The Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce has hired a  Powell native to lead the organization in a new direction.

Craig Kenyon, a 1985 Powell High School graduate, has been named the chamber’s executive director, replacing Kim Dillivan, who was terminated by the chamber board in March.

Kenyon served in the U.S. Air Force and the Air National Guard for 21 years following high school. After his retirement he owned and operated a trailer service and sales company in Cheyenne. He returned to Powell in 2009 and is currently employed at Fremont Motors.

Trevor Nelson, a member of the chamber board, said the board was happy to have Kenyon on board. He cited Kenyon’s leadership skills developed during his military service and his experience as owner of a small business as assets for the chamber, as well as his local connection.

“We’re really glad to be able to hire a local guy,” Nelson said.

Kenyon said he is happy to be back in Powell and to have an opportunity “to serve the community that I grew up in.”

“While on deployments in the Air Force, I often thought of Powell and how I couldn’t wait to come back,” Kenyon said. “Just being able to come back to Powell and be part of it is exciting.”

Kenyon said his first priority when he assumes the job will be to make “face-to-face contact with every member of the chamber” and listen to what they have to say in order to determine a new direction for the chamber and the business community.

Kenyon added that his current employer, Fremont Motors, has been very supportive of his move, which he said was “indicative of the people in this area.” That support will help him make a smooth transition into his new job, he said.

Kenyon becomes the fourth director of the chamber in the past four years. Following Dillivan’s termination, Chamber president Dan Hadden said the board felt the organization had been on “a downhill slide” and the board’s intention was “to turn it around.”

Hadden and other board members indicated they felt the chamber had become detached from the members, and they wanted a director who would work more closely with members.

Kenyon will assume his new position around June 15, according to Nelson, and the chamber will begin a search for a new office manager then.

An open house has been scheduled at the chamber from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, June 16 to give community members an opportunity to meet Kenyon.