The Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce has announced the hiring of Hank Booth as the chamber’s first executive director. He will begin Monday.

Hank Booth, a longtime manager and radio personality on KLWN, is the recipient of the 2014 Lawrencian Award. The award, presented by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, honors an individual whose commitment to the Lawrence community spans a lifetime.

Booth brings the Chamber a resume built for Baldwin City. A Douglas County native, Booth served the Lawrence chamber as vice president of community affairs and director of government and community affairs. Prior to his position with Lawrence, Booth was the executive director for the Kansas Wildscape Foundation. He also brings media experience, having been general manager and consultant for the Zimmer Radio Group.

“In many ways, I feel I’ve spent a lifetime preparing for this position,” Booth said Friday. “My life has been spent in Douglas County, including years in Baldwin City as a youngster. From both a personal and professional standpoint, I have many ties to Baldwin City.”

The Baldwin City Council agreed in October to provide a $30,000 match to the chamber’s annual contribution toward the position’s salary and benefits.