Kory Dogs
January 1, 2025
Karin Kirchmeier, CEO of Partners for Community Development, reflects on her journey from a communications degree to leading a nonprofit dedicated to improving lives through housing and social services. Born and raised in Racine County, Karin later moved to Sheboygan, where she now leads the organization, leveraging over two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector. She emphasizes the importance of democratic leadership, valuing her team’s input and fostering collaboration. Her leadership style evolved over time, prioritizing humility, continuous learning, and adaptability. Karin candidly discusses her challenges, including imposter syndrome, and highlights the responsibilities CEOs face beyond the common misconceptions of the role.
Partners for Community Development serves eastern Wisconsin, addressing critical housing and energy needs through a range of solutions, such as weatherization, energy assistance, HVAC services, and homebuyer programs. The organization targets communities earning 60–80% of the area’s median income, with efforts expanding to meet growing housing demands. Karin underscores the importance of teamwork in achieving their mission, crediting her leadership team and employees for their collective impact. Looking forward, she identifies affordable housing as a pressing issue and commits to finding innovative solutions. She concludes with advice for leaders: Never do it alone. Instead, focus on building a strong, supportive, and dedicated team.
Podcast Transcript:
Kory Dogs: Hello, everyone. This is Kory Dogs from ActionCOACH Business Coaching. I’m thrilled to have Karin Kirchmeier, CEO of Partners for Community Development, with us today. Karin joined Partners in 2020, succeeding Lucio Fuentez as the executive director.
She’s passionate about continuing the mission and vision of the organization, strengthening the communities it serves. Karin holds dual degrees in administrative leadership and communications and has over two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, focusing on creating social change for better lives and healthier communities.
Partners for Community Development, a 501(c)(3) organization, connects communities with safe and affordable housing while providing opportunities to improve lives. Their work spans social services programs, energy assistance, residential energy conservation, housing rehabilitation, and home-buying assistance, which Karin will share more about later.
The organization serves the eastern Wisconsin counties of Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Calumet, Sheboygan, Ozaukee, and now Milwaukee. Fun fact: before moving to the Sheboygan area, where she now lives and works, Karin spent nearly every summer weekend in Sheboygan County.
But you don’t live out of your office, do you? Or maybe sometimes?
Karin Kirchmeier: Well, it feels like it!
Kory: Her favorite season is football season.
Karin: Yes! Go Pack Go!
Kory: Go Pack! With that, it’s my pleasure to welcome Karin to the show today. Hello, Karin!
Karin: Good morning, Kory. You nailed it! I’m not sure how I feel about that “two decades” part, though. Am I even old enough to have worked for two decades?
Kory: Time flies when you’re having fun, right?
Karin: It certainly does!
Kory: Alright, let’s dive in and get to know you a little better. First question: tell us about your personal journey. Where were you born and raised? You mentioned spending summers in Sheboygan. What’s your story?
Karin: I was born and raised in Racine County, in southern Wisconsin. I have a wonderful husband and two amazing daughters. As I shared with you, my family and I were permanent campers at Plymouth Rock Campground for over 10 years.
My brother loved this area so much that he was the first to move here, and since he’s the baby of the family, my mom followed. Then I was blessed with my current position and moved my whole family up here. I absolutely love Sheboygan—it’s home!
Kory: That’s awesome! Now, how did you get to where you are professionally?
Karin: You know, as a CEO, I get asked this question a lot, and it always makes me laugh. Honestly, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up—not even when I started college.
Back then, I picked a general degree in communications for my undergrad because it allowed me to go in many directions. Even after graduating, I still wasn’t sure. My first job was in juvenile crisis work for the county, responding to children in crisis situations. That’s when I realized my purpose: to lead nonprofits and make unexpected but meaningful impacts in people’s lives.
My mom had hoped I’d go into insurance, but here I am!
Kory: Thanks for sharing that. Leadership is such a hot topic now. Everyone has their own take and style. How would you describe your leadership style?
Karin: Well, I can tell you what I don’t want to be: the smartest person in the room. I love learning from my team and listening to their insights before making decisions.
I consider myself a democratic manager. I strive to create an environment where everyone’s voice matters, fostering healthy debate and consideration. I learn something new every day, and I aim to be a leader who represents my team.
Kory: Has your leadership style always been like that, or has it evolved over time?
Karin: It’s definitely evolved. Early in my career, like many, I made quick decisions and thought I knew it all. That mindset doesn’t work—it takes humility to grow. Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of improving every day and never being complacent.
Kory: Alright. Tell us more about Partners. Who do you serve? You do a variety of things, and the impact has been great. Now you’re growing. Could you share more about what Partners does?
Karin: How much time do we have, Kory?
Kory: Haha. As long as we need!
Karin: I could talk about Partners all day.
Let me quickly summarize. Partners for Community Development is a nonprofit headquartered in Sheboygan County, serving the Lakeshore region from Milwaukee to Door County. Our mission is to provide the resources that connect the communities we serve with safe and affordable housing. When I say “housing,” it’s not just traditional housing but the services needed to make housing safe and affordable.
For example, we have a weatherization program, which is our largest initiative. It spans our entire service area, helping people reduce utility costs—keeping homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter. We focus on things like air sealing and refrigerators, which are common places where energy is lost, and your hard-earned money is going out the window.
We also provide energy assistance. You’ve probably noticed it on your utility bill—funds allocated to help those struggling to pay their utility costs. This is often the entry point for accessing other programs like weatherization.
Additionally, we offer HVAC services for inoperable furnaces or AC units, water conservation assistance for leaky water heaters or running toilets, and repairs to help reduce utility bills long-term. Our homebuyers program provides down payment assistance to make purchasing homes more affordable, which is crucial given the current housing market.
