Our Team

The Edmonton Chamber team is an energetic, member-focused group of individuals who are always happy to hear from you. We provide direct support and value by advocating, educating and connecting businesses.

Contact our team if you have questions about membership, policy positions, events or advertising opportunities. We look forward to connecting with members and finding ways to help wherever we can.

Amin Samji—Director, Member Services

Originally from Tanzania, Amin has lived in Karachi and Toronto prior to moving to Edmonton. Edmonton is an easy place to love, but amongst the things that stand out are the people, the festivals (especially those that include food) and the diversity. Amin’s spare time is typically spent with his family and on landscaping projects around the house. Other passions of Amin’s include cooking and the opportunity to hear a great witty joke or story.

A typical day at the Chamber is filled with engagement with the business community. Having the opportunity to help share a success story, a milestone, the launch of a new product or service or a community initiative is an incredibly rewarding part of the work that goes on. Amin’s experience in building relationships and a collaborative team keeps him motivated every day.

Melissa Johnson—Events Manager

Melissa is passionate about bringing people together! Whether it’s personal or professional life, she is always finding herself in the middle of planning something fun and memorable. Born and raised in Edmonton, she has always been drawn to event planning because of how much the city has to offer.

Proudly with the Edmonton Chamber for over 15 years (and looking forward to many more), this mom of two boys, has little free time but loves to read, bake, and craft. A highlight she looks forward to each year is always helping her husband plan their next Disney adventure.

"You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality." – Walt Disney

Andrew Koning—Senior Policy & Research Analyst

Joanne Link—Member Services Representative

Joanne is well-travelled and always looking forward to her next adventure. A few of her favourite hobbies include reading, meditating, golfing and enjoying the Alberta Ballet whenever she has a chance!

With an infectiously energetic personality, Joanne loves connecting with people and has always been fulfilled in her work when she is able to help others succeed. She loves spending her days meeting and talking with new and future members and navigating how she can best help businesses in our city succeed. If you see Joanne at a future event, say hello – you’ll be happy you did!

Ken Gee—Member Relations Coordinator

Ken is a huge foodie and takes advantage of the extensive restaurant scene in Edmonton, but also enjoys creating his own dishes at home! When he isn’t in the kitchen cooking and creating his next favourite dish, you can find him enjoying a round of golf on the course or in the simulator.

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs and applying his own business skills in a variety of industries including corporate sales, transportation and logistics, communications, and project management, he’s most proud of being able to leverage his experience to help other local entrepreneurs grow their business. Ken is an awesome resource at the Chamber, so be sure to reach out and get his advice on finding innovative solutions to your evolving needs as a business owner and member of the Chamber!

Bobbi Elliott—Executive Director, Finance & Operations

Dari Pearce — Conference Centre Coordinator

Katie Schlender—Events Lead

Katie loves to get outside and enjoy the unique River Valley views, as well as the ice skating over at the Victoria IceWay Skating Trail during the winter. If she’s not outside, you can find her playing video games and building puzzles in her spare time.

As a NAIT Alumni and 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Katie has extensive knowledge from working in catering, restaurants, breweries, hotels, hospitals, and conference facilities. This unique experience allows her to excel at executing a variety of signature Chamber-hosted events. Plus, if you need a new recommendation on the latest wine or beer – she's the expert!

Cadence Bergman—Director, Policy

As an Edmontonian, Cadence loves the rich history found in our city. A few of her favourite highlights are the North Saskatchewan River especially when she gets the opportunity to enjoy local festivals going on, taking photos of scenic hikes while she’s spending time with her family and volunteering with local history organizations in the heart of the city.

Cadence leads the policy and advocacy department, which means she’s in contact with an extensive range of stakeholders as she researches and summarizes key findings through policy committees and direct communication with business owners and political figures. Cadence is always keeping up to date on the latest developments within policy structures and is a key resource for the Chamber and its members!

Maryam Qureshi—Member Services Coordinator

Born and raised in Edmonton, Maryam loves to get out and enjoy the intricate festival scene, specifically Heritage Days! You’ll find her taking in this annual summer celebration while enjoying music, dancing, and food from diverse cultures of our city.

She specializes and spends most of her day completing member engagements, offering advice and maintaining relationships with our members.

Photo by Aaron Pedersen

Alexandra Hryciw—Director, Strategy & External Affairs

A born and raised Edmontonian, Alex has a great love for her city and community, and deliberately pursues roles where her work can make a difference. She brings a wealth of experience in providing astute communication strategies to senior leadership, c-suite executives, boards of governors and corporations. Alex has a proven track record of successfully implementing stakeholder engagement plans and activities that drastically change sentiment and public approval.

She believes in working with leaders who are passionate and set clear mandates that benefit the broader communities they work in. Her previous positions include: Communications Advisor to Mayor Don Iveson, Director of Strategy at Innovate Edmonton, Chief of Staff to the Founding CEO of Alberta's newest crown corporation, Invest Alberta and now Director of Strategy at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. In addition to her career pursuits, Alex has also volunteered in politics, most recently as campaign manager for the Cheryll Watson for Mayor campaign. Alex is also a former International Association of Business Communicators Board Member.

Hailey Leonardis — Policy & Research Analyist

Nicole Ralph — Manager, Sponsorships, Partnerships & World Trade Centre Edmonton

Tatum Watson — Events Administrator

Celeste Peterson — Multimedia Design Lead

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