Guest Speaker Kathie Heyman joined Albury Northside as Business Manager in February 2014 and was an enthusiastic guest speaker at the meeting supported by Carrick Gill-Vallance, who is well known to the club as a previous guest speaker. Her previous experience includes over 12 years with the chamber movement in the Hunter Region, owner/operator of a small franchise business, client/customer service, business management and consultancy.  Kathie has experience in Strategy, Planning, Economic Development, Project Management, Marketing, Event Management and Grant Writing  … just some of her skills !  At its February meeting Chamber members stated that one of their major challenges for 2014 was finding and retaining skilled staff. With an ageing population, new skill requirements and brain drain to the cities businesses in the Albury region are struggling to attract younger staff and keep staff overall. The Chamber has been working with NSW Business as part of its Advisory Council to start the conversation in regards to training, skill development, staff attraction and retention. In the March 2014 NSW Business Chamber Business Conditions Report its shows regional businesses are struggling. Northside Chamber has 400 individual members supported by 60 business members. Future goals are to grow the business member base, increase assistance and communication with all members, continue to embrace and expand digital IT technology, support home-based businesses and non-profit organisations. Kathie mentioned that Northside worked in conjunction with Albury Central and Wodonga Chamber of Commerce.