Inside Kristin Ferguson’s home is a sign that reads, “Work with me, people.”
It’s an appropriate phrase, though the tone might imply frustration rather than the ease Ferguson’s friends and fellow volunteers have experienced while doing just that.
“She makes work fun and enjoyable,” says Marianne Troutman, who volunteers with Healthy New Albany, Inc. “You work with Kristin as she assigns and shares duties with you.”
In 2010, Ferguson was recruited by Healthy New Albany Founder Phil Heit to be the nonprofit’s marketing director and also became operations director for the New Albany Walking Classic. Until Executive Director Tracy Ingram’s hire last year, Ferguson was the nonprofit’s only paid employee.
“At one time I felt as if it would be almost impossible to hand off some of my activities, but that was yesterday,” Heit says. “Today (Ferguson) is capable of conducting the Walking Classic.”
And that’s just one of the many events that runs smoothly with Ferguson as a major force behind the scenes. She “manages the flow of information for the Walking Classic, and other events HNA co-hosts such as Ride to Recovery and the Challenge Family Triathlon, the New Albany Farmers Market, the lecture series and the New Albany Community Garden,” Ferguson says.
“Kristin has the ability to couple imagination with implementation,” Heit says.
The Tulsa native and Oklahoma University grad started her professional career in sales in Kansas City. She spent just a year and a half in that position – one she didn’t enjoy – but excelled in her next job in Houston, where she managed more than 30 people for a consumer product company.
“I had to overcome the fact that some of the other employees felt like I was too young, so I had to prove myself, which was great to do,” Ferguson says.
During the short stint in Kansas City she met her husband, Dave.
After Houston, they moved to St. Louis, where Ferguson worked as an account representative for Ralph Lauren, managing May Corporation’s Polo account in a three-state radius for six years before leaving to spend more time with family.
“We had two babies,” she says. “The quality of life became too hectic, so I decided to stay at home with our kids.”
In 1996, her husband got a new job in Columbus and the five Fergusons moved to New Albany, where she jumped into the com
munity with both feet, even as she had another child in 2000.
“I immediately joined a community Bible study and got involved in the kids’ schools, the kids’ sports teams and our neighborhood right away,” Ferguson says. “I was a charter member of the New Albany Women’s Network (NAWN), a head room mother for each of my kids, and sat on various committees and was involved in various volunteer roles in different organizations over the years.”
It wasn’t long before she felt right at home.
“Our friends really became our family here,” Ferguson says.
Once her four children were all in school, Ferguson decided to ramp up her participation in the community, becoming the marketing director for the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts while still organizing the operational duties for the New Albany Walking Classic.
“After two years, I left the McCoy Center and worked strictly for the evolving nonprofit, or as I like to say, ‘for purpose,’ Healthy New Albany,” Ferguson says.
As her workload for Healthy New Albany increased, so did her accomplishments.
“I also have helped create the website content and organize the ‘moving pieces’ revolving around the Walking Classic.”
She notes her large family was an asset in learning to manage all of her responsibilities.
“It is a skill acquired from managing a family of six,” she says. “Juggling became second nature. I have learned from many different personalities.”
But the work is rewarding, and what she enjoys the most are the people she works with and the cause she’s working toward.
“I have loved working with an assortment of like-minded people whose focus is to create something meaningful out of a desire around ‘wellness,’ Ferguson says. “It is an extraordinary group of talented individuals who have selflessly given of their time and energy to create this organization.
“The focus of all parties has been to make living in New Albany a better experience, with a focus on preventing illness (and) offering opportunities to learn how to stay healthy by providing a variety of activities associated with better health and community involvement.”
And she can actually see the difference it is making, which is incredibly motivating.
“I can feel and witness the impact Healthy New Albany is having as it evolves. I see it in individuals as they participate in the programs we offer. I see it in corporations that want to get involved, and I see it in the volunteers who engage,” Ferguson says.
The Walking Classic itself has grown immensely, and sold out this year in April with 3,500 participants.
Heit attributes this growth to Ferguson, the other volunteers and their positive attitudes.
“(Ferguson) is extremely well-liked by every one of our Healthy New Albany partners and (by) the community, as her effervescent personality serves as a magnet to motivate others to want to participate in our activities. She is the kind of person who energizes others with her positiveness, inclusiveness and competence,” he says.
Participation and interest, especially in the Walk, has increased so much that she and Heit have had discussions about expanding it beyond New Albany’s white fences.
“We are truly creating meaningful and impactful events in which people have shared interests, common attitudes and goals all around being engaged in better health practices. Plus, we’re having fun while pulling all the involved parties together. It’s been fascinating to watch it grow,” she says. “To expand this concept outside of our community, to be duplicate it elsewhere, that’s essentially the goal.”
David Allen is a contributing writer and a New Albany resident. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
