The North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has named Kim Constantine as its new executive director.
Constantine comes directly from the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, where she served as the sales/membership director. But she was already familiar and part of the North Fort Myers Chamber long before her recent appointment.
A current Cape Coral resident and a former resident of San Francisco, she moved to Southwest Florida five years ago.
“When I first got here five years ago I was introduced to the North Fort Myers Chamber and became a members of the board,” she said.
Then she went on to serve in the Cape.
“I put people together,” she said. “I specialize in networking, putting them together to promote their businesses.”
A native of California, her background includes working for the Xerox Corp. She also served as marketing director for Calvin Klein Inc., based out of San Francisco.
Besides serving as sales director for the Cape Coral chamber, her background includes being a founding board member and board secretary for Community Awareness Recognizing and Educating on Suicide (CARES).
She was also the recipient of Business Associate of the Year 2008 for the American Woman in Business Association.
Currently, she serves as leadership chair of the Giving Alliance of Women for Cape Coral Community Foundation.
“It’s wonderful to be a part of a group of philanthropists that give back primarily to women and children in need,” she said.
She also is co-chair of that organization’s grant committee.
Constantine started as an acting director for the North Fort Myers Chamber on June 29 and was officially named executive director on July 17.
“I was ecstatic,” she said of learning of her formal appointment.
She said her experience from the Cape chamber gives her work in North Fort Myers an edge.
“I have chamber experience so I could hit the pavement running.”
She said area business leaders have great potential though membership in the chamber.
“There’s so much opportunity for businesses here,” she said.
In her first few weeks, Constantine visited area businesses and brought seven new businesses aboard and got three renewals.
“Now we have 12 new businesses,” she said.
Chamber President John Gardner said she is an excellent choice for the position.
“She’s doing an awesome job,” he said. “She’s only been on board for about a month and the activity level is at an all-time high. She’s managed to pull in more new members and get them active.”
“I am honored to serve as your new executive director,” Constantine said. “In these past few weeks of getting acquainted with this wonderful organization, I am excited for all of the new opportunities ahead.”
She just put this same statement out in her first formal chamber newsletter that published Aug. 1.
She talked about her immediate plans.
“We’re going to publish an annual directory in November, an actual community guide,” she said. “We’re also launching a brand new Web site and our Welcome Center volunteers are here to promote business.”
Training is also a goal.
“It’s a new program where volunteers are being trained on everything about the membership businesses so they can help visitors as well as the members,” she said.
She is suggesting to chamber members to make sure they have business cards and brochures at the Welcome Center, located at the Shell Factory & Nature Park.
“Volunteers are tracking referrals and we are encouraging members to stop by and get to know the volunteers,” she said.
Constantine also wanted everyone in the area to know there has been a change to the date for popular local Celebrity Waiter event. It will now be held on Thursday, Oct. 29, at Faith Assembly of God Church, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The address for the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce is 2787 North Tamiami Trail, Unit 10, and the phone number is 239-997-9111.
Her e-mail is exec@nfmchamber.org.