Sat Feb 11 2012
By Matt Fredmonsky
Record-Courier staff writer
As a high school boy, Bill Hoover fell in love with canoe trips on the Cuyahoga River and eventually the charging rapids of the Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle, Pa.
The history of the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce's new executive director could certainly be considered serendipitous as Hoover takes his new leading role in the midst of a movement to create a downtown white water park.
Hoover, who is still involved with the Boy Scouts of America by working as treasurer of Kent Troop 253, has spent a lifetime outdoors. It was his friend's "battleship of a canoe" and college summer breaks spent working as a tour guide at Ohiopyle that fostered Hoover's pastime.
"It's probably partly from working on the river," Hoover said. "But when I see rivers I like to know what they are, where they're from and where they're going to."
Hoover's love of water can be traced even further back to childhood vacations at Cape Cod. Those days created a penchant for seafood, which lead to the occasional trip east for fried clams.
The new chamber director is not naive enough to think Kent could spawn the type of economic activity downtown Peninsula enjoys during summer months. But, as bike trails come together in Kent, it's obvious both communities share some amenities. And Kent has the promise of canoe and kayak activity, whereas Peninsula relies heavily on bicycle traffic.
"I think it's a piece," Hoover said of the proposed white water park. "It's not going to be the one thing. The challenge with something like that is it's very seasonal."
The chamber board of directors voted Thursday to appoint Hoover to take over for former director Dan Smith. Hoover, a nearly life-long resident of the Kent area, has worked nearly 30 years in the local banking industry. His community involvement has included roles as president of the Lions Club of Kent, treasurer for the Portage Recycling Organization, chairman for the Community and Economic Development Corp. in Ravenna and member of Kent's Blue Ribbon Finance Panel.
In a written statement, chamber board President Dennis Missimi said the board voted unanimously to appoint Hoover. Hoover was one of five final candidates chosen from a field of 16 applicants who applied for the position.
"He understands the importance of collaboration and will strive to, not only, continue the relationships we already have established in the business community, Kent State University, Central Portage County Visitor's Bureau, and the county as a whole, but also will reach out to others in the spirit of cooperation," Missimi said.
Hoover spent his first full day in the office Monday. The new director has begun learning the ins and outs of the office, which include producing a monthly electronic newsletter, updating the chamber's Web site and preparing for two upcoming chamber events -- the Bowman Breakfast and Kent Business and Community Expo.
"There's so much stuff to be involved in," Hoover said. "It seems like the challenge is keeping it all straight and keeping the balls in the air without dropping them."
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