareyand a farmer by night. Karey and her mom would bring knowsfrompersonalexperiencethattherearemanyhis paperwork up to his accountant in Port Perry at tax advantages to being a member of your local Chamber oftime. Then we would stroll and shop all day and have Commerce.lunch, Karey said, sharing good memories. We would I wish I had joined sooner, she said. It was verymake a day of it.positive. Karey remarked, I have always loved this town.TheScugogChamberofCommerceisntjustaboutIronically, Kareys Chamber of Commerce office is in the downtown retail stores, she pointed out. Entrepreneurs from all over the township, including home businesses,Please turn to page 36FOCUS - DECEMBER 202135'