Meet The Team
Sam Whittaker
Chair
(Dust Til Dawn Cleaning Solutions Ltd)
Sam Whittaker is the Chair of Wincanton Chamber and owns and runs Dust Til Dawn Cleaning Solutions, a business she set up back in 2009. Dust Til Dawn (DTD) provides both reliable domestic and commercial cleaning with eco-friendly environmental solutions.
With over 28 years of collective experience, DTD proudly delivers cleaning services to Yeovil, South Somerset and North Dorset, with the care and expertise only time-tested professionals can provide – transforming spaces from dusk till dawn!
Sam joined the Chamber to network with local businesses and get involved with the committee in supporting and encouraging new starters and established businesses in the area.
Sam has been a member of the Wincanton Chamber of Commerce since 2022.
Karen Wolf MAAT
Treasurer
(Organise My Books)
Karen is a licenced, qualified Accountant, Book keeper and Small Business Advisor and has been running her own business Organise My Books since 2011. Along with over 25 years in office management and administration in a charity, small companies and retail industries and looking after a diverse range of clients, she has a wealth of experience in many different industries. In amongst all this, she managed to be a ‘stay at home’ mum and work part time whilst bringing up her children and managing the household finances, something she believes put her in good stead for being an accountant and business advisor for small businesses.
Karen is also a qualified First Aider and has been Treasurer for the Wincanton Chamber for over 8 years now. She has also volunteered as a treasurer for other local charities and PTA’s over the years and has been involved in the running and organising of many Chamber events as well as PTA fairs when her children were at primary school.
In her spare time, she is enjoys spending time walking her Great Danes, and also sewing and crafting, adding baking to her interests since lockdown!
Sarah Hickling
Social Media Secretary
(Your Time Coaching Ltd)
Sarah’s background is in retail and has undertaken a variety of roles including store management right through to UK & ROI Trading and Communications Manager at Clarks International.
She set up Your Time Coaching back in 2016 as she loves helping others through coaching and counselling. Whether it is supporting someone in taking a new career direction or supporting someone along the way in their own business. She supports individuals in a structured way to get their work/life balance to where they want it to be. Or it can be holding the safe space when someone needs a counsellor.
Sarah joined the Wincanton Chamber Committee team as she really wanted to support the town and offer her services to local businesses.
Rachel Woods MSc
Strategy Expert
(Coach in Nature Ltd)
Rachel has lived in Wincanton for at least half of her adult life and in the Westcountry for most of it. She left a 16 year career in Strategic HR and People Leadership to start Coach in Nature Ltd and Rachel Woods Coaching in April 2020 to coach and train business professionals taking the step from operational to leadership. Sometimes she takes them out walking at the same time. She also provides mentoring and supervision to professional coaches to support ongoing development and best practice.
Since 2020 she has joined the Chamber committee, created a leadership podcast, been published in a professional anthology, spoken with MOD groups and university forums about the evolution of human leadership, taken countless learners through a L7 leadership and management apprenticeship and is now writing a book on the benefits of executive coaching and coach supervision in nature.
You’ll regularly find Rachel out with her dogs, appreciating the wonderful green spaces that surround our lovely town or curled up at home with a good book and a decent coffee.
Richard Wakely
Event Co-ordinator
(A.J Wakely & Sons)
A.J. Wakely & Sons is a family-run business that has been providing an independent funeral director service to the bereaved since 1897. For four generations the Wakely family has had a strong presence in the local community and has provided a personal, sensitive and caring service upon which our company’s reputation has steadily grown.
Richard has worked in hospitality and construction before adventuring off on his travels. They took him to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The latter was where he spent 3 years of his life developing implementing after school, sports and outreach programs for Mercy in Action. He then entered the family business 6 years ago and has steadily grown into his role as a funeral director looking after the offices in Wincanton and Sherborne. “It is such a privilege to support and guide those families who entrust us to look after their loved one’s funeral service”.
His hobbies are Faith, family and sport.
Helen Hermanstein Smith
Vice Chair
(Acorn House Bakery)
Helen has been baking since 2008 and owns and runs Acorn House Bakery (AHB), a home-based business in Wincanton, Somerset, specialising in treat boxes, cakes, desserts and baked goods for special occasions, in addition to artisan jams, chutneys and award-winning marmalades.
Great care is taken wherever possible to source the finest ingredients using local produce. AHB also caters for diabetics, dairy free, gluten free, vegan and those with specific dietary requirements. Designs include printed images on cookies and cakes. Many of Helen’s seasonal baked goods can be purchased locally at Cole’s Yard Wincanton.
Helen trained in cake decorating, chocolate making and patisserie at Westminster Kingsway Catering College and Le Cordon Blue School in London.
In addition to running AHB, Helen is a retired Magistrate, with over 25 years of experience, sitting on both the North London and Wiltshire Benches. Helen has also served as a Councillor on the Wincanton Town Council. Helen is also currently a board member of the Balsam Centre (Wincanton Community Venture), joining them in November 2015.
Helen has been a member of the Wincanton Chamber of Commerce since 2017.