Saturday , February 1
January 23 , 2025 The Beacon • 15
Meet McPeek from the new leadership class of 2025
Camille McPeek grew up in Lipa City in the Batangas Province of the Philippines .
The Philippines , located in Southeast Asia , is an archipelago made of more or less than 7,000 islands . The three major groups of islands are Luzon , Visayas and Mindanao . Batangas province is in the southern part of Luzon Island .
McPeek said growing up in Lipa City was similar to Coshocton County , but it has since exploded in population and economic growth . McPeek attended St . Joseph School from kindergarten to fourth grade and The Nazareth School from fifth grade to sixth grade . She graduated from De La Salle Lipa Integrated School in 2006 , which at that time , unlike the traditional American education system , only goes through the 10th grade for high school .
While in high school , she played basketball and enjoyed the sciences and going to live music concerts with her dad . Following high school , McPeek went to the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City . She intended to major in biology , but the department quickly filled
“ Ever since I moved here , the community has been welcoming and kind . That feeling is still there . I still get homesick , but Coshocton is my home , and I am very lucky to have a supportive family and friends here .”
Camille McPeek
due to being a popular premed course . Needing to select another major , McPeek chose geology because it sounded exciting .
The coursework included lots of field work in different provinces and travel within the Philippines .
“ It was fun ,” McPeek said . “ I was in the right place with the right people for my formative years — science and adventure and freedom .”
McPeek graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Geology and in 2011 began working for Goldfields , an international mining company . She was assigned to work in Mankayan , Benguet , in the northern mountains , in the Lepanto Mine , where the company was doing duediligence studies to confirm the amount and location of the gold deposit . Her position was to record minerals found in drilled core samples .
It was at Goldfields McPeek was introduced to Ryan McPeek , who would become her husband , as well as Alina Gaibor , a senior geologist who was a leadership mentor . McPeek admired Gaibor ’ s leadership style .
Camille McPeek
In 2013 , after two years of logging core , McPeek decided to take a gap year and explored options toward getting a master ’ s degree in geology . By this time Ryan McPeek had returned to the United States , so Camille started seeking scholarships to study in the U . S . She took all the tests necessary for international students to apply for and study in the U . S . but was unable to secure a full scholarship to further her education and had doubts whether the academy was the right path for her .
She then started her second job as a junior geologist for geotechnical work for GHD , an Australian engineering firm that had an office in Manila . This was a corporate position and gave her the chance to observe the efficiency of big companies with systems in place such as project managers , HR and IT .
She also had a manager
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Ben Croghan
who demonstrated positive leadership traits . He encouraged her to use the job and experience to learn .
After four years of a long-distance relationship , she and Ryan McPeek were married in 2015 , and it was then she quit her geology job to operate a campground . As co-owner / operator of the Coshocton KOA Holiday Campground , she said she has more fun than previous jobs .
“ It ’ s fulfilling for me to see the immediate results of our work through happy campers and festival guests ,” she said .
She owns the property with her husband , and each of them has their own specialty . She focuses on marketing by maintaining websites , managing social media , email marketing and print marketing .
“ I enjoy designing marketing materials . I enjoy collaborating with other organizations and businesses , looking for ways to involve the community in our events such as providing passes to the Coshocton Sunflower Festival or Coshocton KOA pool for young people involved with the Coshocton County Library ’ s Summer Reading Program ,” she said .
She also is responsible for buying and curating items for the Coshocton KOA Camp Store . She said she enjoys working with a team the most and considers taking care of staff most important .
She is on the Kampgrounds of America Franchise Advisory Committee and said she enjoys the opportunity to network with the KOA home office team in national marketing , gleaning ideas to share with the Coshocton Visitors Bureau and other businesses . She also serves on the CVB Board and said she is looking forward to volunteering with the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum for its Beer , Bourbon and Bites Fundraiser .
She said she wanted to participate in LCC to improve her communication and leadership skills .
“ The leadership project is a real-life opportunity to work on communication skills within teams and make connections with classmates ,” she said .
She also said she appreciates the Positive Leadership curriculum and finds it very helpful to read and learn about the concepts . She has found value in meeting graduates and alumni , learning about the community , and learning from Coshocton community leaders .
When asked her view of the community , McPeek said , “ Ever since I moved here , the community has been welcoming and kind . That feeling is still there . I still get homesick , but Coshocton is my home , and I am very lucky to have a supportive family and friends here .”
To make the county stronger , the fist thing that came to McPeek ’ s mind was more child care options .
“ A day care structure is important for the community . There needs to be more support or options for working parents . Increasing child care options is one way to grow and invest in the county at a time when community leaders are trying to attract businesses and people here ,” she said .
McPeek would recommend LCC for others .
“ Because of the knowledge gained in the curriculum , meeting people , and other leaders who are trying to learn more and improve the community . You can apply the tools and skills that you are learning to your business or occupation ,” she said .
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