YMCA Head to Become Chamber Chief

After conducting a national search for a new executive director, the South Orange County Chamber of Commerce chose a well-known local name to head the business organization.

Kate Keena, who has run the Saddleback Valley YMCA since 1986, will take over as chamber director June 26, chamber officials announced Wednesday.

The Mission Viejo resident oversaw a $1.5-million budget and was in charge of 75 employees at the YMCA. Chamber president Joe Hernandez said Keena’s South County connections and business background gave her the edge in a 40-applicant field that drew candidates from as far as New Jersey and Florida.

“Besides her excellent local reputation, she brings a unique blend of volunteer organizational leadership, business experience and commitment to developing the area’s economic base,” Hernandez said. “We are really pleased to have Kate Keena in this critical position.”

Keena succeeds Barbara Vaughn as executive director. Vaughn resigned in April to spend more time with her 23-month-old daughter. She will continue to advise the chamber.

The new director will be responsible for large-scale projects begun last year by the chamber, such as establishing five affiliated business groups in South County.

“I’m looking forward to carrying out the chamber’s agenda,” she said. “There’s a lot of exciting things happening here, and I can hardly wait to start.”