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September 10, 2024
St. Joseph, MI - The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is pleased to share that Kampgrounds of America (KOA), Inc., headquartered in Billings, Montana, has named Mark Lemoine, its new Senior Vice President of Franchise Operations. A southwestern Michigan businessman and community leader, Lemoine has owned and operated the Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday since 2016. He has also been on several non-profit boards of directors, including the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber where he has served as Chairman since 2020.
"I am thrilled to be adding Mark's critical franchise perspective and business acumen to our corporate leadership team," said Toby O'Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. "Mark is well respected in our franchise system and will help solidify the link between franchisor and franchisee that makes KOA so successful. Further, his proximity to Elkhart, Indiana - the heart of America's RV manufacturing - will be pivotal in furthering relationships with our RV counterparts."
Kampgrounds of America is the largest network of privately-owned and operated campgrounds in the world, with over 500 locations located across the United States and Canada. In 2023, it was ranked 125th out of 400 by Franchise Times, a leading trade publication, making it the top-ranked hospitality franchisor. A symbiotic relationship between organizational support and entrepreneurial spirit lies at the heart of KOA’s success.
Together with his wife, Karla, the Lemoines successfully tackled numerous rehabilitation projects whereby they improved the service and amenities available at their campground. They have also been recognized by KOA through perfect quality assurance inspections, securing the President’s and Founder’s awards each year since 2017, and they were named KOA’s Rising Star Award recipients in 2021. As a result of their efforts, they now host over 15,000 guests annually from all over the United States and as many as fifteen international countries.
“It’s been an incredible journey filled with faith, risk, hard work, and the reward of serving our guests,” said Lemoine “I’m honored to have demonstrated that the American Dream is alive and well, and to now have the opportunity to contribute to the growth, innovation and success of my fellow KOA franchisees as we collectively provide millions of travelers with exceptional camping and outdoor experiences.”
In addition to running his own business, Mark has been a key force in driving regional economic prosperity during his six years on the Chamber's board. Under his transformational leadership, the organization rebranded from Cornerstone Chamber to better reflect its regional focus; recruited President and CEO Arthur Havlicek; fought against harmful pandemic policies; and formed two new entities under the Chamber umbrella, Discover Southwest Michigan and the Regional Chamber Foundation, which, alongside the Bridgman CGA, provide focused and accelerated regional economic development opportunities across the region. Not only has the organization evolved during his tenure, programming has improved, membership has grown, and the number of staff employed has more than doubled.
"Mark’s leadership and dedication to our region have been invaluable,” said Arthur Havlicek, President & CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce. “His entrepreneurial spirit combined with his deep understanding of our community's needs has not only shaped the direction and success of our organization, it has left a lasting impact on our region’s business community. We have no doubt that he will achieve similar success in his new role at KOA. While his talents will now serve a broader audience, we’re fortunate to continue benefiting from his guidance here at home.”
Lemoine reassures that although his responsibilities and travel schedule will certainly increase, one of the greatest strengths he brings to his new role is that he is still a franchisee. Together with his wife Karla and their dedicated team, they will continue to own and operate the Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday where he intends to spend the summer months. He also plans to remain an active board member of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, where he says the fun is just beginning.
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