Shoge Returns to Kent as Director of Chamber of Commerce
Published in Kent County News | March 13, 2020
Sam Shoge has been named executive director of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce, its board of directors announced in a news release.
Shoge, who grew up in Chestertown, succeeds Loretta Lodge, who stepped down at the end of December after nearly 10 years in the position.
His first day on the job is April 1.
Shoge attended public schools here and is a graduate of Kent County High School, where he was a triple-threat athlete. In 2011, he earned a B.A. in environmental studies from Elon College.
Shoge, who served one term as an elected Chestertown councilman, and his wife live in Chestertown.
At the end of March Shoge will be leaving his job as economic development coordinator for Talbot County’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism, a position he has held since the fall of 2016.
“We are excited to introduce Sam as the new Executive Director of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce,” Bryan Matthews, board president, said in the news release.
Matthews added: “Sam is the ideal person to help the Chamber grow and become an even bigger factor in the success of Kent County businesses. His experience in both Kent and Talbot Counties has prepared him to take on this challenging role and to be a dynamic leader for the organization.”
In a prepared statement, Shoge said: “Helping my community thrive and be prosperous has always been a deep passion. I’m looking forward to continuing to fulfill this dream in my new role.”
As Talbot’s economic development coordinator, Shoge managed the county’s business attraction and retention efforts; helped draft a five-year economic development strategic plan; and managed the launch of a new brand for the department. He led the development of a new website and marketing materials and contributed toward the leasing of a 224,000-square-foot former manufacturing facility now owned by the county, according to the news release.
In addition to undertaking the duty of assisting small business start-ups and businesses with their expansion efforts, Shoge played an instrumental role in administrating and promoting several business incentives and financing programs.
According to the news release, he advocated for the designation of two Enterprise Zones in Talbot County (Easton and Tilghman Island), an Arts and Entertainment District and Maryland Commercial PACE.
“Working for Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism had me interfacing with the business community on a daily basis,” Shoge said in the news release. “I’m excited to take what I’ve learned from working closely with business leaders from a wide range of industries and applying it to the Kent County Chamber of Commerce. My goal is to enhance the way the Chamber engages its members and the community as a whole.”
Prior to joining the Talbot Economic Development and Tourism team, Shoge was an assistant director of admissions at Washington College. He traveled throughout the Greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area and the Southeast to recruit graduating high school students.
In addition, Shoge served as government relations coordinator for Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling and actively led legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of the association.
While working at Washington College, Shoge was elected to a four-year term on the Chestertown Town Council as representative of the Third Ward, the town’s largest and most diverse ward.
He did not seek re-election in the fall of 2017, citing a potential conflict of interest with his job in Talbot County.
With a passion for community service, Shoge has served in various roles on public and nonprofit boards and committees. He currently serves on the boards of the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health and the Chesapeake College Foundation.
Shoge served briefly on the Chestertown Planning Commission, co-founded the Kent County Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals and was on the board of Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties.
