2024 Owners Association Board
Do you know a fellow KOA Owner’s Association Member who would make a great Director?
Review the Handbook and Duties here.
Area #1
Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia.
My husband and I, along with my folks, purchased our KOA 15 years ago. We had always camped and had reached a point in our lives where we needed a change in career and life. KOA was the logical route to take. With backgrounds in the tech field and service industries, we packed up all we knew and moved to North Carolina to start a new life. It has been one heck of a roller coaster ride, but 15 years has sure seemed to fly by. All of our kids are grown, and we still manage to keep quite busy with the campground.
This experience has been extremely monumental to our family. We purchased for a career change and ended up making this a family event with one of our sons, Mike, helping take the lead. Our grandchildren live on the campground too, and I could not imagine owning and operating another business that allows us to have our children and grandchildren near.
Area #2
Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island.
We have had our campground for 28 years, with 14 years being KOA, and we have transitioned to another park just south of us, Calcutta/West Point Ohio Journey KOA. I have been an area director in the past, but did not run again since my husband got sick, but has since passed away in December 2021. My son, Cole, age 29, was raised in the campground business and built the CWP campground primarily by himself. Both campgrounds are open year-round and are 100% full hookup sites, including sewer, wifi, and cable TV, with Salem being a Holiday and CWP being a Journey.
The importance of being part of an organization doesn’t end with being a member. KOA offers so much, but not all of us are perfect, and we need to be sure we are looking closely at all aspects of our business with all owners in mind. I can offer some insight into growing our businesses, and I am excited to do so!
Sandusky / BayShore KOA
Born in Palm Springs, CA, I moved to Sandusky, Ohio, in 2004. I found an excellent little summer job to keep me busy before returning home to California. I submitted my application to my (now) current wife; the rest is history. The camping world was very new to me at the time. I was from the desert, and boy, let me tell you, I mowed more grass than I have ever seen in 1 week. Before long, I took on extra responsibilities, in and out of multiple departments, helping where I could, and then BAM!! They got me.
I married my wife in 2009 and started taking on a bigger role in our business. My past was culinary, from banquets to fruit sculptures, so the camping world was a fresh new experience. I have been in the camping industry for over 15 years and have been operating our property for 12 years. My wife came aboard after leaving the medical field to help run the business, along with our two daughters, 14 and 10, who grew up in the business. I have an amazing staff, and the future is bright.
I have been around the block, from KOA management classes to OHI (previously known as ARVC) certification. I’m the Vice President of the Ohio KOA OA and wanted to be more involved in the changes and future of our KOA brand. I have broken bread with many board members and have been in the company during meetings or classes for the past few years with them. KOA means more to me than just a brand or a color. I believe we are the future of camping.
Area #3
Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa.
Area #4
Louisiana, Mississippi, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas.
Dewayne and I attended a KOA Buyer’s Workshop in 2018 while we were considering changing careers. In May of 2020, we decided that we were going to buy a campground. KOA was so helpful with information from that workshop that we decided that we would convert our park to a KOA. We liked the fact that we would be able to share ideas and learn from other KOA owners. We enjoy owning a campground because we are lifelong campers and loved camping with our seven children. We moved from West Palm Beach, Florida to own a campground in rural MIssissippi. Dewayne was a Publix Supermarkets store manager and I was a high school history teacher. We love the slower pace of living in the South and also working outdoors on 60 acres of natural beauty.
Area #5
Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming
Area #6
Hawaii, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico
I helped build the San Diego KOA with my father, Ted Bell in 1968. BA in business management from Northern Arizona University 1975. Joined the business after graduation and have helped manage the park since. I have 3 children, Josh, Clint, and Molly. All are now the executive management of our 7 campground holdings.
I served on the OA Board in 1984-85. I re-joined the Board in 2018. We have enjoyed a long and productive relationship with KOA inc.
KOA owner since 2016. Member of Owners Association board since 2017. KOA as a franchise is hands down a winner! There is so much that they provide that allows me to focus on my gests and campgrounds. They are well worth it.
