Roberto Farina is the new president of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce.

He was elected to the post at the chamber’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, June 16.

Farina is an investment advisor with RBC Dominion Securities, working out of the firm’s Willowbrook office. He has been on the board of the chamber for the past eight years.

He succeeds Kevin Staples of Scotiabank, who has served as president for the past year.

First vice-president is Milt Kruger, of On Line Collision. Second vice-president is- Larry Willoughby, of Village Square Properties and Fort Neighbourhood Pub; and secretary-treasurer is Steve Malish of Malish & Clark.

District directors are Langley City – Greg Harkinson, Excel Awards & Engraving; North Langley – Erin Easingwood, Cherrington Easingwood Kearl; South Langley – Denni Bonetti, Aldergrove Credit Union; and Aldergrove – Dean McKim, Otter Co-op.

Directors are Angie Quaale, Well Seasoned Gourmet Foods Inc.; Brian Grosse, Harbour Air Ltd.; Envoy Gary Johnson, The Salvation Army; Jamie Moi, Meridian West Coast Mortgages Inc.; Jim Romeyn, SanderMAX Computer Systems; Kitti Tomik, Joytv 10; Mark DeJong, Total Home Solutions Now and Ted Bowman, Fort Wine Company.

Farina said the board will set the priorities for the coming year at an upcoming retreat. He believes the chamber must continue in its role of advocacy on the part of the business community — a role that is becoming more important with the economic downturn and increasing challenges faced by businesses.

“We have to work every way we can to help out businesses,” he said.

The chamber has frozen its membership fees for this year,. recognizing that many businesses are keeping a close eye on costs as revenue has decreased.

“It was the right decision to make,” Farina said.

“It’s a time when nobody wants an increase.”

He noted that the Langley chamber is one of the larger bodies in B.C. and as such has a lot of clout within the chamber community and the province, giving its members access to decision-makers.