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GREATER KEENE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT KEENE, New Hampshire, May 16, 2011 -- After an extensive search process, Laura Keith King has been appointed President of the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce. Ms. King succeeds 11-year veteran Tom Dowling who is retiring at the end of May. King brings her extensive experience in non-profit and Chamber of Commerce leadership. 

Most recently King served at the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce as Associate Director, where it was her goal to improve communications, operations and effectiveness of the Chamber through efforts that included the implementation of updated office software and developing deeper relationships with local businesses and non-profits.  Prior to that she was Executive Director of the New Hampshire Dance Institute in Keene where, under her leadership, there was significant program growth, an increased donor base of 75% and an increase in net income of 30%. 

"Laura’s contributions to the Greater Peterborough Chamber business community have been exemplary,” said Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jack Burnett. “Her energy and enthusiasm are well-known in the Peterborough area, and the Peterborough Chamber’s membership has grown significantly during her tenure.  Keene is indeed fortunate to have her."  

Keene Chamber Board Chair, Brian Donovan of Connecticut River Bank noted that “Dowling is leaving the organization a legacy of firm financial strength. King will be continuing the excellent initiatives implemented under Tom’s leadership; we expect her proven leadership skills to continue the mission of the Chamber.  We welcome Laura and are looking forward to working closely with her.” 

In addition to engaging the membership and community in deeper levels of collaboration, King plans to connect the younger professional population through more focused use of electronic media such as Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc.  “We live in an age of instant communication, and The Chamber can and should be a hub of information and activity like no other in our community,” she says.                     

 A resident of the Monadnock area for 30 years, King lives in Harrisville with her husband Ed.  King has strong ties to the area, having come to NH to start her family after attending Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, Harrow College in England, and the University of Rhode Island, then living and working in the Boston area.  She has devoted herself to Southern New Hampshire for several decades, and her commitment to the Keene and Monadnock region are evident in her years of volunteer work with numerous non-profits, churches and community groups.

 

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