Derry Passport for Spangler at Chamber Dinner

John Spangler received a top accolade from the Chamber of Commerce CEO Janice Tracey at their 52nd Annual Dinner.  Named as the Chamber’s Person of the Year, John received a standing ovation when accepting his award.

The Dinner was attended by almost 300 Chamber Members and Guests.  Guests included Ministers from North and South, Senior Government Officials, MPs, MLA’s, and all the local stakeholders.

Janice spoke in glowing terms of John’s contribution to the city, the workforce development and last but not least thanked him for his support for the Chamber over the length of his 7 years in the city.

Paying tribute to his leadership skills in Seagate she said:

This year's Person of the year lead his organization through the most turbulent and difficult year many of us remember. Through his innovative and creative leadership they managed to maintain a workforce of 1400 highly skilled people in the local area. In addition his company has increased its Research and Development and will continue to create more employment in the hi-tech, high value added arena that the North-West so badly needs.”

She went on to talk about his dedication to skills development and his contribution to encouraging the young people of our city in developing their career paths:

“He has been a champion of Workforce Development and a key advocate for the improved teaching of Science and Technology in our schools.”

Janice concluded, “Probably most importantly, though a native American he has spent 7 years here and has become more Derry than Derry itself. During the year he even married a Derry woman and our thanks go to Catherine for helping us keep him here.  A true ambassador for our City, he has truly earned his Derry Passport.”

The Chamber Dinner had as its focus this year what the President, Jim Sammon, called, “Derry’s USP – out Youth”   Featuring for the first time a “Student Address”, Aoife Monaghan from Thornhill College gave an inspiring and thought provoking commentary on what she and her peers wanted to see the city fathers and mothers work towards.  

However the Keynote address by Professor David Chiddick sparked most interest.  On the day of the launch of the U4D vision for University provision in the city, the reports author, Professor Chiddick spoke about the enormous potential the city has and the massive contribution an expanded university could have to the economy of the NW region.

 Jim Sammon said of the address, 

“Professor Chiddick has given us a glimpse of what could be.  This vision has the potential to deliver what we all want, what Aoife said so simply,  ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if someone in Manchester was standing up and saying that they are going to study in Derry because it is the recognised centre of excellence in their chosen career?’”

Jim went on, “Students look at the whole package when choosing where to go to study, the University and the City.  If we want them to come here and stay here we need to make sure our University is offering what they want and our City is delivering the rest of the package – real and meaningful partnership can deliver that.”