By Christine de Kock
THE reins of the Greater Western Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GWCCI) have changed hands, with Trish Moore taking over from Janice Simpson as president.
Mrs Moore, co-owner of The Tint Shop in West Melbourne, said she found her new position exciting.
“And I’ve got a safety buffer because Janice is staying on as executive officer,” she said.
“She did a wonderful job as president.”
Ms Simpson, elected as president of the chamber in 2003, said she stepped down from the position because the chamber would benefit from a new perspective.
“An organisation needs to be refreshed periodically and I’ve been privileged to serve in the position for the last four years,” she said.
“In that time we have established the business awards as a major event in Melbourne’s West, along with regular networking functions.
“Trish Moore is a skilled and experienced businesswoman, in whom I have every confidence to grow GWCCI and reflect current business needs.”
Mrs Moore said one of the most significant projects that GWCCI would be involved in this year was the Every Picture Tells a Story competition.
The photographic competition “re-images the West”.
People are urged to submit images of the West that challenge negative impressions of the western suburbs. The photographs will then be used to promote the region.
She said a fundraising ball would be organised for 24 March in support of the photographic competition.
Mrs Moore said that her position as president would be to “make sure that we are heading true north”.
“The vision of the chamber is to actually be the business community forum for the region,” she said.
“The actual mission statement is to encourage growth and leadership through accessibility, connection, innovation and information.”
Mrs Moore and her husband Paul have been members of the chamber for more than three years.
Mrs Moore said she initially became involved in the chamber because of the opportunity offered to give The Tint Shop exposure at an exhibition that was attended by government representatives.
“The chamber offers a lot of opportunities, courses and meetings,” she said.
“I think to be successful in business you want to get around successful people and that is to get around people like members of the chamber of commerce and take some help and learn from each other.”
The Seddon couple have run their window tinting business for about nine years. As well as heat and glare reduction The Tint Shop installs safety films on windows at places such as childcare centres.
“Then we have bomb-strength type film, so it’s actually physically anchored to the glass so if you are in a high-risk spot like an embassy… if something happened across the road your glass wouldn’t come flying into your building,” she said.
Mrs Moore worked as a chartered accountant for a tinting company before she started The Tint Shop with her husband.
Mr Moore was involved in the aviation industry but the two wanted to start their own business.
They researched a number of opportunities before deciding to take on a struggling tint business.
“My husband has done a brilliant job,” she said
“There’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears for nine years.
“Small business is like that but I think Paul’s probably tripled the business in the last three years.”
GWCCI is now in partnership with Star Newspapers, Western Bulldogs, Victoria University and Delfin Lend Lease.
