Kroc Center directors leaving for Hawaii

The directors of the wildly popular Salvation Army Kroc Corps Community Center in Coeur d’Alene have been promoted to new positions in Hawaii. Majors John and Lani Chamness will report to their new jobs as divisional commanders of the Hawaii and Pacific Island division of The Salvation Army in June. The Chamnesses have been with the Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene since its inception in 2006, a news release from the center said. They helped lead an initial bid to bring the center to Coeur d’Alene and spearheaded the planning and building construction. Before the center opened in May 2009, membership was projected at about 8,000 people. Today, it has about 16,000 members with an average of 2,000 people visiting daily, news reports show. The Chamnesses have been with The Salvation Army for 23 years. Kroc Center Associate Officer Maj. Ben Markham will take over as executive director. He and his wife, Maj. JoAnn Markham have been with The Salvation Army for 33 years and at the Coeur d’Alene center since March 2009.