Who's There: Kathleen Kennedy

The new executive director of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, Kathleen Kennedy, believes the role of chambers in a community is integral. Formerly the treasurer of the Summit County Chamber, Kennedy wants to have a strong base where the business community can have coherent representation with local government.

Topping her list at the Chamber now is the growing partnership between the town of Frisco and Copper Mountain.

"We eventually want to be Copper's town and have Copper be our mountain," she said recently at the Chamber base within the Frisco/Copper Information Center on Main Street.

Copper helps fund the center, which opened in November of 2004, shortly after the Summit County Chamber's Summit Boulevard Information Center closed. Kennedy is technically the only employee of the Frisco Chamber, but now has three paid staffers to run the information center. Kennedy said keeping the center open longer became a priority for both the town and Copper, and so in 2006 budget talks, they worked out the new positions.

Another issue she is addressing is the 9.4-acre parcel. The Chamber wants businesses to be prepared for what may come about there and plans to put on three informational meetings that will show businesses how to deal with the competition of major retailers.

Kennedy attends all the work sessions of the town council to stay in the know, but keeping in touch with what is happening in the community isn't too hard for such an active citizen. Kennedy is on Frisco's Economic Development Advisory Committee as well as the Police Advisory Committee, both appointed positions decided by the town council.

Kennedy says her role in her own business, The Woods Inn - a bed and breakfast in Frisco, is mainly doing the books. She and her husband Les, a retired army helicopter pilot, bought the place when they moved to Summit County five years ago. They came out to ski, and the inn provided the perfect opportunity to balance work and life on their terms. Although she'd never considered owning her own B&B before, Kennedy takes a certain joy in her job and what it brings.

"The interaction with the guests allows you to meet so many cool people from all around the world," she said.

And another reward - the gardening. Kennedy said she starts in May and doesn't stop until the snow comes in.