Our Board & Staff

Mark Beadle – President
Dock Crafters

Mark has been involved in progressive business management roles for over twenty years and has volunteer non-profit Board experience exceeding fifteen years. He has an undergraduate degree in health care and a masters degree in business, along with work experiences ranging from front line health care to hospital Vice President to small business owner. Having gradually relocated his contracting business to Port Sydney over the past few years, Mark joined the Chamber and was subsequently welcomed to the Board in October 2021, bringing us his expertise in strategic planning and operational effectiveness. As of November 2023, we are pleased to have Mark serving as our President to guide us forward with the aim of increasing member engagement and volunteerism.

Brenda Murdoch - Vice President
ShopMuskoka.com

Brenda has been in sales, marketing, and marketing management for the past 30 years. Working with businesses and their people is how she has developed the skills to listen to the growing needs of Muskoka businesses for more than a decade. Having moved to Port Sydney in 2015, Brenda has been working alongside businesses in the community to help them brand and grow on ShopMuskoka.com. Brenda looks at this opportunity with the Chamber of
Commerce as a chance to listen to the needs of the community and to promote its growth.

Heather Huff-Bogart - Director/Secretary
The Green Bouquet

Heather embarked on her professional journey as a Surveillance Operator at an Ontario casino and served as a Volunteer Team Leader for Victim Services in Goderich, Ontario. Seeking a change of scenery, she transitioned to Muskoka where she delved into the hospitality industry. There, she assumed the role of lead trainer at a prestigious resort while honing her expertise as a wine sommelier.

Transitioning once more, Heather entered the cannabis sector, holding pivotal roles such as General Manager, Regional Trainer, and Head of Operations for Canada's largest CBD company. Subsequently, she joined a local cannabis producer's Marketing team as General Manager of their Educational store and Cannabis Educator, also serving as a liaison for multiple chambers of commerce in the area.

When the government amended regulations to allow individuals to open their own cannabis stores, Heather seized the opportunity, founding The Green Bouquet Cannabis Inc. in Port Sydney. With a rich background spanning operations, marketing, sales, and customer service, she eagerly joins the board to raise awareness in the community about the abundant business opportunities available to their village.

Rhonda Christenson – Director/Treasurer
Hidden Valley Bookkeeping

Bonnie Boyd – Director
Footprints in the Forest Child Care

Our Staff

Nicole Kirkpatrick – Office Manager

Nicole recently joined the Chamber as the new Office Manager in August of 2024. She has a long history of office administrative work as well as volunteer work. She sat on the Board of Huntsville Minor Hockey Association as Treasurer, previously holding the Ice Scheduler and Minor Officials Director roles. Nicole has also been the Chair of V.K. Greer’s Parent Council for the past 4 years, and Fundraising Coordinator prior to that. She has also previously been involved with the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life as Event Chair and volunteered with the Walk for MS. Nicole has worked in the childcare and health care fields for the last 20+ years.

MEMBERS AT LARGE

Susan Woodall – Sue Shef
Kim Machado – Happy Acres Farm Muskoka

On February 1, 2024, we received the devastating news that our Director, Gordon Haig, had passed away on January 31st.
Gord was a leader in our Chamber for the better part of the past two decades, having served for eight years as President and many years as a Director. Gord spent the majority of his adult life in our area after having grown up as a cottager on Mary Lake. His contributions to our Chamber are immeasurable and his connections in our community run deep. Gord could always be relied upon to lend a hand and to share his knowledge and wisdom with our Board Members and Staff. We will deeply miss his mentorship and friendship as we adjust to carrying on the work of our Chamber without him around the table.
Gord's passing was unexpected and an obituary has not yet been posted as of February 21, however, photos and guestbook notes can be found on
Gord’s memorial page on the Mount Pleasant Cemetery website.

Gord’s life was celebrated on Friday, February 16, 2024, with an in-person/livestream funeral service at Mount Pleasant Centre (375 Mount Pleasant Rd., Toronto) where relatives and friends shared wonderful memories.

To learn more about Gord’s life and his contributions to our Chamber, you can read the Candidate Bio he submitted to Muskoka Region news during the 2014 Election campaign, and the article about his retirement as President in 2015 published by the same paper.

Below are some photos of Gord during Chamber events over the years (clockwise from bottom left: Christmas Party, AGM, Canada Day, Yard Sale, Winter Carnival), and our most recent Board & Staff photo.