New Chamber CEO jumps from the pandemic into the fire

Cathy Dobson About 4% of small businesses in Sarnia-Lambton don’t expect to survive the pandemic, according to a new survey conducted by local business organizations.

Cathy Dobson

About 4% of small businesses in Sarnia-Lambton don’t expect to survive the pandemic, according to a new survey conducted by local business organizations.

The hospitality sector is the hardest hit by far, says Allan Calvert, new CEO of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce.

“The majority of businesses are wading through this,” he told an online news conference held to announce his hiring.

“Many are still looking for rent support and some have fallen through the cracks and are going to need some hand-holding,” he said.

“A small minority are closing and are not going to reopen.”

The Chamber, in collaboration with the Economic Task Force, Workforce Development Board and other groups, surveyed 292 local businesses in late May and found the tourism sector struggling the most.

It’s interesting to see how adaptive local businesses have become, said Calvert, noting that becoming CEO of an organization devoted to the wellbeing of local business has unique challenges in the middle of a pandemic.

“There is no playbook for this,” he said.  “A good many of our members are making it work … but it’s definitely not business as usual.”

He pointed to the wide variety of local restaurants that have introduced curbside pickup during the lockdown.

“You’ll find that a good number of them are succeeding quite well … we’re not in this for profit, we’re in this for financial survival, to get cash flow to offset your expenses, and people are doing a good job,” Calvert said.

He said his goal is to add to the Chamber’s 650 members and assist them over the hurdle presented by COVID-19, whether that’s in marketing, accessing government programs, or more networking.

Calvert was hired from a pool of 150 applicants to replace former Chamber CEO Shirley de Silva, who resigned in March.

While he most recently worked for 18 years in London’s luxury car market, Calvert has previous work experience in Sarnia and moved here from Hamilton in 1984 to assist with management of the former Drawbridge Inn, now Insignia Hotel.

He’s lived in Sarnia the past 36 years.

“I feel I owe this area a lot. It’s been extremely good to me personally, my family, our friends, the network of people we have here in this community,” he said.

“I’ve got a skillset that can support these people, especially given the times that we’re in now.”

Calvert said he was laid off as sales manager and brand ambassador with LEXUS of London when the pandemic closed all non-essential business in March.

After a few weeks at home, friends in Sarnia told him the Chamber was hiring.

With no idea how long the layoff would last, Calvert “jumped” at the opportunity, he said.

“Not to harp on the negative, but this is a challenge,” he said.  “We can only get through this together and we will get through this together, for sure.”