Association Leadership

 

Kim J. Kiser

Vice President, Camping

Kim Kiser has been with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago since 1977. She began her career with the Y as an aquatics director at the Beloit YMCA, and later served as aquatics field coordinator at the YMCA, program director at Albert Lea Family YMCA, program director at Indian Boundary YMCA, and executive director of YMCA Camp Duncan. In early 2002, Kim moved into her current role as vice president overseeing the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s camping program.

 

Based out of Camp Duncan in Lake County, Illinois, Kim’s duties include the hiring, supervision and mentoring of the executive directors at each YMCA camp in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin; organizing and co-chairing the committee of board of managers; acting as communication liaison between the YMCA camp operating group and the Metro Y; and maintaining the Y’s American Camping Association accreditations, the YMCA of USA’s camp guidelines and Illinois state licensing standards. Since she was appointed vice president of camping, Kim's work has resulted in a 17 percent increase in resident campers, 12 percent increase in school group visits, 59 percent increase in capital funds and a 5 percent increase in overall funds. Throughout her time at the YMCA, Kim has received numerous career awards and recognitions including the 1995 President’s Award for Excellence, the 1995 Outstanding Financial Achievement Award, the 1999 Excellence in Camping Award, the 2001 American Red Cross Life Guarding Development Committee Award and the 2002 American Camping Association’s Honor Award.

 

In addition to her work overseeing the Y’s camping group, Kim also has presented seminars on staff development and training, camp management, risk management, and special health programs for the YMCA, the American Red Cross and the American Camping Association.

 

Kim attended Rocky Valley College and the University of Minnesota. She is an active member of the American Camping Association, Holt International Children’s Services and Half Sky Foundation.