Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) announced that franchisee Mark Lemoine will join the corporate executive team as senior vice president, franchise operations.
Lemoine has owned and operated the Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday in southwest Michigan since 2016. He is an active franchisee, having founded a 20-group, engaged as a member of the KOA Owners Association, and presently serves on the Care Camps Foundation board of directors. Before buying a franchise, Lemoine amassed over thirty years of experience in government affairs and business consulting.
“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.”
Lemoine is highly active in the Southwest Michigan business community and has chaired the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber for the past four years. His close proximity to Elkhart, IN, the heart of the nation’s RV manufacturing, will benefit KOA’s partnerships with the broader RV industry.
“I am thrilled to be adding Mark’s critical franchise perspective and business acumen to our senior team,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. “Mark is well respected in our system and the broader industry. His leadership will help cement the critical partnerships between corporate and the franchise system which makes KOA so successful. He embodies our company’s values of entrepreneurship, customer-centricity, and passion – all traits he naturally possesses and will further cement in our business.”
Lemoine’s hiring was announced alongside the news that Darin Uselman, KOA’s current chief operations officer, will leave at the year’s end to pursue ministry. During Uselman’s tenure at KOA, he oversaw franchise operations as well as the operations and development of the company’s owned portfolio. As of now, there are no announced leadership changes to the owned side of the business.
“Darin has been a critical contributor to our business,” said O’Rourke. “I’m grateful to have partnered with him these past seven years. We are a better company because of his leadership, and I support him fully as he embarks on this new, important journey.”
KOA consists of two unique brands: KOA and Terramor Outdoor Resorts. KOA is the world’s largest system of privately owned, open-to-the-public campgrounds, consisting of more than 500 franchised and owned campgrounds. With unrivaled brand visibility, Terramor Outdoor Resorts, a glamping venture, opened its first flagship property in Bar Harbor, Maine in 2020.
Photo courtesy KOA
