Always interested in how things worked and how things came to be, Frances Provencher-Kambour built an illustrious career in strategic planning. She spent the first year after high school as a clerk typist and editorial assistant at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, where her father worked. Upon returning to the U.S., she was able to take the experience she garnered and use it to grow. Ms. Provencher-Kambour served in positions like associate editor at Durham Advertiser and Kaman Aerospace Corp, publications editor for The Hartford Insurance Group, public relations consultant at Fran Ryder Associates, public relations account executive at Shailer Davidoff Rogers, Inc., and senior account executive at Creamer Dickson Basford, Inc., over the years. She was also an account group manager, account executive, vice president, and associate public relations director at Spiro & Associates, the senior vice president of public relations at LSGE Advertising Inc., the vice president of corporate communications at Wondriska Associates, the president and director of public relations and marketing for The Kambour Co., and the director of public relations and marketing at The PBM Co. Other notable roles include business development advisor for the Peace Corps in Cameroon, Equatorial Africa, small enterprise development specialist for the Center for Field Assistance and Applied Research at the Peace Corps Headquarters, and supervisor of the Program Support Unit of Office Overseas Programming & Training Support at the Peace Corps Headquarters. Her final position before retiring was economic advisor for the USAID.
As a testament to her hard work and dedication, Ms. Provencher-Kambour received a Gold Quill Award from the International Association for Business Communicators, the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International, the National Safety Council Award, and a Meritorious Award from the USAID. Additionally, she was honored with a special commendation from the Public Relations Society of America. Her achievements were highlighted in numerous editions of Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who in the World, and Who’s Who of American Women.
Looking back, Ms. Provencher-Kambour attributes much of her success to her mentor, Walter Spiro. He taught her that good enough isn’t good enough, and to come to him with solutions rather than problems. This made a big difference to her; she carried those lessons with her for the rest of her journey. She also credits being a good team player and a fair boss.
Outside of her profession, Ms. Provencher-Kambour was very active in her community. She founded The Art Guild in 1975, was a trustee of the Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic Community Advisory Council, and was an incorporator for the Monadnock Community Foundation, among other engagements. She also translated “The Cogito in Edmund Husserl’s Phenomenology” in 1969. Her hobbies include golfing and reading.