Caskey takes over at Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce

Jo Caskey was recently hired as the new executive director of the Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce.

"Jo will be expanding her role of promoting our community through tourism, and she is excited to use her many years of chamber experience to also benefit our organization," said Josh Enevoldsen, chamber board president, in an email to chamber members.

Caskey has accumulated more than 20 years experience in both the tourism and the chamber of commerce fields.

"I know how hard the chamber has been struggling for the last several years," Caskey said. "It's not so different than directing visitors to what they want."

Caskey promotes Kimball and the area to visitors as the county's tourism director. At the same time, Caskey said she is promoting area businesses. She believes in promoting chamber businesses first, then within the community and then within the region.

"Just because the sign says Kimball-Banner County Chamber doesn't mean that there shouldn't be membership outside of those two counties that conduct business here," Caskey said. "That will be a goal of mine - to inform the membership, to recruit members from other communities."

Enevoldsen said that Caskey's previous chamber experience will benefit the local organization. The office will continue to be open on a part-time basis only with varied hours while Caskey transitions into the new role.

Caskey has spent the last couple weeks becoming acquainted with the rhythm of the chamber office and organizing files. She will be the only one in the office for awhile, as an assistant will not be hired for some time. Caskey anticipates needing someone about ten hours each week when the time comes.

"We haven't even had the first board meeting since I have come on," Caskey said. "So I think the first thing is to sit down and have a discussion with the board and find out what kind of direction they are looking for."

Caskey will continue working as the Kimball County tourism director and will work part-time as the chamber director until more is needed from that position.

"Until things at the chamber get moving forward enough that they need somebody full-time, and then I will be more than willing to pass the reins," Caskey said.

Though Caskey will be directing both programs, she said they need to remain separate entities.

"The two jobs need to stay separated with separate funds and separate locations," Caskey said. "The visitor center is where it needs to be because that is where the visitor is. The chamber needs to be in the heart of the business community. So both offices are located where they need to be. They both serve a different mission, but they complement each other."

In the 21 months since it opened, more than 18,500 visitors have stopped by the visitors center just off I-80. They have been from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., three fourths of the Canadian provinces and 35 other foreign countries, including several south African countries, according to Caskey.

"So there is a need," Caskey said. "Not everybody that walks through that door is going to stay overnight or have lunch, get gasoline or buy a snack," Caskey said. "But those that do make a difference."