This month, we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Kitchel! Kendra retired from her corporate career in January and joined our staff as a swim instructor not long afterwards. She also has a strong history with the Carmel Swim Club organization. We asked her a few questions so you could get to know Kendra better.
How did you start working with the Carmel Swim Academy?
“I retired from my corporate career in January, 2025. I quickly found that I was bored being at home full-time, but not ready to jump into another full-time role. At the same time, I find that my husband and I are now in a life-stage where we are consciously looking for ways to give back to the community and groups that we have benefited from for years. This led me to look at opportunities within the Carmel Swim Club system. Our three children were all competitive swimmers, and my husband and I were deeply involved with Carmel Swim Club until our youngest went to college. Teaching swim lessons seemed like the perfect fit to fill my desire to work less-than-full-time in my retirement, and a chance to give back to the swim community that has been so important to our children and our family for so many years.”
How would you describe the culture at Carmel Swim Academy?
“I was immediately impressed with the professionalism with which CSA is managed and operated. There are specific and measurable objectives for each level within the lesson program. At the same time everyone (from the youngest new instructor to an ‘old-timer’ retiree like me) is treated with respect and held to a high standard of performance.”
Why do you think swim lessons are important?
“Regardless of whether a child has aspirations of competitive swimming or not, I believe swimming is a foundational skill that everyone needs. The ability to ‘save oneself’ in water opens up the door to a lifetime of safe and healthy activity. If we can impart the skills for each child to be comfortable in the water, and know the different strokes in order to move through the water with efficiency and skill; these children will find that they love being in the water and will benefit from the exercise, the camaraderie, and the confidence they gain.”
What do you like most about working at CSA?
“As mentioned above, I like working hours that I choose now that I am retired. I enjoy being able to introduce youngsters to the water and hopefully to build their confidence and joy in being able to swim and feel comfortable in a water setting.”
What made you want to work at the Carmel Swim Academy?
“Through the interaction with Carmel Swim Club, when our children were competing, our family gained lifelong friends, as well as the opportunity for our children to compete at a higher level than was ever anticipated. As I was searching for fulfilling activities in my retirement, I could think of nothing better than to facilitate similar experiences for others – working with CSA has allowed me to do that.”