Our Board
Get to know the dedicated community leaders driving business growth in Southeast Alberta.
The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce is guided by a passionate and experienced board of directors. These community leaders volunteer their time and expertise to shape our organization’s vision and strategy. They represent diverse industries and backgrounds, bringing unique perspectives to fuel business growth across our region.
Our board members are committed to fostering a vibrant business ecosystem in Southeast Alberta. They work to advocate for policies that support local enterprises and drive economic prosperity. Through their leadership, we continue to adapt and innovate, ensuring our chamber remains a catalyst for success in Southeast Alberta’s ever-evolving business landscape.
Steven Pudwell
President
Committee Member: Executive (Chair), Business Advisory (Chair), Leadership Development
Steven grew up, raised his family, lives, serves, owned businesses and works in Medicine Hat. He is proud to be called a “Hatter”. Over the years, Steven has volunteered with numerous community groups that helped better Medicine Hat’s facilities, services, education, healthy lifestyles, and positive influences for its people. Steven understands that it is important to continue to attract new economic opportunities and advance existing business in our area. He looks forward to contributing to the Chamber with hard work ethic and thoughtful communication.
Peggy Gizen
Second Vice President
Committee Member: Downtown Collective, Legacy Task Force
Peggy grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and made her home in Medicine Hat, Alberta 1989. She has a strong background in designing and facilitation of programs aimed at helping individuals to find their motivation to achieve. Peggy is an in-demand facilitator and presenter who combines her skills as a Rehabilitation Practitioner with qualifications as a training facilitator for Everything Disc®, Five Behaviours of a Cohesive Team®, Myers-Briggs, True Colours, Life Skills Coach, WonderTech, and many other proven assessment and skill development approaches. Peggy has delivered her workshops to businesses and organizations, large and small, for more than 25 years.
Peggy's ability to adapt her materials to a wide range of abilities, along with her practical approach, has proven effective at motivating for the many people and organizations she has worked with through the years. An entrepreneur and business developer in her own right, Peggy’s practical and engaging approach has made her an in-demand facilitator. With the full range of Wiley Corporation assessments and workshops, Peggy will assist members of your team to understand themselves and each other, leading to a more productive and satisfying workplace.
Brittany McMillian
Treasurer
Committee Member: Executive, Business Advisory
Following University, Britt and her significant other moved to Medicine Hat and have been fortunate to call this city home since. Entranced by Medicine Hat’s “small town” sense of collective, its beautiful scenery, and variety of community events, the pair settled and began a family. Since 2023, Britt has been employed as an accountant at EBT Chartered Professional Accountants. Through her work, she strives to foster innovation, provide value-add creative solutions, and build meaningful relationships with customers in Medicine Hat and the surrounding region. Her present and past work experience has allowed her to witness firsthand the strength and resilience of this vibrant business community and the importance of continuing relations amongst these industries as well as with all levels of government. Britt is honoured to be a part of the team and contribute to support the Chamber’s mission to advocate for the interests of our local businesses, promote collaboration, and reduce barriers to encourage economic growth and ensure sustainability.
Les Scholly
Director
Committee Member: Business Advisory, Leadership Development
Les is originally from Calgary and moved to Medicine Hat in 1993 to complete his year long legal articles with the firm Gordon Smith & Company. While he initially did not intend to stay in Medicine Hat, he found working in a smaller center allowed him opportunities to do legal work for “real people”, which was much different experience from his friends who were articling in the larger Calgary firms. He started making personal and business connections in that first year and he really enjoyed the learning opportunities working as a lawyer in Medicine Hat. He met his wife in Medicine Hat and he has been married 20 years and has 3 boys. He moved to Pritchard & Co. Law Firm after his twins were born and has been there for 16 years. His legal practice consists of helping businesses, from set-up to succession, and helping individuals plan and administer their estates. He has learned to appreciate the Chamber’s benefits through his involvement in the Chamber Connect, Ag-vocacy Events, and the Chamber Awards Gala. Law is a field where giving back to the community is important and he would like to focus his community involvement through the Chamber.
