Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce Team
Executive Director - Sarah Freeman (she/her)
Contact Sarah: ed@bowvalleychamber.com
Sarah Freeman is the Executive Director of the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce, where she works alongside businesses, community partners, municipalities, and industry leaders to strengthen the Bow Valley’s business community through collaboration, advocacy, and meaningful connection.
Sarah is passionate about creating opportunities that help businesses thrive. She leads initiatives with the team including the Women in Business series, the Summit Table peer-to-peer mentorship program, and Buy it in the Bow, encouraging residents and visitors to support local businesses while strengthening the region’s economy.
Advocacy is an important and growing focus of Sarah’s work. Through the Resort Chamber of Commerce Coalition (RCCC) and relationships across municipal, provincial, and national networks, she helps bring forward the priorities of Bow Valley businesses while contributing to conversations that support the long-term success of resort communities.
In 2024, Sarah was honoured as Alberta’s Executive Director of the Year, recognizing her leadership, collaboration, and commitment to community impact.
Sarah also serves on the Board of Directors for YWCA Banff and is Chair of the Higher Ground Committee, supporting initiatives that advance equity, leadership, and community wellbeing throughout the Bow Valley.
Outside of the Chamber, Sarah is the founder of Sarah Freeman Coaching, where she has spent more than 15 years coaching and mentoring adult swimmers. As an endurance swimmer, swim coach, and life coach, she combines the discipline of endurance sport with intuitive coaching to help women build confidence, reconnect with themselves, and discover what’s possible both in and out of the water.
Through Swim It Forward, an initiative within her coaching practice, Sarah supports young women who have faced adversity by helping them pursue swim dream.
Across everything she does, Sarah believes that when people feel seen, heard, and supported, they grow, and those ripple effects strengthen businesses, and communities.
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.