November is right around the corner and we are gearing up for the winter season!
At the end of September, we recognized our staff team for the great work and years of service that they have provided to you, our community. I always have believed that the team has a giving mentality to the work that they do because of the service they provide. It doesn’t matter if they are teaching a group exercise program, cleaning a locker room, carrying a child on their hip while having five others walking behind them, or one of our back-office team who is providing IT, financial, marketing, development, or human resource support, they do so with a great attitude and a spirit to give more than they receive. That has always been the challenge in nonprofit work. You don’t enter this line of work just for a pay check. You do so because you know that you are making our community a better place to live, grow, and thrive. It is the reason I have been doing this for as long as I have.
Today, I would like to recognize our team members who have served you faithfully, this year with an individual with over 40 years of service. They are:
| Staff Member | Role | Years of Service |
| Kathy Dixon | Group Fitness Master Instructor | 40 |
| Sarah Morrau | Group Fitness Master Instructor | 25 |
| Tania Zerr | Learning Center Executive Director | 25 |
| Kay Heidrich | Group Fitness Master Instructor | 20 |
| Kari Uzzle | Learning Center Operations Director | 20 |
| Jennifer Mitchell | Early Learning Teacher | 20 |
| Tessa Enkers | Behavior Technician | 15 |
| Sabrina Jenks | Youth Camp Lead | 15 |
| Nick Durham | Fitness Associate | 15 |
| Jim Meyers | Maintenance Technician | 15 |
| Geralyn Green | Learning Center Leader | 15 |
| Erich Richardson | Swim Team Coach | 15 |
| Collins Mutegi | Technology Director | 15 |
| Britt Selbo | Vice President of Membership and Program Services | 15 |
| Susan Thorstad | Early Learning Teacher | 10 |
| Sonya Dreschsel | Group Fitness Instructor | 10 |
| Sandy Owens | Early Learning Teacher | 10 |
| Rebekah Barberg | PlayTown Lead | 10 |
| Meghan Tritz | Early Learning Teacher | 10 |
| Leann Mengelkoch | Assistant Swim Team Coach | 10 |
| Laura Lenca | Group Fitness Master Instructor | 10 |
| Laura Halverson | Member Services Associate | 10 |
| Kim Reger | Camp Coordinator | 10 |
| Kayla Christians | Early Learning Teacher | 10 |
| Katie Kimbro | Bus Driver | 10 |
| Katie King | Swim Lesson Coordinator | 10 |
| Katelyn Whittenburg | Group Fitness Director | 10 |
| Kari Landgraff | Custodial Coordinator | 10 |
| Jessica Grimson | Learning Center Site Director | 10 |
| Jessica Anderson | Group Fitness Instructor | 10 |
| Jesse Ott | Youth Camp Lead | 10 |
| Jennifer Johnsrud | Group Fitness Master Instructor | 10 |
| Heather Sauer | Aquatics Director | 10 |
| Crystal Johnson | Group Fitness Instructor | 10 |
| Cierra Meisch | School Age Site Director | 10 |
| Cassandra Jansen | Group Fitness Director | 10 |
| Carrie Schultz | Swim Lesson Instructor | 10 |
| Brittany Thompson | Early Learning Teacher | 10 |
| Brittany Bartelson | School Age Site Coordinator | 10 |
| Arthur Saylee | Custodian | 10 |
| Angela Frederick | Early Learning Teacher | 10 |
| Andrea Cullen | Custodial Coordinator | 10 |
| Tianna Helland | Early Learning Teacher | 5 |
| Thomas Jorgenson | Lifeguard | 5 |
| Sophia Aubol | Athletics and Events Coordinator | 5 |
| ShayLynn Martin | Early Learning Teacher | 5 |
| Sharon Ponik | Bus Driver | 5 |
| Shaina Ybarra | Fitness Associate | 5 |
| Savanna Nesemeier | Member Services Coordinator | 5 |
| Sandy Otteson | Early Learning Teacher | 5 |
| Robin Wolfe | Early Learning Teacher | 5 |
| Rachel Nguyen | PlayTown Staff | 5 |
| Paxton Lloyd | Manager on Duty | 5 |
| Nakita Estling | Learning Center Assistant | 5 |
| Misty Nelson | Assistant Controller | 5 |
| McKayla Michel | Early Learning Teacher | 5 |
| Martha Smith | Custodian | 5 |
| Lisa Wagner | Group Fitness Master Instructor | 5 |
| Kristin Volt | Group Fitness Master Instructor | 5 |
| Lachhi Ghaley | Custodian | 5 |
| Kelly Roberts | School Age Site Coordinator | 5 |
| Katie Anderson | Learning Center Food Program Director | 5 |
| Kaitlyn Wilson | Early Learning Teacher | 5 |
| John Quibell | Lifeguard | 5 |
| Jessica Wanzek | Early Learning Teacher | 5 |
| Isaac Ahlin | Climbing Wall Lead | 5 |
| Gavin Rinke | Learning Center Leader | 5 |
| Erin Fischer | Group Fitness Instructor | 5 |
| Ely Mercil | Vice President of Building and Grounds | 5 |
| Ellie Viou | Group Fitness Instructor | 5 |
| Elisson Emilien | Bus Driver | 5 |
| Dan Hoedl | Manager on Duty | 5 |
| Cody Burton | Fitness Coordinator | 5 |
| Chans Brown | Fitness Director | 5 |
| Candous Christenson | Group Fitness Instructor | 5 |
| Brant Whaley | Learning Center Leader | 5 |
| Brandon Perkins | Lifeguard | 5 |
| Brandie Kading | Group Fitness Master Instructor | 5 |
| Andrew Reinert | Assistant Technology Director | 5 |
| Amanda Gharui | Group Fitness Instructor | 5 |
| Alexis Carney | PlayTown Staff | 5 |
| Alanna Fink | Group Fitness Water Instructor | 5 |
You can see that we recognized quite a few people and I think it shows their dedication to the YMCA’s work. We are called to serve and you can see the results.
Please take a minute and thank those people that you recognize for their service. We are stronger because of them and are thankful for each year that they have served. We can’t do our mission work without them!
See you at the Y!
Steve Smith, President and CEO
Posted on: October 30, 2023