Saluting Karin Penner

A grateful business community comments on the contributions and legacy of Karin Penner’s 31-year career

1 of 2Karin Penner (centre), retiring Cranbrook chamber executive director, poses with long-time administrative assistant Laura Kennedy (L) and receptionist Cathy Bauer. — Marie Milner photo

2 of 2Karin Penner (R), retiring Cranbrook chamber executive director, poses with long-time administrative assistant Laura Kennedy (L) and receptionist Cathy Bauer. — Marie Milner photo

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Like a reliable energy cell humming in the background, Karin Penner has quietly empowered the Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce to reach many goals in support of the Cranbrook business community and Cranbrook’s citizens.

In her 31-year career as executive director of the Cranbrook chamber, Penner has affected many people. We collected comments from just a few of those people, and those comments give us a profile of this remarkable woman.

Dave Butler, 2014 president, Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce: 
It has been my honour to work with Karin since 2009. She has built a strong and committed chamber team amongst our employees and our visitor centre volunteers, and her sincere dedication to people has made all the difference. Karin leaves a chamber that is well-known and well-respected. I have seen first-hand the degree to which she is respected and loved by her colleagues all across the province.

Jason Wheeldon, Realtor, Cranbrook, B.C.:
In my opinion, Karin’s legacy is the leaders that she’s helped to form in our community. She’s done it by mentoring them and by being persistent—she believes in people. I don’t know if she’s done it by fostering them or by smacking it into them, but it’s worked.

Laura Kennedy, administrative assistant to Karin Penner:
Karin has been a mentor to many community leaders. She leads by example, creates a team atmosphere and appreciates every contribution. For every major event or community project, she was always at the front of the line to volunteer her services: Summer Games, Senior Games, City Centennial, the chamber's 100th anniversary, building a home for the chamber, building a new and better home after the fire, the Key City Theatre, the Kootenay Ice, the new rec plex, and the list goes on. In an ever changing world, she has always gently guided us toward a better Cranbrook.  Enjoy your retirement—you have earned it, my friend.

Mike Adams, partner, Taylor Adams, Professional Chartered Accountants:
The thing I noticed most about Karin when I worked with her was her complete dedication and love for both the business community in Cranbrook and the city as a whole.  Everything she does is for the betterment of Cranbrook, and it’s what made her a great manager at the chamber for so many years.

Iain McLeod, owner, High Country Sports:
We’ve been lucky to have someone as dedicated to Cranbrook as Karin Penner has been. Karin puts everything she has into trying to make Cranbrook a better place, and we love her for it.

Mike Guarnery, manager, Kimberley & District Chamber of Commerce:
Karin’s legacy is the growth of the Cranbrook Chamber—its membership and its impact on the business community. She’s guided the direction of the Cranbrook chamber and she’s provided guidance to other chamber managers. She has been the go-to person when you have questions about the operational components of the job. That guidance has probably touched every chamber in the province.

Maureen Frank, Sam Steele Society:
Karin has been involved with the Sam Steele Society since its inception. For 50 years she has been a mentor and is always prepared to roll up her sleeves to make the Sam Steele Days community festival happen. As chair of the Sweetheart Society’s Youth Ambassador Program, she works to empower young women. Her passion and leadership are admirable, and we know that retirement will only encourage her to do more.

Loree Duczek, communications manager, Regional District of East Kootenay:
It's hard to summarize the impact Karin has had on our community. She has championed the business community and encourages citizens to support our local economy. She believes in and promotes volunteerism. She has trained and developed hundreds of young leaders through her influence, her position at the chamber and her role as coordinator of Cranbrook's Youth Ambassador Program. As she retires, she leaves a legacy of leadership and passion.

Diana J. Scott, Cranbrook city councillor:
Karin has been an amazing contribution to Cranbrook. She works so hard behind the scenes on so many projects—whatever the community needs, she always gets behind it. She has the respect of our community and of many other chamber managers throughout the province. They look up to her because of her expertise and her experience.

Wayne Stetski, Cranbrook mayor:
You can’t love Cranbrook without loving Karin Penner. As Cranbrook’s mayor for the last three years, I have come to know Karin both professionally and personally. Her passion for our community is exemplary and her caring for our Youth Ambassadors legendary. Thank you, Karin – Cranbrook loves you very much!

Denise Pallesen, former city councillor and business owner:
Karin Penner is a very special person who has a gift of caring and of mentoring. She has given so much to so many people! She has been an amazing friend and supporter, and I can't thank her enough. I wish her much happiness in her retirement. Thank you, Karin!

Linda Birch, manager, Tamarack Centre:
Karin has a gift for passing on her commitment to any project she undertakes, so you somehow find that you’ve volunteered to work on a project or sit on a committee or a board. Without her involvement and her ability to engage people, many successful projects would never have got beyond the idea stage. Thank you, Karin. I am proud to call you my friend.

Corinne Friesen, Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce membership committee:
Karin, your dedication, talents and caring heart have drawn our business community and the city together. Your leadership of our Youth Ambassador Program has put us on the map many times over. The recent provincial recognition of our Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce and your unfaltering attention to keeping and improving upon events like the Business Excellence Awards have assured our city of being a leader in the Kootenays.