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Chamber hires city council member as executive director
by Stephen Woodward
12 months ago | 1047 views | 7 7 comments | 13 13 recommendations | email to a friend | print
MIDDLESBORO — The Bell County Chamber of Commerce hired a new Executive Director to replace Nioma Lawson, who recently resigned. Middlesboro City Council Member Rob Lincks was handed the title last Friday and will start August 3.

“I’m excited, obviously,” said Lincks, who has served on city council since 2006. He has worked at State Electric in Middlesboro for eight years. Lincks said he is looking forward to working in the community and with local businesses. “I’m excited to be able to do that full-time.”

Chamber President John Moore said that it was a difficult decision to narrow down the 16 applications submitted.

“Nioma left some hard shoes to fill. The responsibilities of the Chamber are much harder to fill now...” said Moore. “At the same time, Rob is very qualified. I’m excited about the direction the Chamber will go under his leadership.”

Moore said the responsibilities of the Chamber Director are “redefined daily.” He said that events like the Bell County Summit on the Future, which was held Tuesday, weren’t even in the job description until recently.

“That’s the most important thing facing him is seeing that through fruition,” said Moore.

Lincks agreed.

“What comes out of that will be a large part of the Chamber’s new direction.”

According to Moore, Lincks basic responsibilities include promoting economic development, industrial and business retention and recruitment, as well as enhancing tourism.

Lincks said he hopes to make it clear to businesses what the Chamber can do for them.

“We want to show them the benefits of being a member and offer them more benefits than they’re getting now,” he said.

Lincks said his first task is to introduce himself to members of the Chamber and be “more proactive in promoting business and the Chamber of Commerce.”

Lincks is resigning from State Electric to work for the Chamber full-time, but he will remain on the city council.

Lincks and Moore both said the double-duty won’t present a conflict of interest.

“We researched that quite a bit,” said Moore. He said they sought legal advice and also found several counties across the state that have council members who serve as Chamber directors.

“I hope that it’s an added benefit,” said Lincks.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.
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comments (7)
« Conflict? wrote on Tuesday, Jul 28 at 01:42 PM »
How in the world could it be a conflict of interest??? The purpose of the chamber is to promote and encourage business and growth for Bell County. The city of Middlesboro is located in Bell County. The city most certainly wants to promote and encourage business in this town and in this county, so how and where is the conflict???

The chamber, the city and all organizations in this county need to work together to move this city forward - the constant sniping, and frankly stupid and uninformed criticisms of the usual group of naysayers needs to be put in perspective and everyone who is in favor of progress and moving forward need to just do it and leave the negativity behind.
« cynical wrote on Monday, Jul 27 at 02:22 PM »
I agree totally with Atlas-Shrugs. But I want to add one thing. Just days after Ms. Lawson’s resignation, the rumor floating around town was that Rob Lincks had the job. So why did the chamber board sham of interviewing others? This was a disservice to those who thought they had a chance of getting the job. It also just goes to prove that as some believe, there is an elitist group that controls everything in Middlesboro, and they thing the rest of us are fools. Also I have one question for Mr. Moore, what are Mr. Lincks qualifications? In the article he only says he is qualified, not what those qualifications are. So please, Mr. Moore or any others on the board enlighten us all as to his qualifications.
« Eric_Shawn wrote on Monday, Jul 27 at 05:17 AM »
Typical dirty busness as usual in Mboro. As a select few get richer and pad their pockets. They do not have the citizens best interest at heart, just their own bank accounts. The average Mboro citizen is being run down by these certain privilaged families and the police dept. This place is as crooked as a dogs leg.
« Atlas-Shrugs wrote on Sunday, Jul 26 at 02:58 PM »
But this has nothing to do with how good a person he is, or his values, etc... He could be mother teresea for all I care -- controlling two public entities is a no-no. A conflict of interest will certainly come up at most meetings. And can we trust our politicians to abstain? Not when his success as a chamber director is reliant upon his council decision. It's absurd.

Maybe he's got the best ideas in the world for M'boro's downtown. That could very well be the case. I"m just saying he needs to respectfully resign as councilman. That would be the honorable decision. He could even run on that decision in the future.
« Jamin Leger wrote on Sunday, Jul 26 at 08:58 AM »
Some of are just funny. You take the first thought that hits you in the head and run with it, without thinking it through. Do you even know Rob? Do you know what he stands for? Do you know his values and what he wants for the betterment of this city? I've known him since we were kids in school. We graduated together. I know that Rob Lincks would have my full support in whatever position he has with the city of Middlesboro. I base that on actually knowing him and what he stands for. Do you not realize that he's wanting to bring more businesses into the downtown area and make it a vibrant and wonderful place again? Sometimes it's fresh ideas like he will bring to the table that break the stalemate.
« anonymous wrote on Friday, Jul 24 at 11:21 PM »
This is a conflict of interest, plain and simple. Lincks is Pursiful's "boy" but he will be mayor in a few years because the people of MIddlesboro are willing to let themselves be bought and sold. This town is pathetic.
« Atlas-Shrugs wrote on Friday, Jul 24 at 09:39 PM »
Can anyone say conflict of interest? Even if it's technically legal, it's not right. Any issue involving local business for the council would be a conflict of interest for him. That's most of what they vote on.
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