BRUNSWICK

The Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber will be getting a new executive director after Memorial Day, with Cory King stepping in for interim director Carolyn Farkas-Noe.

King, 37, is originally from Sidney and graduated from Messalonskee High in 1997. He has a degree in communications from Ithaca College and is married to Beth Chasse-King, who works in Freeport as a veterinary technician. The couple currently lives in Augusta and plan on relocating to the Midcoast later in the year.

King spent nearly a decade as executive director of the Skowhegan Area Chamber of Commerce after previously volunteering at the Mid-Maine Chamber in Waterville.

King is credit with rebuilding, rebranding and bringing SACC back to solvency, creating the River Fest which, along with collaborative partners, became the second largest multi-day event in the Skowhegan area second only to the Skowhegan State Fair.

With partners, King worked on the $65,000 restoration of the Skowhegan Native American sculpture, which was completed in 1969.

King has served as vice president of the Maine Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, chairman of the Kennebeck Valley Tourism Council, as well as organized dozens of fundraising events including shows at the Skowhegan Opera House.

The Times Record: With so much experience in Central Maine, what brings you to the Midcoast?

Cory King: The Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber is in a part of the state I have long admired, and to get an opportunity to work with the businesses, schools and organizations in this region, I couldn’t pass it up.

It is a chamber about twice the size of my last chamber, but there are similar challenges and opportunities that I have learned to conquer over my decade of experience.

TR: What do you see as challenges moving forward in your new role?

King: The first challenge in any new community is getting people to trust and believe in you. I can come with all of the experience in the world, but if people don’t trust me to tell me what needs to be done, then all of the experience may not matter.

It takes time for people to trust you and be open about the issues in their business or the opportunities in the community. The best way I can help is to find out what’s going on, and the honesty and openness needed for that takes time to build.

The second challenge is learning the values of the region. To revamp existing programs and events or to create new ones, I need to find out what the region enjoys and would want to be a part of. For instance, I can bring a bean hole festival in (not a real idea, mind you), but if people don’t want bean hole beans, then that won’t work.

TR: What from you professional life can you bring forward into your new position?

King: This is probably my greatest asset to the Midcoast in that I have nearly ten years of experience in running a chamber, and I have dealt with many of the regular duties of chamber life. I have been a lone director and I know how to work with volunteers, motivate committees and balance the member visits with meetings and representation.

I have written hundreds of articles, press releases, advertising campaigns, initiated successful events, and tried some that didn’t work, and I have learned from all of those experiences.

In November, I was recognized by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce as the 2015 Chamber Professional of the Year, given statewide to only one staff person of a local chamber from around the state. I also bring energy and honesty, which I have found people really appreciate.

TR: What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

King: Community theater and writing plays are hobbies of mine. The writing is new in the last four years, and the acting I have doing my whole life, but only on stage for the last 12 years or so.

Also, being a former DJ, I do enjoy all types of music and dancing.

dmcintire@timesrecord.com