BRUNO — Susan Wehage has moved up from small business specialist to chief executive officer for Community Futures Sagehill.
As the CEO she is responsible for handling the daily operations, making sure contractual obligations are met, as well as managing the programs and services.
“It was an easy transition for me and also the next step. It was natural,” Wehage said.
“I know the corporation and the clients very well.”
She was in the previous role for 29 years – a little over half her life.
Wehage said her experience with the corporation has made her familiar with the governance as well as the programs and services.
“I’m bringing to the role, of course, my passion for small business and rural communities having grown up in the area — living in small towns. I want to help grow communities one idea at a time and getting the Sagehill name out there throughout our region, and building relationships.”
As the small business specialist she was responsible for providing loans, advice and support to small businesses and community groups.
Outside of her work with Sagehill, she runs a business in Middle Lake with her husband called “Kevin’s Electric.”
“My dad was self-employed, so I grew up being around self-employment. So it’s just a very natural fit for me,” she said. “My dad was a contractor for Canada Post, so he delivered mail into the rural areas for over 35 years.”
Wehage said it isn’t often a person can say their personal goals meet the business’ corporate objectives, and she feels that with Sagehill.
“It’s working with entrepreneurs, it’s expanding with small businesses, helping communities. I keep using that tagline that we have because it’s a fantastic tagline – it’s growing communities one idea at a time. It can be not just with small business, communities can have ideas as well. Helping to promote those businesses, helping [to] promote those communities.”
