Right Place, Right Time: A New Voice For South Central Kentucky

Story by Amelia Bowen

For Jim Page, the decision to lead the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce came down to timing and a long held admiration for South Central Kentucky. Jim has watched Bowling Green from afar for years, drawn to both its physical beauty and the Chamber’s reputation as an economic engine for the region. When the opportunity opened to step into the role of President and CEO, the personal and professional fit was immediate. “Life is all about timing and opportunity, and when those are aligned, something special can happen,” Jim says. “The timing and opportunity to lead this great organization and live in this amazing community have lined up perfectly for me.” Since stepping into the role, what has impressed him most is the way local leaders work together. Before moving, he was told that Bowling Green and Warren County’s “secret sauce” was the harmony between its public, private and nonprofit sectors. Seeing that dynamic play out every day confirmed it was real. “Many communities can try to make such a claim, but I have already witnessed firsthand that it’s genuinely part of this area’s DNA,” Jim notes. “Community leaders truly are rowing in the same direction, and I feel blessed to be another oar in the water.” Looking ahead, Jim sees clear opportunities to expand the region’s economic footprint. While advanced manufacturing has supported local families for generations and will remain a core focus, he wants to build out the area’s growing technology and innovation sectors. With Western Kentucky University delivering a steady stream of skilled talent and Bowling Green sitting in an ideal geographic location, he believes the region can grow on multiple fronts at once. “This is an ‘and’ approach to economic development, not an ‘or,’” he explains. “We have the right leadership and capacity to aggressively pursue job creation on multiple fronts.” Protecting and expanding the region’s quality of life is another top priority. For Jim, keeping Bowling Green a great place to live is directly connected to attracting and keeping the talent local businesses need to thrive. His approach to doing that relies heavily on collaboration. A self described people person, Jim builds his leadership around bringing people together and finding common ground. “I take great pride in being a community convener and consensus builder,” he says. “That’s the leadership role I have held throughout my career and the one I hope brings long term value to this region.” Off the clock, Jim and his wife, Sara, are eager to dive into local life with their family. From church events and WKU games to shows at SKYPAC, the Page family plans to be front and center in the community. And coming from Alabama, Jim is ready for one more thing: his first real Kentucky winter.