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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Stake in the Ground Award

winner / P2

• • •City retains expanding business / P5

• • •Schools to balance

enrollment / P6

Sharon McMahon, longtime Noblesville Chamber of Commerce president, announces retirement / P7

7January 21, 2014Current in Noblesville

www.currentnoblesville.com

“Sharon has been a dedicated leader in Nobles-ville. Her leadership at the helm of the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce for the past 13 years has contributed to the growth of the Noblesville busi-ness landscape and she was a devoted advocate to and for the chamber members.”

Judi Johnson, City of Noblesville economic development director

In their own words

“Sharon McMahon has been the voice and face of the Noblesville Chamber ever since I’ve been involved with the chamber. Her contribution to the City of Noblesville during the past 13 years has been greatly appreciated, and she will be missed.”

Sydney Loomis, The Farmers Bank assistant vice president

“We know Sharon has dedicated herself and her time to the chamber for many years. Not only has she been the face of the chamber; she has been its heart and soul. Because of her dedication and many accomplishments, we regret her leaving. Because we know her dedication to her family and the joy she derives from her many outside activities, we celebrate her opportunity to embark on this next leg of her journey and we thank Sha-ron for all she has done for us individually and corporately, and we wish her the best.”

John Paris Noblesville Chamber board chairman

“Sharon has had a big impact on not only the Chamber of Commerce, but also the entire Nobles-ville community. I appreciate the partnership she has fostered with the city and wish her well in her retirement.”

Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear

“Obviously I’m sad she’s leaving, but I’m thrilled for her that she will have some well-deserved time for herself and her grandkids. I’ll miss her. She’s been a mentor and a friend. I’ve looked up to her over the years. She’s a part of the community.”

Mary Noble, Chamber of Commerce director of business development

COMMUNITY

Meet Sharon McMahonAge: 64Hometown/residence: NoblesvilleFamily: Husband, Bruce; three adult children and four grandsonsHobbies: McMahon is a certified fitness instructor and enjoys genealogy research and traveling.Her favorite thing about Noblesville is its people. “The people here are unique. They’re in a very fast-paced world, but the people I know, I encounter in Noblesville, are very caring and supportive of their community.”Quote: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” - Oscar Wilde

Sharon McMahon, longtime Noblesville Chamber of Commerce president, announces retirement

Her business imprintCOvEr STOrY

By Robert Herrington • robert@youarecurrent.com

When Sharon McMahon took over as Nobles-ville Chamber of Commerce president in 2001,

the office was at 54 S. Ninth St. – the site of the former G.C. Murphy five-

and-dime store. McMahon, 64, remembers the store and its huge candy counter from when she was a little girl.

“I used to beg for candy,” she said, adding that her favorites were the multicolored bon-bons. “I walked in the door my first day (as pres-ident) and my office was only steps from the candy counter where I used to ogle the bonbons when I was 5 years old. It was a very warm and comforting feeling at the same time.”

Since then, McMahon has overseen the city’s chamber through peaks and valleys in the econ-omy, helped increase the business landscape in Noblesville and moved the offices to 601 E. Con-ner St. in August 2006.

And now, she is leaving. On Jan. 13, McMahon announced her retirement effective Feb. 28.

“The chamber profession is amazing. There are few other professions which give one such a rich and diverse experience of meeting and working with diverse personalities. At the same time, it’s a profession that requires a great deal of oneself. A lot is expected and it really encompasses a great deal of your life and time,” she said.

While her job is “very rewarding and satisfy-ing,” McMahon said her decision to retire allows her to pursue other interests.

“My decision was to focus on other projects and activities and say goodbye to a position that’s meant a lot to me over the years. I’ve gained the respect of the community and busi-ness community. I feel comfortable going on to other things,” she said.

McMahon began her chamber career as the Fishers president in 1994. Prior to that, she worked in nonprofit management for 30 years.

“I was familiar with being a director of a non-profit,” she said. “At that time there were only 8,000 people in Fishers and 100 members of the chamber. It was an exciting opportunity.”

After seven years in Fishers, McMahon took over the Noblesville chamber in 2001.

“Noblesville is my town,” she said. “I person-ally have such an affinity to how important

the business community is to the health of a community.”

When she began, McMahon said the city had just created its economic development depart-ment (most development was drawn through the Hamilton County Alliance) and the chamber was more involved in tourism.

“We’re in a very rapidly changing economic environment. When I started, people were still faxing. People were just starting to use e-mail on a regular basis,” she said. “We didn’t have development at Corporate Campus, Ind. 37 or 146th Street. Our boundaries have changed and grown.”

Constant changeChange has been constant in business and

the chamber’s history. During her time, the or-ganization has launched its successful “Lunch and Learn” series, grown its young professionals group and created the annual Taste of Business.

“Eighty businesses come together to meet each other and see what the other businesses do, make eye-to-eye connections and form busi-ness relationships,” McMahon said. “It’s also a place for the public in an hour-and-a-half to two hours to visit 80 businesses. It’s a win-win in so

many respects and it continues to grow.”McMahon said she won’t mind not having

early morning meetings – although she is a self-described morning person – but will miss “the interaction with chamber members on a regular basis.” During her tenure, the chamber’s 75th anniversary gala in 2010 stands out as one of McMahon’s favorite memories.

“It was such a milestone,” she said. “I heard from so many chamber directors from across the country. It was something I will never forget. The event and the turnout of people were amaz-ing, as was knowing how much the community appreciated the chamber.”

Search committee nextMcMahon said her position will be posted on

the Indiana Chamber Executives Association Website and Chamber Board Chairman John Paris will name a search committee.

“The chamber’s board of directors and staff will continue to provide excellent leadership for our many chamber business members from Noblesville and throughout Hamilton County,” she said. “The Noblesville chamber has served our community since 1935 will continue to be the voice of business in Noblesville.”

For the past 13 years, Sharon McMahon has been in the middle of all Noblesville Chamber of Commerce activities, like presenting plaques to Kevin Buchheit with Krieg DeVault LLP (left) or hosting special events such as the annual golf outing (right). (Submitted photos)