Name: Denise Peters
City: Niles, MI
Workplace: YMCA of Greater Michiana
Title: COO & YMCA Camp Eberhart Director
How do you think that Bold Women of Business demonstrate being bold?
I believe Bold Women of Business demonstrate boldness with their commitment to action and impact. They take action with ability, passion, and empathy to connect community, share awareness of community needs, identify resources, people, and businesses alike for greater impact together on our community social cohesion, wellness, and economy.
Bold women are often defined by a number of descriptors. Please choose from the following descriptors to produce the top three that you would say most exemplify your personality?
Courageous
Bright
Strong
Please provide an example of when you feel you were at your very best in taking action on the job or in your role.
1. Summer My Way in Niles- Working with multiple community partners to create and provide program to students and families. 2. Running the cohort team to bring LIVESTRONG at the YMCA to the Niles-Buchanan and Benton Harbor- St. Joseph areas. 3. Working with community partners to bring Community Resiliency Model to Berrien County and then working with those partners to train over 120 staff at YMCA Camp Eberhart to utilize the model to impact over 2500 campers during the summer.
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened on your road to success?
One of the funniest things that ever happened is when Mark Weber was asked to step into the YMCA as interim CEO role at the Niles- Buchanan YMCA. Mark urged me to apply for CEO and said he was going to strongly recommend me for the job. I told him the CEO role was not my passion place and I warned him that the YMCA bug would bite him and he would stay at the Y. I encouraged him to think about it and I would be delighted to do all I could do to support him at the Y. Well, look at us these years down the road 🙂 The impact is AMAZING!
Who most inspires your personal drive for success every day?
I LOVE people; all kinds of people! I pray, wherever GOD allows me to be today, help me to have a positive impact and make a difference where I am.
What is your best advice to women in Southwest Michigan looking to succeed, as you have, in business?
Value people and remember, not everybody thinks like you. This helps you to learn from the perspective and ideas of others to broaden your view and impact.
What does your selection to the ranks of the Bold Women of Business from Moody on the Market mean to you?
I am honored. I see the amazing women from this year and past years and my heart is full of gratitude to be seen as someone who has an impact on our community.
