About

CONNECT | INFORM | SUPPORT | PROMOTE | REPRESENT

The diverse management team melds a variety of backgrounds, and are committed to delivering services around the vision of being the ‘Independent Voice of Wangaratta Business’. Services to the membership will include activities relating to the following concepts:

Key Business Wangaratta Initiatives

Business Awards for Excellence, which is awarded each November. These awards highlight the extraordinary efforts of local individuals and businesses in an annual celebration of local talents from a plethora of fields.

With particular attention in congratulating Small Business, Medium to Large Business, Hospitality Business, Manufacturing and Agriculture, Trade and Trade Services, Tourism, Accommodation, Personal Care and Health, Commercial and Professional Services, New Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Workforce Development, Environmental and Sustainable Business Practice and, of course, the People’s Choice.

Members Business Directory, this is a key member benefit, enabling all business to promote their products and services and to actively link to their business website and Social Media activity. Business Wangaratta is committed to assisting our members to maximise the value of the Web and Social Media to their business and will be conducting workshops through 2021 to further this commitment.

Committee

President

David Fuller

Councillor Dave Fuller was first elected to Council in 2016 and was re-elected to the City Ward in 2020. Currently the President of Business Wangaratta and committee member of a number of local Wangaratta organisations.

Treasurer

Ken Clarke

Have lived in Wangaratta since 1975, coming to manage the Wangaratta Credit Union (now WAW) on a 3 year contract. Was at the Credit Union for 7 years and for the next 20 years ran my own accountancy practice. Have had 13 years as a councillor in Wangaratta and served as Mayor for 4 of those years. Was awarded an OAM for “Service to the Community” in the 2011 Queens Birthday Honours. Have 6 children to my first wife who passed away in 2004. I married again in March 2021. 2021 sees me gain 50 years membership of CPA Australia. I am a Life member of Jubilee Golf Club, Centre for Continuing Education and Central Access (Now Yoralla)

Board Member / Life Member

Patti Stafford

Born in Wangaratta. Educated at Wangaratta High School.
Married with 3children, 9 grandchildren & 10 great grandchildren.
After leaving school till retirement had secretarial, bookkeeping and sales occupations.
Husband Lewis & myself purchased the general Engineering business “J.A.Cox Engineering”. After selling factory Managed a Motel for 18months.

Community:
Yarrunga Mothers club 15 years.
Parents Association Greta Road Technical School 3 years.
Netball Association 13 years. Little athletics. 5years.

1986 Joined the Wangaratta Chamber of Commerce and held portfolios of President 2 years, Secretary/treasurer. In 1996 – 1998 while secretary/treasurer held the Chamber office in our factory office. Involved in many promotions the largest being “House & Land”. Portfolio “Light up your Christmas” 20 years.
Present, coordinates successful monthly networking “Business after Hours”.
Made a life member of Wangaratta Chamber of Commerce in 2001.

Currently Honoury Member of Appin Park Wangaratta Rotary club.
Awarded Paul Harris Fellow in 1998

2010 Wangaratta Citizen of the Year Awardee.

Charter member Inner Wheel Club of Wangaratta 26years Portfolios of President,
Secretary 4 years, currently eight (8) years catering, coordinating V.C.A.L. Students, public and Inner Wheel members cooking twice monthly meals for care-van.

Inner Wheel District A61 served as District Chairman 2007/2008, membership portfolio commencing three new clubs.

Inner Wheel Australia 2009 National conference coordinator, 5 day conference bringing 585 delegates to Wangaratta from all over Australia, New Zealand and International Inner Wheel President from England.

2017 International Inner Wheel Honored by being and receiving 200th world Margarette Golding Awardee.

Currently Inner Wheel Australia 2021 National. Conference coordinator to bring 400 plus delegates for 5 day conference to Wangaratta from throughout Australia.

Board Member

John Houghton

John commenced his Insurance career in Shepparton in 70’s with New Zealand Victoria Insurance, and then moving to Wangaratta in the mid 80’s representing Australian Eagle Insurance. In 1993 John migrated to QBE Insurance when they purchased Australian Eagle Insurance, as the Area Manager. In 2003 John purchased a Franchise of QBE Farmgate which was then sold to Elders Insurance and now owns the Elders Insurance Wangaratta franchise. John has four employees who have been with him for a considerable time. John holds a Diploma of Financial Services, Senior Associate, Certified Insurance Practitioner (CIP) with over 44 years experience in the industry.

John Houghton joined Wangaratta Lions Club in 2010. John enjoys his time with Lions assisting the community through many different avenues. Currently holds various positions, Club catering coordinator and the club Insurance portfolio. Together with wife Jennefer are also heavily involved with foster caring.

John also is involved in other facets of the community through his involvement with the Wangaratta Carevan, who feed meals to the homeless and needy three times a week, and the Avian Park Committee, which governs the operations of the local Trotting and Greyhound area.

Board Member

Carol Pinney

I am a wife, Mother and Nanny and have been an employment specialist in the North East for over 15 years. This is my 2nd term as a board member and I am very passionate about this Region. As I have a business relationship with a lot of different types of employers in town, I understand the needs and wants of our business community and take pride in the fact that I can be a voice for them. I look forward to serving this year with fellow board members to assist and advocate for the businesses in our community.