Fierce entrepreneurial spirit with a determination to contribute and see their country grow economical are the driving forces behind Stanley Lint, Lucrecia Lynch- Matinburgh and Solaika Serbony. The three young St. Maarteners are candidates in the upcoming St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry board elections on December 7.
They decided to run in the chamber election after much thought and research about what the Chamber is doing for the community. They found that the growth of many new, young and first time entrepreneurs need more like minded people in the Chamber of Commerce to communicate their needs and explain their challenge.
Lint (40), Lynch- Matinburgh (41) and Serbony (33) firmly believe that together with the existing Chamber of Commerce Board Members they came apply their know-how and experience to increase the Chamber of Commerce’s involvement and impact in the community.
Lint is a candidate for the available "big business" board member post. Lynch- Matinburgh and Serbony are vying for the two small business posts available on the Chamber of Commerce board.
Many businesses see the Chamber of Commerce as a remote agency where they must, by law, be registered. They want to the Chamber of Commerce do more to stimulate trade and commerce. In many societies, a Chamber of Commerce is a driving force in drumming up business contacts and links to help businesses survive in economically challenging times and to carry out sustainable marking and promotion in stable times.
Lint, currently with shipping company STM NV, intends to use his many years of experience in the country’s vital shipping industry to bring forth the country’s strategic position to encourage trade among the islands. This will focus on finding opportunities for local businesses to get cheaper, same quality, own branding of products, easier access, with less red tape from surrounding islands. St Maarten will be the distribution point.
Lint also has knowledge integral to the development of young businesses: business-plan writing, finding dossiers and opening path ways to investors. These are skills he has already put in use and will further amplify for the betterment of business when elected to the Chamber.
He is also a director of SSLINT, an event and promotion company responsible for the award winning Fierce and Furious annual event.
Lynch-Matinburgh’s expertise lies in sales, marketing and knowledge of small business development. She currently serves as Senior Account Manager at St. Maarten Telephone Group of Companies TelEm. She previously worked as Marketing and Communications Manager of Princess Juliana international Airport.
She holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with concentration on management and an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. She is also an instructor of Principles of Business and Small Business/Entrepreneurship for University of St. Martin.
Lynch- Matinburgh sees serving on the chamber board as "a new challenge." A challenge she is eager to take up to help her country and its business growth by using her skills in marketing, trade, training and new opportunities for small business.
Serbony is director of Human Resource at The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa and Managing Director of Total Development Company. She has visibly transformed the human resources structure at The Westin St. Maarten in three years she has been there. Her experiences in the private sector and in the public sector have taught her valuable lessons about improving labour conditions, human resource needs, enhancing customer service and upgrading of small properties.
Serbony sees her skills as necessary for the development of businesses. As a Chamber board member, she will be able pursue avenues and programmes in this same vein to aid the business community.
The three aspiring Chamber of Commerce Board members encourages fellow businesspeople to ensure they are registered to vote in the elections on December 7 and to consider them as the candidates to fill the available positions. Polling station is the Chamber of Commerce office on Cannegieter Street.
For more information, contact Lint on 1-721-520-4942, Lynch- Matinburgh on 1-721-520-3500 or Serbony on 1-721-520-8719.