Kim Baliman will be leaving the Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce on July 11 to become Food Service Director at Kimball Public Schools.Baliman has been the Executive Director of the Chamber since August of 2001. She took over the position following interim directors Joella Halligan and Grant Keeler.She leaves the Chamber with the inward satisfaction gained from participating in many community events, increasing the Chamber membership from 120 up to the present level of 202 and bringing the Chamber into a strong financial position.Baliman said that she has tried to promote entrepreneurship in Kimball and is pleased with the Huskerneur Camp scheduled at the high school July 8-10.“ We need to cultivate our own entrepreneurs,” she said.She is also strongly interested in promoting tourism and quality of life issues for Nebraska.Baliman says the public is now aware of the Chamber. Her office gets frequent phone calls with questions ranging from “What is the name of the motel on the Interstate?” to “Where do I go to get a passport?” and “What is the maximum snow load there?” The Chamber has even helped Banner County Schools find an employee.Baliman has set up a Kimball Facebook entry that many check regularly.She belongs to many committees and boards, among them Western Nebraska Travel Coalition, Lincoln Highway Nebraska Organization and Ports to Plains Coalition.She gives credit to an active Chamber board and the assistance of a great many people during her nearly eight years as Executive Director. Baliman points to the help of Rich Flores, Jim O’Brien, the FKI people, Bob and Sue Abramson, Maury and Becky Shuddink, Jerry Williams, Kathy Sibal, and Troy Unzicker.“One of the biggest problems is the distance between Kimball and Lincoln. Not just the travel miles, but the decrease in attention that officials in Lincoln have when they look west,”she said. She also cites lack of time to work on projects and an often lack of funding to proceed.Baliman said, “ Finding out how much I love this job has been a big surprise. I gave three months notice so I could be prepared but it will still be tough to leave the Chamber.”Rod Horton, of Kimball, will take over the Executive Director slot when Baliman leaves. He is already sitting in at the Chamber office to observe and learn.