Kim Stemler is leaving wine growers organization for Carmel Foundation.

Kim Stemler, executive director of the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association, is leaving the position after nearly 11 years to take on a new leadership role as the CEO/president of the Carmel Foundation. She officially assumes her new job on May 1.

Stemler's leadership was key to elevating Monterey County wines to the industry and the state, as well as serving as a point person for the community during disasters, including wildfires and Covid-19.

It's her service during the pandemic—including getting workers tested, vaccinated and cared for, as well as providing information to the general public about where to get tested and vaccinated as part of the Monterey County Covid Collaborative—that led her to this career move, she says.

"I realized that kind of work, that service to people, is very important to me and fills my heart," Stemler says. "This is really a soul-filling, or soul-calling I'll call it." 

Yet, it's not an easy move, she says, after years of working with people and families in the wine industry she respects and admires.

"I would only leave for a great thing, and I think the Carmel Foundation's work is amazing," Stemler says.

The foundation was created in 1950 to assist senior citizens in the community who were struggling. In 1962 leaders purchased a four-unit apartment building to be used as affordable housing—today it owns 50 units. 

It also offers low-cost lunches and over 50 classes weekly, among other services, open to anyone in Monterey County age 55 and older who pays a $60 annual membership fee.

Current CEO/President Holly Zoller is retiring, but will be available to the foundation to offer guidance, says Stemler. She says she will be doing the same for MCVGA. 

It's also a step up for Stemler from MCVGA, a small nonprofit of two employees with income of $338,000 and assets of $105,000 in 2022, according to its IRS Form 990. The foundation has over 15 employees and posted over $2.5 million in income and had approximately $20 million in assets in the same year. 

Stemler's accomplishments as head of MCVGA include passage of a California law requiring that wine labels show the region and sub-region, or AVA, where wines come from, which helped bring attention to wines from Monterey County.

She also led the way to create new ways to bring wine lovers to the county's wine country and successfully organized events like the annual Winemakers' Festival, held annually in downtown Carmel.