Doug Little
Director
Committee Member: Business Advisory
Being involved with various clubs and organizations in and around Medicine Hat, Doug had always heard of the great work that the Chamber does for Medicine Hat and South East Alberta and had always hoped to be able to repay his community by giving back where possible. Born in Drumheller and raised here, he is proud to call Medicine Hat home. He and his wife Sheri have raised three boys in Medicine Hat and could not think of a better place to do so. Doug is a pilot for WestJet Airlines and has been there for the last 22 years. Prior to WestJet, his family operated Canada's first Tier III airline, Alberta CityLink, for Air Canada. Along with his WestJet duties, his family operates Super T Aviation Academy, a flight school and aircraft charter company. With a partnership with Prairie Rose School District 8, Super T has also helped create the Dave Rozdeba South Alberta Flight Academy, a unique to Canada high school flight program. Doug has been a coach for hockey, football, lacrosse and many other sports along with racing his Model T Fairground race cars. He recently completed a University of Alberta sponsored course on Indigenous Canada as it relates to history and gender roles here on Treaty 7 land and considers his education as never ending.
Rob Goldade
Director
Committee Member: Community Connections
Rob Goldade has lived in the County of Newell for over 29 years, and during that time has been in both the retail clothing industry and the Management of Agriculture Businessess within Brooks and Medicine Hat. He is currently the President of Silverado Country Western Wear & Decor Inc. He is ready to use his positive views to help grow the Chamber and the local business community. He's passionate about learning more and getting involved; you can't help others without being involved.
Brenda Mercer
Director
Committee Member: Inclusion Diversity Equity Accessibility (IDEA)
Brenda Mercer, an Indigenous artist and storyteller based in Medicine Hat, Alberta, stands out for her exceptional community-building skills and business initiatives. With a passion for connecting people through Indigenous culture, she hosts events like "Cultural Stories at the Teepee" at the Saamis Tepee, where attendees learn about the land, medicine plants, and Indigenous history. Mercer, who has been beading for over 50 years, shares her craft with the community, emphasizing the act of making as a way to honor the past and celebrate culture.
Her commitment to preserving Indigenous traditions is evident in her use of materials from Indigenous-owned stores, ensuring authenticity in her creations. Mercer's dedication extends beyond her business, as she can often be found sharing her giant heart with those in need in Medicine Hat and area. Brenda uses her skills not only as a form of personal healing but also as a bridge to connect with others. Through her work in various nonprofit organizations in Medicine Hat, and as the founder of White Horse Rider Co., Brenda actively engages the community in crafting and storytelling, fostering conversations about healing and reconciliation.
Matt Peterson
Director
Committee Member: Leadership Development
Matt was born and raised here in Medicine Hat and has lived here the majority of his life. He is in his 28th year with Moxie's and has the seen the restaurant brand grow from 11 locations to now over 60. He has been the primary operator of the location in Medicine Hat since 2004 and purchased the business from his mentor in 2013. Also having been involved with the Kinsmen for 11 years, he held many executive positions within the club and chaired/ co-chaired club projects including the Home Lotto in 2015. Over the years, he has also supported the community through his business. In particular, they have directly supported the Santa Claus Fund and the Root Cellar through events and fundraisers. These types of roles and involvement have allowed Matt to make many connections within the community.
Rebecca Lydon
Director
Committee Member: Downtown Collective
Rebecca was born and raised in England and earned a Psychology degree at Southampton University. Following several years living and working in Berlin, she moved back to Ireland. She emigrated to Medicine Hat in 2013 with her husband and 3 children. She has been with Scotiabank since 2014, and is currently the Branch Manager at the 3rd Street branch.
Rebecca found a wonderful home in Medicine Hat and she is happy to have the opportunity to give back to such a welcoming community. She looks forward to doing her part to help support the interests of local businesses.
Richard Munro
Director
Committee Member: Community Connections, Sport & Event Council
Richard has called Medicine Hat his home for around 35 years total, and for 30 years he has been in the IT business with his extensive knowledge in everything computer and tech-related. Now that his three kids are all grown up, he is ready to fully dive into contributing to his community and small business development. Previously, he's been a mentor with the Saamis Immigration Mentorship Program helping new people to Medicine Hat find work in their related field. He's deeply committed to our community's growth and prosperity, ready to advocate for local businesses and foster collaboration.
Steve Heid
Past President
Committee Member: Executive, Leadership Development (Chair), Urban Development Industry
Steve was born and raised in Medicine Hat and has a love for our city and its development. With over 25 years experience in the building and construction industry and now, as the owner of Lacey Homes, Steve understands the importance of future growth and the strength of our business community. He looks forward to his term with the Chamber and his opportunity to give back to our community, while learning more about other local industries and our business community.
Community Builder Members
Axiom Asbestos Corp.
City of MH Co-op Place
