People move to the valley for all sorts of reasons: recreation, family, a job, but they all stay for one reason, and that is quality of life.
Bob Corker and his wife, Liz Schwerdtle, and two young children moved here for all the above. Corker will be honored as Youth Advocate of the Year at the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau's annual Community Awards dinner Saturday, April 21.
Corker used to work in Manhattan and live in northern New Jersey. Three hours of his day was spent commuting to his job. But he had job security and a life. Then, his wife—whose sister and brother-in-law, Amy and Dave Bingham, are longtime valley residents—said, "Let's move to Idaho."
"She's the one who should be receiving this award," Corker said. "She does so many things behind the scene. Liz just toils away. She's my idol."
He wasn't exactly kicking and screaming but was not sure at all this was a wise move. It's been five years and there are no regrets. A Hailey resident, Corker works in Ketchum for Bank of America as a senior vice president in private banking.
"Now that I don't commute three hours a day," he said, "I can spend more time with my family, exercise and play. It's a balance."
Nonetheless, Corker has filled his life in new ways. "I like to give of myself," he said.
For three years he has volunteered with the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, weeding through applications to choose recipients for the scholarship program, which is a "reasonable commitment," he said. "It's a fun thing to be a part of. You see how committed, talented and passionate people are about these pursuits. It's an amazing program, and unique, given that the funds are raised at the Wine Auction."
Corker is also a soccer coach for the Blaine County Recreation District. "There are so many people who do that," he said. "To be singled out is hard to handle. How hard can it be? I'm standing out there looking at the mountains, soaking up the sun, watching kids play."
Corker is also involved in a new group founded by Ketchum business consultant Jima Rice, called the Wood River Economic Partnership.
"The challenges we face here are significant," he said. "We need to work on long-range goals. We don't want to lose the quality of life, but with all the growth, people need to work. Where will they do that?"
Perhaps the real reason he was singled out, however, is his term with the Blaine County Education Foundation. Though Corker scoffs, he is one of only a couple of people to have served more than one year as the organization's chair. This is also his fourth as a board member. The Education Foundation's executive director, Heather Crocker, spearheaded the drive to nominate Corker for the Youth Advocate of the Year award.
"For me, this award is about the organizations I volunteer for," he said. "My being recognized may shed light on what these organizations do. When I was told I won this, the first thing that came to mind, other than my wife, are people like my brother-in-law, Dave, who volunteers to teach skiing, and other soccer coaches that are equally deserving, if not more so."
Corker, humble to the core, tried to decline the award, but was told that was not an option. Still, if he can use the pulpit to talk about his passions just for minute, he knows his embarrassment will have purpose.
Bob Corker uses his newly found spare time to work on programs that benefit kids. Photo by David N. Seelig
