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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- The Adair County Family YMCA officially has a new leader after more than four months of searching.  Sara Riffer started last week as executive director replacing Lance Dempsay who resigned in March. 

Riffer is originally from Missouri but was living in Alaska with her husband and two children before moving to Kirksville.  She has previous experience with a different YMCA that dates back to 1997.

“Having the opportunity to come back with the YMCA because of its mission, because of its benefits, because it does change the lives of the people that are involved, that is what really drove us to come here,” said Executive Director Sara Riffer.

Riffer says don’t expect any major changes at the Y just yet. 

“I still need to grasp my hand around budgets and around staff and around the community itself.  What we need, what is already being done, what we can collaborate and partner with other people to do bigger and better,” said Riffer.

At this time the only immediate changes she wishes to implement are to the programs.

“I have a lot of experience in expanding programs and growing YMCAs and that is my main goal here is to really provide services that are maybe lacking in the community so we can serve everybody,” said Riffer.

Riffer and her husband wanted to move closer to their family after the birth of their twin daughters in March.   She attended Missouri Baptist University in Saint Louis where she received degrees in Biological Health Sciences and Parks and Recreation.

If you have any suggestions for the new director, you can call the YMCA at 660-665-1922 or e-mail Riffer at sriffer@mail.com.