Sharon Mohagen has been sworn in as president of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce.
She and the new first vice-president Rory Anderson were sworn in to their one-year terms at Tuesday's President's Banquet at the Western Development Museum, with Mayor Ian Hamilton conducting the oath of office.
Mohagen, whose business is Blue Rentals on 100th Street in North Battleford, takes over the president's role from Pat Smith of Battlefords and District Co-op. Smith will stay on the Chamber board as past-president.
As part of the ceremonies, Smith repeated the "passing of the gavel" that had taken place just the week before at the Chamber's annual meeting, where Mohagen was officially elected as president by the board.
The new president looks forward to an active year at the Chamber, coinciding with the North Battleford centennial celebrations.
One of the biggest events that the Battlefords Chamber will be involved with this year is the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce convention that will be hosted in here in May. That event is usually staged in Saskatoon or Regina, but is being staged in North Battleford this year in conjunction with the city's centennial.
"We're looking forward to hosting the convention," said Mohagen.
"We're really excited about that, and it will be very good for the Chamber, for our businesses. Hopefully we can showcase what we have here in the Battlefords."
Mohagen also looks forward to another major event later in the year as the Battlefords Chamber hosts its first Best Business trade show in October. That will spotlight businesses in the Battlefords and area.
As for initiatives the new president hopes to pursue with the Chamber this year, Mohagen says she wants to focus this year on helping entrepreneurs, particularly young entrepreneurs.
"We as a Chamber want to be there for that business owner that's about to be a business owner or for the business owner that's about to be in business for themselves."
She also told reporters the Chamber is hoping to implement a mentorship program to mentor an entrepreneur starting out.
Mohagen paid tribute to the work of outgoing president Smith in assuming her new position.
"I've got some very big shoes to fill," said Mohagen. "It's going to be a challenge, but it'll be a great challenge, a wonderful challenge to participate in."
The annual event had its share of highlights including guest speaker Kendal Netmaker of Neechie Gear, a successful young entrepreneur from Sweetgrass First Nation.
His business is a clothing company that focuses on young athletes and sports. His store location at the Centre Mall in Saskatoon has proven so successful \ he told the audience Tuesday Neechie Gear has expanded to a second location in Prince Albert.
The Battlefords Chamber also took an opportunity that night to pay tribute to its departing directors. Also acknowledge for her work was Executive Director Linda Machniak.
Chamber past president Heath Gabruch - who recently retired from the board of directors after 12 years of service - presented a gift to Machniak at the podium in recognition of the award she received at last fall's national Chamber of Commerce Gala Banquet as Executive of the Year for a population base less than 100,000.
