Kari Canfield has been chosen as the next president of the Midway Chamber of Commerce in St. Paul, interim President Ted Davis confirmed Thursday.

Canfield-who now serves as director of marketing and communications for Maplewood-based Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest, Inc.-will assume her new position on September 27, at which time Davis will return to his previous position as member of the chamber's board.

Davis took over in late June after then-president Lori Fritts left her position of eight years to become director of government affairs at Maple Grove-based Data Recognition Corporation.

A search committee consisting of board members past and present selected Canfield from a “wonderful pool” of 49 applicants, Davis said, noting that, “Kari really rose to the top.”

One thing that stood out about her is her previous experience as a chamber president, Davis said. Prior to joining Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest, Canfield spent two years as president of the Minocqua Arbor Vitae Woodruff Chamber of Commerce in Minocqua, Wisconsin.

The Midway Chamber of Commerce represents roughly 475 businesses and nonprofits in St. Paul's Midway area.