“Springfield feels comfortable, a place where I think we can do amazing things,” she said Friday.
The mother of two adult children, Kalkbrenner is a native of Champlin, Minn., and earned a degree in exercise science at the University of Sioux Falls.
“I’ve always been very active and wanted to use that in my career,” she said. For almost 14 years, Kalkbrenner worked at the Sioux Falls, South Dakota YMCA where she rose to the position of assistant director.
“Springfield and Sioux Falls are similar cities in size; it feels right,” she said. “Driving into the community of Springfield, I could tell it was a community that cares about itself.”
Kalkbrenner’s agenda is to respond to the needs of the community. “Community input guides the YMCA,” she said. “It is small groups coming together to make decisions about its well-being. The Springfield YMCA is unique in that it is the only full-service, free-standing fitness facility in the area.”
Doug Klang, secretary for the YMCA board of trustees and a member of the selection committee, said, “We as a committee selected her because she is by far the most qualified. She possesses all of the qualifications to return the YMCA to a downtown position of prominence.”
The sixth-oldest YMCA in the United States, the Springfield Family YMCA was established in 1854. The current facility was dedicated Nov. 5, 1989. Kalkbrenner takes over for interim director Joe Moorman who has filled the role since the resignation of former CEO Woody Cornell, who left the organization in April.
In addition to community-directed goals, Kalkbrenner says that the YMCA will have some physical updates soon.
“We want to update the facility to give it a fresher look,” she said. “We want to provide a more inclusive environment for all levels of wellness and well-being for the Springfield community.”
Kalkbrenner, when not at work, enjoys riding a purple Harley-Davidson Softail.
“It’s the only bike for me,” she said.
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