James “Jim” Rochford has been elected president of the board of trustees of Kiwanis International. Rochford, of Peoria, will assume the leadership role on October 1, 2017.

Rochford was elected to the one-year term during the 102nd Annual Kiwanis International Convention in Paris. He has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Peoria for 36 years, where he has served as club president. During his time with Kiwanis, he has personally invited 1,500 new members to the service club and has opened 105 new Kiwanis clubs.

Kiwanis International is a global service organization with more than 700,000 members, all dedicated to helping children in their communities and in communities around the world. Kiwanis clubs sponsor youth leadership programs for students in elementary, middle and high schools, and at colleges and universities, by giving students the opportunity to learn valuable leadership skills while performing volunteer services.

Rochford has served in Kiwanis district leadership roles and has been an advisor for high school Key Clubs and Kiwanis university-level Circle K clubs. Within Kiwanis, Rochford is a certified trainer and is a George F. Hixson and a Walter Zeller fellow.

Outside of Kiwanis, Rochford has been Tri-County Citizen of the Year, has received the JC Penney/Golden Rule Award and is a past president of the Peoria Jaycees. He is founder and president of the Peoria Irish AAU basketball program.

“I like to say that one plus one equals three," said Rochford, "meaning that when we come together and work together under the umbrella of Kiwanis programs, what we can achieve together greatly exceeds what we can do individually. Leading by example is not just the main thing when it comes to leadership; it's the only thing."

Rochford, an attorney, and his wife, Debra, have two daughters, one son and four grandchildren.