We also have a critical repair program, handling major issues like foundations, windows, and roofs to ensure homes remain safe. Our services primarily target households earning 60–80% of the area’s median income, though that bracket has recently expanded. If you think you might qualify, visit our website to learn more.
I hope I didn’t go on too long, Kory—I can just keep talking about this!
Kory: It all starts with energy assistance. That’s the gateway to other support programs.
Karin: Exactly. Energy assistance is the first step to accessing weatherization and HVAC services. However, critical repair and housing programs don’t require energy assistance approval.
Kory: How does the homebuyers program work? Do they start with a lender or come to you first?
Karin: We ask that participants have a lender and be pre-approved for a home before coming to us. Once you’re pre-approved, you can apply for assistance through us.
Kory: Got it.
Karin: Yes. The minimum down payment assistance is $6,000, but with the current housing crisis, we’ve been offering more.
Kory: You’ve been CEO for a while now. When did you realize you had the confidence to lead an organization like Partners?
Karin: That’s a tough question, Kory. My predecessor, Lucio—who’s in my bio—founded and led this organization for over 45 years. Those are huge shoes to fill.
I still deal with imposter syndrome daily. Confidence fluctuates depending on the day and the challenges at hand. Leadership isn’t for everyone, but someone has to step up, and I knew I could be that person. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
Kory: That’s amazing. People often have misconceptions about being a CEO. What are some myths you’ve encountered?
Karin: I think the biggest myth I’d love to highlight is the idea that you get to be your own boss—that as the CEO, you’re at the top of the organization and can do whatever you want. The myth that you’re truly “the boss” is probably the biggest misconception I’ve encountered.
As a CEO, I have more responsibilities and obligations than ever before. I feel deeply accountable, not just to everyone on my team, but also to the livelihood of the communities we serve. It’s true that “heavy is the heart” of a CEO. The weight of what keeps you up at night is immense. You realize you’re not really your own boss. Instead, you’re driven by the agenda, the responsibilities on your plate, and your duty to the teams and communities depending on you.
Kory: I’d also like to add that you’re not what I’d call a traditional nonprofit—one with a single office serving a single community with a small team.
Karin: That’s correct.
Kory: You mentioned how many locations you have and the size of your team.
Karin: Yes, as you know, Kory, that can change day to day. But currently, we operate across the entire Lakeshore, from Milwaukee up to Door County, covering every county in between. You listed them earlier—it’s a lot! We have five locations and over 73 employees as of this Monday. I’m incredibly blessed to have an amazing leadership team. This isn’t something a CEO can—or should—do alone. Surrounding yourself with a great team is crucial.
Kory: Absolutely.
Karin: I think I say that a lot because it’s so important.
Kory: You also mentioned how you like to keep learning and growing. Have you had any recent experiences or advice that really stood out to you?
Karin: The most poignant advice I’ve received came from a politician early in my career. I was grinding hard, working long hours, and trying to achieve everything at once while raising young daughters. She told me, “You can achieve everything you want, just not all at once. Pace yourself or risk burning out.” That advice has stuck with me and shaped how I approach life and work.
Kory: That’s powerful. Thanks for sharing. One piece of advice I often share is that we already have within us what we need to live our best lives. It’s just a matter of finding and fostering it.
Karin: That’s a great one, Kory. You gave me goosebumps.
Kory: Okay, shifting gears. What’s something you’d like to learn outside of work?
Karin: I’ve always wanted to try cross-stitching. But as the decades of my work career have added up, so have the years on my vision—it’s definitely not what it used to be. So, I’m thinking about switching to crocheting instead. I really need a hobby.
I think I’ve mentioned to you, Kory, that my daughter recently had a pretty serious accident. She’s been home a lot and keeping busy, so I got her a beginner’s crochet kit. Needless to say, she never picked it up. So, I think it might be time for me to give it a try.
Kory: Alright. Looking ahead one to three years, where do you see the biggest area of growth for Partners?
Karin: Our mission is to connect communities with safe, affordable housing, which is a pressing issue in every area we serve. The problem is vast, but we’re committed to making a difference. We need to focus on where we can have the biggest impact and work on that every day. Affordable housing is a massive challenge, and you’ll definitely hear more from us on this.
Kory: What do you see as the biggest challenge to achieving that?
Karin: Wrong week to ask that, Kory! I’ll have to say politics—and leave it at that.
Kory: Haha. Fair enough. Last question: What advice do you have for leaders, CEOs, or business owners trying to do it all on their own?
Karin: Don’t do it all on your own—it’s not sustainable or smart. Surround yourself with equally dedicated people. There’s strength in numbers, and no one should do it alone.
Kory: Now for the shout-out portion. Are there mentors or individuals you’d like to acknowledge?
Karin: So many leaders have influenced my journey. My first supervisor in juvenile crisis, Denise, and later, Amy and Katie, supported me in incredible ways. But one person stands out—Rodney Prunty, the former CEO of United Way of Racine County and my self-declared mentor. He taught me what it means to be a leader, not a boss. He had tough but necessary conversations with me and always led by example. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. He’s now the CEO of United Way in New Mexico, thriving in the warm weather with his wife. He’ll always be my number one mentor.
Kory: Thank you for sharing that. How can someone learn more about Partners or get in touch with you and your team?
Karin: The best place to start is our website, www.partners4cd.com. Our marketing and outreach manager, Bailey Firgens, has done a fantastic job making it informative and user-friendly. You’ll find program applications, resources, contact details, and information on upcoming events. It’s a one-stop shop!
Kory: And again, that’s www.partners4cd.com.
Karin: You got it!
Kory: Great. That’s all the time we have today. Karin, it was wonderful getting to know you better. Thanks for sharing.
Karin: Thanks, Kory!