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Independence, MO —
One of the first jobs is listening, Kim Kimbrough says.
Kimbrough was introduced Wednesday as the new president and CEO of the Independence Chamber of Commerce. He comes here from Pensacola, Fla., where he’s the executive director of the Downtown Improvement Board.
When he starts the new job Oct. 8, he said, he doesn’t plan immediate or dramatic changes but instead plans to listen to community leaders, including the chamber board, and form a clear idea of the chamber’s – and the community’s – successes to date as well as opportunities that might lie ahead.
“I’m a big believer in research,” he said. “I’m a big believer in understanding what’s happening and why.”
Kimbrough has worked for what he called community-betterment groups – chambers of commerce, economic development councils, community improvement districts – for 25 years, in St. Louis; Portland, Ore.; Jackson, Miss.; and Roanoke, Va. He’s been in Pensacola for the last eight years.
“My responsibility really was in reviving downtown and the close-in neighborhoods,” he said. The downtown area has added about 140 businesses and residents in the last few years.
Although the chamber board has not yet given him a list of specific goals, he did say higher membership will be a priority – and said the chamber needs to provide valuable services for its members.
“There are multiple levels of benefit that members get from chambers,” he said.
He stressed the long-term value of being active in the chamber.
“We want members and participation,” he said.
Kimbrough, an Alabama native, has degrees from the University of South Alabama and the University of Mississippi but also deep family ties to Auburn University.
“Quite frankly, I don’t think he would have taken the job had the Missouri Tigers not joined the SEC,” chamber board Chairman Brad Constance quipped as he introduced Kimbrough at Wednesday’s monthly chamber luncheon.
Kimbrough said he and his wife are eager to get back to the Midwest, which he described as a place of genuine people who value hard work.
“This is the right location,” he said of Independence. “It’s (in) a big city, yet it’s its own city.”
Kimbrough replaces Rick Hemmingsen, who left at the beginning of the year after 20 years as the chamber’s president and CEO. Constance praised Teresa Freeland, vice president of special operations, for serving as interim president.
“She has done a masterful job for the last eight months, under difficult and trying circumstances at times,” he said.
Constance also said the chamber has much to do.
“There are many exciting things happening in Independence right now,” he said, “and this chamber is committed to making this city a great place to live, work and play.”
One of the first jobs is listening, Kim Kimbrough says.
Kimbrough was introduced Wednesday as the new president and CEO of the Independence Chamber of Commerce. He comes here from Pensacola, Fla., where he’s the executive director of the Downtown Improvement Board.
When he starts the new job Oct. 8, he said, he doesn’t plan immediate or dramatic changes but instead plans to listen to community leaders, including the chamber board, and form a clear idea of the chamber’s – and the community’s – successes to date as well as opportunities that might lie ahead.
“I’m a big believer in research,” he said. “I’m a big believer in understanding what’s happening and why.”
Kimbrough has worked for what he called community-betterment groups – chambers of commerce, economic development councils, community improvement districts – for 25 years, in St. Louis; Portland, Ore.; Jackson, Miss.; and Roanoke, Va. He’s been in Pensacola for the last eight years.
“My responsibility really was in reviving downtown and the close-in neighborhoods,” he said. The downtown area has added about 140 businesses and residents in the last few years.
Although the chamber board has not yet given him a list of specific goals, he did say higher membership will be a priority – and said the chamber needs to provide valuable services for its members.
“There are multiple levels of benefit that members get from chambers,” he said.
He stressed the long-term value of being active in the chamber.
“We want members and participation,” he said.
Kimbrough, an Alabama native, has degrees from the University of South Alabama and the University of Mississippi but also deep family ties to Auburn University.
“Quite frankly, I don’t think he would have taken the job had the Missouri Tigers not joined the SEC,” chamber board Chairman Brad Constance quipped as he introduced Kimbrough at Wednesday’s monthly chamber luncheon.
Kimbrough said he and his wife are eager to get back to the Midwest, which he described as a place of genuine people who value hard work.
“This is the right location,” he said of Independence. “It’s (in) a big city, yet it’s its own city.”
Kimbrough replaces Rick Hemmingsen, who left at the beginning of the year after 20 years as the chamber’s president and CEO. Constance praised Teresa Freeland, vice president of special operations, for serving as interim president.
“She has done a masterful job for the last eight months, under difficult and trying circumstances at times,” he said.
Constance also said the chamber has much to do.
“There are many exciting things happening in Independence right now,” he said, “and this chamber is committed to making this city a great place to live, work and play.”
