Prince Rupert, BC – “Business is great, because it’s not rigid and it can be utilized in a thousand different ways,” says Coast Mountain College alumnus Roman Brochu. “It’s only limited by your own creativity.”
Roman is Ts’msyen from the Metlakatla First Nation and belongs to the Laxsgiik (Eagle) Clan. He is also French on his paternal side. Born and raised in Prince Rupert, he now serves as the Executive Director of the Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce.
Since receiving his diploma in Business Administration at CMTN, Roman has tried many different careers in the business realm, including serving as the regional business liaison for Tricorp, consulting, writing grants, and finally assuming his current position with the Chamber of Commerce in January 2023.
“[In my current position], I have to wear a lot of different hats. I’m the Executive Director, but I also do all the operations, budget, and finances. I’m also the marketing manager, the event planner, and the administrator,” says Roman. “I personally love that I have so much to do, and I’m allowed to be as creative as I want to make things happen.”
Roman says his favourite parts of the job are meeting new people and building relationships and partnerships with members of the business community.
“It always feels nice to give back to your community in a meaningful way,” he adds.
In his spare time, Roman enjoys reading, writing, playing video games, and practising mixed martial arts (MMA) including wrestling, jiu jitsu, and Muay Thai. He is also working on writing a book.
Roman says he’s been lucky to have a few great mentors in his life, including his grandfather and Kelly McMahon, his MMA coach.
“[My grandfather] took me in when I was 10, and he helped raise me to be the person I am today. He taught me about respect and always made sure I’d have food in my stomach and a roof over my head,” he says.
“[Kelly] used to sit with me and talk after class. He always talked about how mixed martial arts and martial arts in general killed the ego. He also taught me how your ego holds you back in life, and sometimes you have to get out of your own way to make things happen.”
Although Roman is very busy in his current position with the Chamber of Commerce, he has big plans to give back to the Metlakatla Nation for helping him with the funding to gain his Business Administration diploma.
“I’m extremely grateful for the post-secondary education program,” he says. “Because of that program, I’ve been able to pursue opportunities that I never thought I would have been able to.”
When asked what he would say to young people considering business as an education pathway, Roman says they should go for it.
“You can take a job that pays well and you can move up the corporate ladder, or you can own your own business and see where that takes you. It’s really multi-faceted and you can do so much with it,” he says.
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Media contact
Heather Bastin
Executive Director, External Relations
hbastin@coastmountaincollege.ca