The gavel has been passed to Sharon Mohagen as the new president of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce.
Mohagen, of Blue Rentals in North Battleford, had been serving as first vice-president under Pat Smith for the past year. She was elected unanimously by the board Tuesday at the first board meeting of 2012, and Smith presented the gavel to her following the annual meeting later that evening.
Mohagen looks forward to taking over now as president.
"I hope this year is going to be a successful year," said Mohagen, pointing to some of the events planned.
Mohagen said with 2013 being the centennial year in North Battleford with "lots of parties, lots of celebrating," she is looking forward to the challenges the Chamber faces in 2013.
"There's lots of learning curves for all of us, and I look forward to working with all of you."
One challenge for the new president and board will be getting the Chamber's own fiscal house in order. According to the independent auditor's report presented at the annual meeting by chartered accountants Swanson Gryba and Company, the Chamber ended 2012 with a deficit of $18,626.
The Chamber plans to get back to even again by holding more revenue-producing events than they were able to do before. As outgoing president Smith said at the meeting, it was time to "make some money."
One major new event planned is the Best Business Showcase trade show in October, which is seen as a potential revenue generator for the Chamber.
That show would highlight small and large businesses from across the Battlefords and area. The Chamber had hoped to stage the event this past October at the CUPlex field house as a way to open the facility, but it was pushed back a year once it became clear that venue would not be ready in time.
A number of other events are also planned for 2013, according to Executive Director Linda Machniak's report at the annual meeting.
Those include an MLA luncheon with Herb Cox scheduled for Feb. 5, a STARS Air Ambulance presentation later that month, a post-budget breakfast with the provincial finance minister in March, the second-annual State of the City and State of the Town Address slated for April 16 and the biggest event of the Chamber calendar - the hosting of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and Conference on Business, happening in North Battleford May 8 and 9.
Several guest speakers are expected to appear, with Machniak highlighting speaker/trainer Patrick McGaughey, CPF, IOM, of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.
Machniak also confirmed the Chamber plans to return to the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts this fall for the 20th annual edition of the BBEX Awards. Other events are planned for the year as well.
The next event coming up on the Chamber calendar is the upcoming President's Banquet Tuesdayat Western Development Museum. At that time Mohagen will officially be sworn in and introduced as the new president for 2013.
In addition to the passing of the gavel to Mohagen, the composition of the new executive is now in place following election of officers at the regular board of directors meeting Tuesday night.
The executive for 2013 consist of Mohagen as president, Smith as past-president, Rory Anderson as first vice-president, Ryan Moe as second vice-president, Brendon Boothman as yreasurer and Darla Conley as member at large.
The results for the December director elections were also ratified at the meeting. As well, municipal representatives Ryan Bater from North Battleford and Ames Leslie from Battleford were officially appointed to the board of directors for the coming year, serving one-year appointments each.
