The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has elected Kathy Smith as its first-ever woman president in the organization’s 136-year history.
Smith, the owner of Dynotech Construction Chemicals, was elected alongside 21 new council members last week.
While addressing the media yesterday, Smith expressed gratitude to the council for entrusting her with the position. She acknowledged the significance of being the first woman to hold the role but emphasized that the GCCI has long been committed to promoting women in leadership.
“So, for us, it’s a comfortable something, and we have been working towards ensuring that women are seen and heard in the Chamber,” she stated.
Since joining the GCCI in 2022, Smith has been actively involved in its activities, particularly within the construction sector, where women remain a minority. She served as vice chairperson of the Construction and HSEC Committee, working aggressively to support the industry.
As GCCI president, Smith outlined her vision, focusing on strengthening the capacity of members and championing the growth of women entrepreneurs. One of her major initiatives is the establishment of a Women’s Micro-Business Learning Center at the GCCI building.
“We’re building a women’s micro-business learning centre that will provide the necessary training to ensure that businesses are sustainable and profitable,” she announced. “It does not matter if it’s a micro-business—just a woman doing her thing by herself—or a small firm. The GCCI wants to see our women-owned MSMEs thrive and succeed.”
Smith also emphasized the importance of equipping women with financial literacy, digital marketing, and negotiation skills. She pledged to advocate for incentives such as a points-reward system for women-led businesses with local content certification and a schedule ensuring a percentage of contracts are prioritized for women.
However, she also warned against unethical business practices, particularly those involving foreign companies exploiting local partnerships.
“I’m talking about foreign companies that use partnerships with local firms as a front. Then there are those that force local partners to procure products from their foreign parent companies at inflated prices while also receiving profits. This needs to end. It is unethical and violates the spirit and intent of local content,” Smith asserted.
She assured members that while the role comes with immense responsibility, she would not bear the weight alone, as the Chamber has always fostered a culture of support and collaboration.
“I know that being the first female president of the Chamber means a lot is on my shoulders. But what I’m certain of is that this organization, which has now been doing its work for 136 years, has always been supportive. Each councillor you see around this table and those who have served before are all supporting the presidency through our various committees. So, it won’t be a burden I have to carry alone,” she affirmed.
