Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 8, 1993 TAG: 9312080049
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He will become chief executive officer of the newly created downtown development corporation, Capital Center Inc., in Jackson, Miss., early next year.
Kimbrough has headed Downtown Roanoke since July 1989 and was the fifth executive director of the 34-year-old organization that promotes downtown businesses and property owners.
Downtown Roanoke President Douglas C. Waters, regional executive officer of NationsBank, has appointed a committee to begin a nationwide search for Kimbrough's replacement.
Waters said the committee will investigate some specific leads and work through national associations of similar executives.
With the momentum that Downtown Roanoke Inc. has built over the years, Waters said, the board expects to name a high-caliber replacement within two to three months.
No interim director will be appointed, Waters said. The organization has a staff of six. He said all current and planned programs will continue during the period of the search and transition.
Waters credited Kimbrough with expanding the organization's programs to include low-interest financing to promote downtown housing and, with local banks, creation of the Community Development Corp.
Kimbrough also extended the range of festival events, Waters said.
Ezera Wertz, a merchant and farmer at the Roanoke City Market, said Kimbrough brought the area "a lot of leadership." He said Kimbrough promoted Dickens of a Christmas and other promotional events.
He described Jackson as "a very nice city" that offered Kimbrough the challenge of developing a new program from a new position.
Kimbrough is from Alabama and his wife is from Mississippi, Waters said, so they have strong family ties in that area.
A native of Mobile, Kimbrough came to Downtown Roanoke Inc. after 3 1/2 years as director of the Department of Downtown Development for the city of Franklin.
He has served two terms as president of the Virginia Downtown Development Association and is on the board of directors of the International Downtown Association.
by CNB