The YMCA is a great place for children to start building connections, develop social skills, confidence, leadership, and fitness through youth and family programming.
This year, we want to profile local community leaders who attribute their success to solid beginnings with the YMCA. Our first community leader is Kyle Chank, Vice President of Operations, MV Eagan Ventures; General Manager, Viking Lakes.
Why was the Y so important to you during your youth &/or currently?
WAY BACK THEN… it was a steady part of my childhood from sports to friends. There were other leagues, but there was something special about playing at the Y and the sense of family that was created. Even growing up all the way over in Bermuda Dunes, it created a friend base (and friendly competition) with kids from Palm Desert that transcended school, religious activities and friend circles.
NOW… I did not realize the community impact at the time, but I now serve on the board and am 2022 chair-elect for a regional chamber of commerce in Minnesota. In that role, we directly work with organizations like the Y. I have volunteered and partnered with other local Y’s and similar organizations through personal and professional channels.
What lessons did you learn from being involved with the Y that you apply to your life now?
The Y was the place I learned about sports, which has been the catalyst of my life since. The sports I played at the Y shaped the rest of my sports and educational experiences, taking the lessons I learned at Y Rookies and basketball and putting them in to future endeavors. I now try to use that “range” of tackling many projects, trying new things, meeting new people, etc. as the foundation for my entire career.
I also learned that Teamwork is the name of the game. I do not know when I realized that I was not going to be the best at any particular sport, but it helped me realize you can’t do everything on your own. Out of all the people that are in sports now and came from the Y, I am probably the least athletic of them all. So I transferred some of that teamwork and leadership to business, probably at the ripe age of 8. The Super Bowl comes to live not because of Tom Brady but because of the thousands of people working it. An idea on paper in a trailer cannot become reality until other people critique it to make it better. A family is only as strong as the weakest person, who needs everyone’s help to become better.
A brief Bio of yourself…what makes you so great!
I attached my professional bio but hopefully a short personal bio means more! When not working, I like to run long distances (ran 13 marathons), read (try to balance leadership books, minority authors and a combination of audiobooks) and I like to travel (though I don’t make it back to Bermuda Dunes quite enough). My girlfriend, Jordan, of 5 years (she doesn’t like me rounding up) balances me out with yoga, cooking and more witty jokes. We have a 1-year-old Cavalier Poodle Mix named Maddon, who is named after our favorite baseball coach Joe Maddon who coached for the Cubs (my favorite team) and the Rays (Jordan’s favorite team). We all currently are freezing and creating winter traditions in the Bold North of Minnesota. To tie it all back together, I still stay in touch with many friends who I met at the Y many years ago.