The second time is the charm as the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce has hired a new executive director from within.

Chamber President Joshua Knaak says Acacia Pangilinan – the Chamber’s interim Executive Director – has been hired into the role full time.

Knaak says Pangilinan has always exceeded expectations in her time with the Chamber.

“And I think Acacia’s vision and her enthusiasm and the fact that despite maybe having a few less years in the trenches, she has always exceeded expectations in what has been asked of her,” Knaak says. “And we’re confident that she’s going to exceed the expectations of our business community as well.”

The Chamber had initially hired John Perks for the position but reversed course after an uproar over controversial social media posts.

Pangilinan replaces Deb McLelland who served as Chamber of Commerce Executive Director for many years before retiring in 2018.

“Our community is incredible, and I am energized by the great work being done by so many hardworking people,” Pangilinan said, in a release. “Our Chamber is a champion of our community, and my goal is to support and celebrate that in any way I can. I am looking forward to building relationships and cultivating our community’s success.”

She starts in her new role today.