Josh Bell Hired to Fill Chamber Economic Development Post

Jay Barrett/KMXT

The Kodiak Chamber of Commerce has found a new economic development specialist. Josh Bell, who moved to Kodiak just last month, has been on the job now for a week. The 30-year-old Bell moved to Kodiak with his wife, who took a job with the Kodiak Island Borough School District.

— (Chamber 1 3 sec "I’m very excited about it. … it’s very nice.")

Bell has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania. He comes to Kodiak from Charleston, South Carolina, where he managed marketing for 16 McDonald’s restaurants. He said he feels that even in small towns where every business is known to the entire populace, keeping them at the forefront of people’s minds is the best way to market them:

— (Chamber 2 23 sec "Oh yeah, definitely … hidden in the shadows, I guess.")

Bell said he’s currently getting up to speed on the city’s main economic driver:

— (Chamber 3 13 sec "Right now I’m just trying … it’s all brand new to me.")

The position of economic development specialist came open when Trevor Brown moved up to become the executive director after Deb King’s departure. The chamber is not done with its job search, though, as Pam Foreman is leaving her position as Community Relations Director to become KMXT’s development director around the end of the month.

###