THUNDER BAY, ON - June 10,2008 - …Brian Babcock, Chair of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, congratulates Ian McCormack on his recent appointment to the board of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC).  “The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce has been served well during the past five years with Eric Long as our Northern representative. After Eric’s term was over, we were very fortunate to again have representation from this area to serve on the Ontario Chamber of Commerce”, stated Babcock.     

Ian has been active with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce for over 14 years.  He served as a member of the board of directors for six years and Chair of the Board in 2004.  He is currently an advisor to the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce and has contributed to numerous municipal, provincial, and federal government advocacy efforts. Ian served as Chair of the Northwestern Ontario Forest Council and Northwest Forest Network, and as a member of Ontario’s Living Legacy Trust Value-Added Committee and Quetico Centre’s board of directors. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Thunder Bay International Airport Authority and the Energy/Mines Task Force of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association. He also served the Ontario Chamber of Commerce as a member of its Education and Training Committee, and as a member of the forest products resolution-working group. 

Ian is a senior shareholder of Wardrop Engineering Inc., general manager of its Thunder Bay operations, and serves on the company’s corporate management team.  Wardrop is a 1200-person multi-disciplined consulting firm with offices located in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company has more than quadrupled in size since 1998 and worldwide activities have included projects in over 50 countries. Wardrop has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers seven times and was recently named one of Canada’s Best Employers for New Canadians. 

Ian obtained an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from Lakehead University. As a Registered Professional Forester, he has worked in the forest products and consulting industries for 26 years. It was his successful experience in operational leadership, government relations, business development and partnership facilitation, which led to his joining Wardrop Engineering.

Ian was born and raised in Northern Ontario and has lived in ten communities from North Bay to Kenora. His business and life experience will bring a “pan northern” perspective to the OCC board.

The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce is the “Voice of Business” for over 1100 member businesses in Thunder Bay and region.