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Chongo Skidmore
Editor's Note: The following is part of a series of articles profiling The Inter-Mountain's staff.
ELKINS -- Chongo Skidmore, an advertising representative for The Inter-Mountain, enjoys meeting "face to face" with advertisers -- albeit in a socially distanced way during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Skidmore has worked in The IM's Marketing and Sales Department for 15 years.
He describes his work duties as "Sales and Marketing …. building print and digital advertising proposals … spec ads and always looking for new marketing partners."
Skidmore feels there is no substitute for meeting personally with advertisers and working closely with them on their marketing.
"I enjoy getting face to face with my clients … socially distanced these days …. and giving them ideas about how to market their business," he said.
He added that an important part of his job is "convincing clients that this company does not just sell print and digital ads. We market. They have to understand that business goes where it's invited."
Skidmore noted that the pandemic had an effect on how he viewed his job and life itself.
"COVID-19 made me more aware of just how fragile life can sometimes be," he said. "I have called on my clients that were open since March of 2020. I took both vaccinations as soon as they were available to me.
"I always wear a mask … always. I constantly wash my hands and socially distance myself from people. You have to keep yourself safe."
Skidmore is well-known to many area residents from his years on the radio locally, serving as a program director, on-air talent and a sales representative.
In his off-duty time, Skidmore and his wife Linda, a former Inter-Mountain editor, enjoy gardening at their home.
"My wife Linda and I garden," he said. "As soon as the weather clears we are out there!"