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 fifth community leader is Katie Stice, President/CEO of the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce.
Why was the Y so important to you during your youth &/or currently? What lessons did you learn from being involved with the Y that you apply to your life now?
The YMCA of the Desert changed my life. It was a pivotal time in my adolescence and I felt a bit lost and unenchanted. A friend invited me to be a camp counselor at Camp Oaks and my mother encouraged it. It made me look at the world differently because I was included at the YMCA for exactly who I was: awkward, funny, shy, and friendly and for who I could become: a leader, a servant, a trailblazer! Even the “cool” people at camp made friends with me. Like Dallas – he is SO COOL still to this day! He also trusted me and gave me some tips on how to be a really good camp counselor.
It was then that I knew I wanted to help others experience this feeling and gift that I had just received. So, I applied to work at the Y as a site director, got my Early Childhood Education credits and then became Operational Director for the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert. The Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade, managed by the Palm Desert Chamber, invited me to run the children’s area at the parade annually, which introduced me to the chamber industry that I’ve lead for fourteen years.
And, I still yearn to make everyone feel welcome, seen and heard. And it all started with our very own Y. When I see someone at amixer or event by themselves, it is my cue to be inclusive and walk over to say hello. My Y foundation is strong. Makes my leadership style authentic and genuine which is noticed by my peers and the community which I get to serve.
A brief Bio of yourself…what makes you so great!
Katie Stice, IOM, is President/CEO of the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce – known as the Small Business Headquarters – and has been in the chamber industry locally for 14 years. She helped her previous chambers merge to create a regional chamber and become 5 star accredited with the US Chamber of Commerce. She was included in the Top 40 Under 40 for Palm Springs Life and serves on the Board of Regents for Institute for Organizational Management – a four-year educational program for chamber executives across the nation. She has been a keynote speaker, crucial communicator and influencer for her community throughout the crisis. The rest of her story is on LinkedIn – connect with her there!