Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce Team
Executive Director - Sarah Freeman (she/her)
Contact Sarah: ed@bowvalleychamber.com
Sarah Freeman (she/her) has been the part-time Executive Director with Bow Valley Chamber since June 2022. She brings knowledge and hands on experience as an entrepreneur, coach, and leadership development background.
Sarah has her CPCC with Co-Active Training Institute and is a Professionally Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation along with being a Certified NCCP Swim Coach. She has over 9 years of experience working in leadership development. Sarah is also honored to have been a volunteer coach with "Coaching For Everyone" and most recently a volunteer Coach with "Up With Women".
Sarah is also Confidence coach. She empowers people through her wisdom to embody their confidence from the inside out, elevate their confidence, and move through the fears that so often hold us back from activating our desires. Her clients have included and still do, world-renowned technology companies, athletes, step-mums, new coaches becoming certified coaches, managers moving into a Executive director or CEO role, and more. She has been a speaker at "Women In Sport Speakers Series", and "Stepmom Summit" with over 1500 attendees. She is looking forward to many more opportunities to share her voice and wisdom out into the community of the Bow Valley, and to hear the voices of businesses in the Bow Valley.
Sarah is also a passionate swimmer, podcast host, step-mum, wife, and you can catch her on the local radio station Mountain FM doing a monthly segment with the Rob Murray.
Sarah is looking forward to being a big part of the growth, advocacy, and being a voice of the valley for small businesses by collaborating together!
Sarah was honored as the Executive of the Year for 2023 by the Alberta Chamber of Commerce! This prestigious award is a testament to Sarah’s extraordinary leadership and her unwavering commitment to fostering growth and inclusivity in the business community.
PS: Sarah loves to connect and celebrate over a coffee, or stop by your business to learn more about what you are creating or have created in the Bow Valley! She believes in recognizing and highlighting accomplishments no matter how big or small.
Executive Assistant - Jennifer Schmidt (she/her)
Contact Jennifer: askus@bowvalleychamber.com
Jennifer works alongside Sarah to help support Chamber members through coordinating meaningful events and supporting administrative functions. With a passion for fostering joy and connection, she thrives in creating meaningful opportunities for local businesses to engage and build relationships.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism from the University of Alberta, specializing in Recreation Therapy and Human Physiology. Before joining the Chamber, Jennifer spent much of her career as a Recreation Therapist with Alberta Health Services, where she especially enjoyed working in mental health and addictions. This isn’t Jennifer’s first experience with a Chamber of Commerce—her first job was as an events coordinator with the Wetaskiwin Chamber, which sparked her love for event planning.
Beyond her role at the Chamber, Jennifer is a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach and the owner of Ignite Health Coaching and Wellness, where she integrates functional medicine principles with her background in recreation therapy to provide a holistic approach to well-being. She blends physiology and psychology to help runners and triathletes reconnect with their energy and joy. As a workshop facilitator and motivational speaker, she shares insights on mental wellness, motivation, and living in alignment with one’s values.
An avid off-road triathlete, Jennifer finds joy in swimming, mountain biking, and trail running. She also loves a good book, a great cup of tea, and soaking in the stunning views of the Bow Valley. A deep thinker at heart, she values meaningful conversations and the opportunity to make a lasting impact in her community.