10/13/2026
The Yosemite Climbing Association (YCA) is pleased to announce the promotion of Katie Getz to Deputy Director, effective July 2026.
Katie joined YCA in March 2025 as Director of Programs and Development. In that role she led Yosemite Facelift, held each September and the largest volunteer event in any national park. She also served as director of the Yosemite Film Festival & Storyteller Summit, building the inaugural festival from the ground up. The festival presented more than 40 films at two venues over four days, along with panels and workshops. The second Yosemite Film Festival will take place in April 2027. As Deputy Director, Katie will continue to lead these programs while helping guide YCAโs overall operations.
Katie brings more than a decade of experience in and around Yosemite National Park. From 2017 to 2020 she served as Executive Director of the Yosemite National Park Child Care Center, leading the nonprofit that serves families of park employees and residents. Earlier, she was Program Manager at Gorman Heritage Farm, an environmental science educator with NatureBridge, and a team lead with Delaware North in Yosemite, where she managed retail departments for park visitors.
โYCA is so lucky to have Katie as part of the team,โ said Jim Thomsen, Managing Director. โThe 2026 Yosemite Facelift, with 1,700 volunteers, was productive, exciting, and fun. Creating a very successful four-day film festival in less than six months was a testament to Katieโs creative and organizational abilities. Her deep ties to the Yosemite community, her leadership style, and her energy make Katie perfect for this demanding position.โ
The Yosemite Climbing Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving the history, culture, and future of Yosemite climbing. YCA operates the Yosemite Climbing Museum in Mariposa, publishes the Yosemite News Brief, hosts the Yosemite Film Festival & Storyteller Summit, and Yosemite Facelift.
Media contact: Jim Thomsen, Managing Director, [email protected]
