My aim during my year as President is to increase membership numbers by increasing membership benefits.
I have been a Chamber member since 2011, on the management group since 2013 and a Vice President in 2015 & 2016. I lead for Chamber on the development of Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID).
A bit of my background - I opened my first opticians practice in Leeds in 1988 and have had 7 practices in North and West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Manchester. In 1997 I opened in Harrogate at the top of James Street. In 1999 I bought out a competitor trading from where Betty’s now have their shop and in 2007 relocated further down Parliament Street. In 2016 I sold my Harrogate practice to Bayfields Opticians and my other practices have now also been sold. I continue to own some commercial property in Harrogate including some holiday apartments.