02 Jan RMHC of the Capital Region Names New CEO

The Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region (RMHC-CR), is pleased to announce that Kimmy Venter has been named the organization’s new chief executive officer. Venter assumes the position after serving as interim CEO for the last three months of 2023.

Venter has been with RMHC-CR since April 2020, previously serving as director of marketing and community relations and utilizing her expertise in communications, marketing and community engagement to advance the organization’s mission to deliver and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and families. Prior to joining the team at RMHC-CR, Venter spent 11 years with the American Red Cross, where she held leadership roles in fundraising and communications, and served as a national spokesperson and public relations leader on large-scale disaster relief operations across the country.

“The board is very pleased to be able to appoint Kimmy Venter as full-time CEO after a period of outstanding interim leadership,” said Martin X. Shields, board president for RMHC-CR. “We are confident that she will foster the culture of compassion and hospitality that has always defined Ronald McDonald House Charities, and that she will lead the organization forward in new and exciting ways.”

“I am truly humbled by this opportunity and am honored to lead this incredible organization and the wonderful team of people who carry out its mission every day,” said Venter. “I look forward to extending the legacy of love and compassion that has made RMHC of the Capital Region such an important institution in our community for the last 40+ years. It is a great privilege to work alongside such dedicated staff, board members and volunteers to make a difference in the lives of families with sick children.”

Venter is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and holds an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Universal Accreditation Board. She is involved in numerous professional and community organizations, and currently serves as a board member for Girls on the Run Capital Region. Born and raised in Southern California, Venter has been a Capital Region resident since 2008. She lives in Delmar, N.Y. with her husband, Brendan, and son, Bryce.