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A go-getter who is committed to doing good has been selected to lead the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.
Kristine Foate, former director of marketing and development for the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, will step into her new position as Chamber president and CEO on May 15.
The Chamber’s search committee offered her the job a week ago. The 133-year-old non-profit organization’s board approved the decision during a meeting Tuesday morning.
Donald Schenkel, the Chamber’s chairman, introduced Foate during a news conference Tuesday afternoon at the Chamber’s downtown headquarters. He noted her numerous volunteer activities, a list all the more impressive because Foate moved to Fort Wayne less than four years ago.
“She is ethical. She is not afraid of challenge,” he said. “I think we made an excellent choice.”
Schenkel described the six-month selection process, which came down to two finalists, as “arduous.” He declined to reveal Foate’s salary.
Shannon McNett-Silcox, the Chamber’s vice president of member relations, said Foate is the 2,000-member group’s first female president.
“I think the Chamber has had this perception of being a good ol’ boys’ club,” she said. “(Foate) is the face of what our membership really is.”
Foate said she wants to enhance the area’s economic vitality and quality of life.
“I have been looking for the perfect opportunity to take my for-profit experience and put it to work in an organization that goes beyond the bottom line,” she said.
Foate plans to approach that goal by strengthening existing partnerships and creating new ones. Among the groups she’ll be reaching out to are the local black and Hispanic chambers of commerce and various economic development organizations in the region.
Although the Chamber board and staff moved ahead with strategic planning while they searched for a new leader, Foate is confident she’ll have an opportunity to help shape the organization’s strategy. She expects the Chamber will review, revise and add to the plan after she takes office.
But her first goal is to spend the first few weeks meeting with people in the community – Chamber members and non-members – to talk about their needs and how the Chamber can address them.
Schenkel applauds her desire to position the Chamber as a servant of its members and to promote its work.
“Many times I don’t think we were doing a very good job of telling members all the services we offer them,” he said.
Foate, who described herself as a turnaround expert in the broadcasting field, was recruited to Fort Wayne to run Summit City Radio Group in 2004. She has worked locally as vice president of operations of Pinpoint Publishing in addition to her marketing position at the YMCA.
The stylish dresser, who wore crocodile-and-animal-print pumps to Tuesday’s announcement, was one of 10 local Athena Award nominees in 2006.
Foate spent the previous three years working in Champaign/Urbana, Ill. She worked in Las Vegas the two previous years and in Milwaukee before that. She’s been involved in volunteer activities in each community.
The executive, who doesn’t drink caffeine, focuses on wellness and tries to find time to exercise. Foate credits good genes – her aunt recently turned 100 – and good intentions for her boundless energy.
“I’m just enthusiastic about getting up every day,” she said, “and trying to make an impact.”
sslater@jg.net
