Glen Lake Association names Kate Gille as first executive director
From staff reports
The Glen Lake Association has named Kate Gille as its first-ever executive director. Gille will lead the organization in advancing its mission of “preserving and protecting the water quality, natural resources, and quality of life in the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed through leadership, education, and collaboration.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Kate as our first executive director,” says Stan Kryder, Glen Lake Association board president. “Our executive search task force conducted a rigorous process to find a superb candidate, and our board unanimously selected Kate for the position. Her combination of environmental advocacy, strategic communications, and nonprofit management experience will be instrumental as we continue to fulfill our mission amidst the increasing challenges facing the watershed.”
In this new role, Gille will help the organization respond to mounting challenges that threaten the watershed’s health including invasive species, pollutants, land use changes, and other environmental stressors. Gille will also oversee the organization’s day-to-day activities and will cultivate strong member relationships while supporting community engagement, fundraising, and strategic planning.
“I am honored to join this mission as executive director of the Glen Lake Association alongside such an exceptional team and dedicated volunteers,” says Gille. “As a Michigan native and former area resident, I know how special these pristine waters are. It is a privilege to carry on the organization’s legacy of stewardship and enhance its efforts to protect this treasured watershed for generations to come.”
Gille holds a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from Michigan State University and will complete her Master of Science in Marketing from the University of Colorado Denver this year. She began her career as a park ranger at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, stationed at the Dune Climb across from Glen Lake. She worked for both the Michigan State University Department of Forestry and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before transitioning into nonprofit leadership roles in marketing and communications.
Gille has since held a number of senior management positions, including Marketing and Communications Director at the Cincinnati Parks Foundation and Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications at a statewide nonprofit in Ohio.As Marketing and Communications Director at the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, she developed award-winning programs and community engagement initiatives, earning the organization accolades such as the 2021 Governor’s Award from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association and Governor Mike DeWine.
Beyond her professional roles, Gille is a dedicated advocate for community and environmental causes. She has served on the board of several nonprofit organizations, including Groundwork Ohio River Valley, Ohio Climbers Coalition, and as president of Cincinnati’s Pleasant Ridge Community Council. In 2022, Gille was honored with the Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40 award and was one of Traverse Connect’s Northern Explorers in 2024.
Founded in 1945, the Glen Lake Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed. Through science-based strategies and partnerships with government and non-government organizations, the association works to protect water quality across the 46-square-mile watershed while advancing environmental education, promoting sustainable policies, and enhancing quality of life. For more information, visit glenlakeassociation.org.
