Ken Smith appointed New Executive Director of the Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed

20 September 2010

By BETTY ADAMS
Staff Writer
Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel

AUGUSTA -- Ken Smith, who helped found the group, replaces Bob Moore. 

Nine years ago, Ken Smith helped found Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed to protect and improve the quality of the 28 lakes and streams between Mount Vernon and Gardiner.

Now, he's taken over as the executive director.

Smith, 59, was a swift hire as a replacement for Bob Moore, who left at the end of August to become vice president of institutional advancement at his alma mater, Thomas College, in Waterville.  

"Ken was a founder of the organization with Jay Snider," said Dr. Jeff Timm, president of the group's Board of Directors.  "He has the passion, energy and ability to take us to new levels."

Timm said the organization had set up a search committee and was preparing to advertise for applicants when Smith's name came up.  Timm said he contacted Smith and everyone on the board and the search committee.

"There was overwhelming support to offer Ken the position," Timm said.

Smith, who formerly operated Custom Electronics of Falmouth spent his first day as the Friends executive director just after Labor Day. 

He had served on the board until about a year ago. "I didn't live in the area any more," Smith said. "I was in South Portland and couldn't get to the meetings." 

Recently, he moved to Brunswick.

Smith spent 30 years on Cobbossee Lake in West Gardiner.  He grew up in East Monmouth, graduating from Monmouth Academy in 1968 and Thomas College in 1973.  

Smith was working as a boat boy when he first met Snider, who has a home on Ballard's Bay on Cobbossee. The the two became good friends through bicycle racing. 

The Friend's group was Snider's brainchild. 

"He called me one day and asked me if I knew anybody on the lake," Smith said. "He asked if we could put together a teleconference.  We did and got some of the initial members and it grew from there significantly."

Smith has experience in fundraising, as well, doing bicycle rides for three years in a row to benefit the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

He has biked 3,000 miles the year but is not riding currently because he's recovering from a broken shoulder.

"Probably the biggest thing that I will bring to the group is my passion for the lake and the watershed." Smith said. "I know a lot of the people and the players in the area, so I will be able to use my strengths in communication skills and personality. I'll be able to give a public face also the Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed." 

Smith said filling Moore's shoes will be a challenge.  Moore was the group's first executive director and brought the membership in the not-for-profit group from 71 to 7,000 in that time. "He is a significant force," Smith said.

With an office in Augusta and a website at www.watershedfriends.com, Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed has an operating budget of about $450,000 with about $300,000 in cash and the remainder in "in kind services." 

Smith has two grown children: Corey Smith of Kittery, a nuclear engineer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; and Morgan Smith of Westbrook, an accountant. 

Betty Adams

621-5361

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Betty Adams -- 621-5631
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