Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance is pleased announce the addition of Corey Jenkins, promoter and experience manager, to our professional team. Corey is a musician and artist, as well as a creative marketing, branding and business development professional with a decade of experience. He most recently served as the corporate marketing manager for a Massillon-based industrial company. As co-chair of KNA’s Promotions Committee, he is responsible for the colorful new Kenmore First Friday logo and t-shirts.
Corey has strong life-long connections to Kenmore: His grandmother spent nearly her entire life in Kenmore, both his parents grew up here, and he spent his first three years of life on the corner of Clearview Ave. and Overlook Dr. In his early 20s, Corey worked for Virgil Lay at SIT Strings, a company originally established in the basement of Lay’s Guitar Shop.
Listeners to 91.3 The Summit FM and regular concert goers may also know Corey from his solo work, as a member of the new super group Big Pop, or with acts such as Fancy Legs, PIN 2 HOT, Sons of Midori, Samantha Grace, and Time Cat.
As promoter and experience manager, Corey will work to help residents and the greater Akron community view and experience the Kenmore in positive ways through avenues like Kenmore First Friday, media and public relations, and advertising. He will also serve as a branding and business development advisor to the district’s small businesses.
As KNA grows, Corey will compose strategic initiatives that are in tune with the vision of growing Kenmore Boulevard as a destination for Northeast Ohio musicians. He plans to use his 20 years of experience as a writing and performing artist to connect fellow musicians with the resources he has grown to love that are already here in our community.
“Personal and family connections aside, Kenmore has long been an amazing resource for me as a musician,” Corey noted. “My favorite guitar shop is right next door to a storied guitar repair and luthier operation, and I’ve had some very positive and memorable on-stage experiences at The Rialto Theatre. I’ve even enjoyed just hopping up on the Bank Lounge stage during an open mic night, not to mention the recording studios and instrument builders who don’t necessarily have a public-facing presence, but are all musical resources. I can’t wait to support and connect them,” he explained, “and it’s particularly nice to work within walking distance of Pierre’s Brooklyn Pizza & Deli, which just happens to be home to my favorite pizza in the universe.”
Tina Boyes, executive director of Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance said of Corey, “He is the right person at the right time to help us engineer the next phase of our growth. We are excited to bring him to the Boulevard to build an environment that supports the growth of our businesses, musicians and community.”
Corey is plugged in, amped and eager to continue revitalizing the Boulevard. So when you see him at Kenmore First Friday, be sure to offer him a warm hello or rock fist.