After almost 10 years at the helm, Jackie Groundsell will be stepping down as chair of the Beckenham Business Association at the end of December.
Joining Jackie in departing the BBA leadership team are executive officer, Marsha Berg, and treasurer, Paul Bailey.
The new leadership team will be led by incoming chair, Jane Rogers, who runs her own successful PR firm. She will be joined by Elizabeth Wakeling of Beckenham College (Treasurer), local web designer Colin Hughes (Secretary), and PR, marketing and media relations specialist, Carol Ann Walters (Team Support).
Incoming chair, Jane Rogers, told News in Beckenham: “We’d like to say a big thank you to Jackie, Marsha and Paul for their leadership of Beckenham Business Association over the last 10 years. They have put BBA on the map for supporting local businesses and, among other things, introduced the annual Beckenham Business Day.
“I am really excited to be part of the new team taking BBA forward into 2021. This year has been particularly tough for small businesses, so we want to help and support them as best we can. We have some exciting plans for growing BBA membership and for holding online events, and physical events once it is safe to do so again.”
Outgoing chair, Jackie Groundsell, added: “As a Beckenham resident and business owner it’s been an absolute pleasure to see Beckenham businesses and Beckenham town flourish during that time.
“We’ve met amazing business owners whilst running regular networking events, training sessions, annual conferences, Dog Shows, Christmas Parades and much more. Whilst focused on supporting Beckenham businesses, BBA is very much a community organisation; working with local residents’ associations and local councillors to the greater good of the town.”
The BBA, which is an independent non-political, voluntary organisation headed by local businesses, gave the departing trio a heartfelt farewell via a special Christmas cocktail party over Zoom.
News in Beckenham would like to take the opportunity to say a personal thank you to Jackie Groundsell for her many years of service, during which time she was always supportive, kind and generous.
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