Boise Coop recruits Clinton from CRMM

Published 4:00 pm Friday, January 6, 2012

ASTORIA Lee Clinton recently announced her resignation as the Columbia River Maritime Museums communications and membership manager.

Clinton said shes moving to Boise to be closer to her son and his family and to manage marketing for the Boise Coop.

The co-op has annual gross revenues of $27 million, Clinton said. The store manager recruited her to whip the stores marketing team into fighting shape so its ready to compete.

Whole Foods and two other gourmet food stores have plans to enter the Boise market. Theyre going to be facing stiff competition and I love a challenge, Clinton said.

She came to Astoria six years ago after more than a decade in New Mexico, where she built a career of turning around floundering natural foods stores.

I had a housesitting gig and just fell in love with [Astoria], said Clinton.

Clinton worked for the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia River Maritime Museum for the past three years.

The museum is fabulous, its the most beautiful place to work and the gem of the Pacific as far as Im concerned, Clinton said. But now Ive been made an offer I cant refuse.

She said relocating to Boise will allow her to be closer to her son and his family, particularly her 8-year-old granddaughter.