To Whom It May Concern:                                                                                              Oct. 26, 2015 I’m happy to recommend Kimball Perry for employment. I worked with Kimball for nearly ten years at The Cincinnati Enquirer, starting in November, 2005. In my 14 years in the industry, Kimball has stood out among colleagues as a person of impeccable character, ethics, dedication, and generosity. It’s widely known that the newspaper industry is extremely competitive, but the competition within the newsroom has at times made it a fierce and tough place to be. When your success (getting on the front page, acquiring page views) is measured against that of your coworkers, many reporters succumb to the competition, working as if they are pitted against each other. They are naturally inclined to focus on their own work only, leaving little to no time to help coworkers or think about the overall success of the organization. Not Kimball. Kimball always stood out for many reasons. He was clearly successful in his metrics – regularly landing on the front page, and always among the top reporters gaining web traffic. But what was not measured in reviews is how much he helped his fellow photographers and reporters succeed. He never asked for credit, and never patted himself on the back – allowing his coworkers to shine, and their bosses to believe they did it all on their own. Kimball has always understood the big picture of working for an organization. Not only did he want to succeed, he wanted those around him to succeed, and coached them so that they could be better. He’s the type who wants the organization he works for to be the best. He’s loyal, and proud when his colleagues accomplish great things, whether his name was on it or not. He once was a ghostwriter for one of our colleagues, a photographer, who was not accustomed to writing, but was forced to do so when a new mandate came out that photographers begin writing, too. His co-workers regularly sent copy to him so that he could look it over before it was submitted to editors. Kimball became such an expert in the law and the justice system that reporters always went to him for help understanding legal procedures and the legality of issues on their beats. He is so connected in the community that it was a daily occurrence that he gave various reporters names of people that they should talk to for their stories. His knowledge of the history and the people of this town are invaluable. His resourcefulness and ability to forge relationships and develop sources are uncanny. When my assignment was at the courthouse it was always amazing to observe this in action. From deputies, to bailiffs, to judges, to lawyers, people gave him information and allowed him to be places that were not afforded to any other member of the media. As a photographer, I was often a beneficiary of his “ins” with people, allowing the best vantage point in the courtroom, and given inside knowledge that would help identify key players in the courtroom and help me anticipate things that were going to happen.

 Kimball is also very organized, and was one of the rare reporters who regularly submitted his work well before deadline. When I worked on projects with Kimball, he helped keep me on track, too. We were all made better when Kimball was nearby. Please feel free to contact me if there are any questions. I’m more than happy to speak further about the incredible character and work ethic of Kimball Perry.  Carrie CochranVisual JournalistThe Cincinnati Enquirerccochran@enquirer.comC: 513.200.8809www.carriecochran.com