Camp Courageous CEO Charlie Becker stepping down

Longtime leader to focus on leading Camp Courageous Foundation; search underway for successor

Charlie Becker Camp Courageous
Camp Courageous CEO Charlie Becker is stepping down. CREDIT CAMP COURAGEOUS

After more than 45 years as CEO of both Camp Courageous and the Camp Courageous Foundation, Charlie Becker is stepping down as CEO to focus his full attention on the Foundation.

The transition was announced in a news release Wednesday, Jan. 15.

The Camp Courageous board plans to hire a new CEO to lead the day-to-day operations of Camp Courageous.

The board has partnered with a succession consultant, Sarah Hermanson with One Above HR, to assist with the transition process.

According to the release, the board chose One Above HR because “they were extremely qualified in planning, communicating, searching, and onboarding. In addition, they know and understand Camp Courageous, and its vital role in the lives of its campers, staff, and supporters.”

Ms. Hermanson was also a counselor at Camp Courageous in the early 1990s.

“I feel extremely good about the board’s selection of One Above HR,” said Mr. Becker, 70. “They bring great experience, dedication and understanding to this important process. I think they are exceptional, and it’s been great to have a partner walk alongside our leadership as we plan for this transition.”

Before joining Camp Courageous, Mr. Becker was a high school teacher.  He completed his student teaching in Monticello, and after teaching less than a year in England and three years in southeast Iowa, he returned to Monticello to take the CEO role.

He started in 1980, when Camp Courageous was struggling to survive. During those early years, Mr. Becker said he remembers being kicked out of the Jones County Landfill because he and camp volunteer Clete Goedken took more out of the landfill than they were putting in.

During Mr. Becker’s time as CEO, Camp Courageous has grown from five to 35 buildings, from 40 to 400 acres, and from a few hundred campers to nearly 10,000.

Mr. Becker stressed he has been surrounded by thousands of caring individuals, from staff, volunteers, campers, and their families to generations of supporters.

“It has truly been a heartwarming run,” he said.

Camp Courageous volunteer board member Dr. Earl DeShaw started the Camp Courageous Foundation in 1980, and through significant contributions from large donors, estate allocations, and planned giving strategies such as wills and trusts, the Foundation has built a sustainable financial foundation, ensuring the long-term stability and success of Camp Courageous for years to come.

After conducting a nationwide search, the Camp Courageous board expects to hire a new CEO hired by the end of 2025. Anyone interested in applying is asked to submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. For more information, go to www.campcourageous.org

“This is not about Charlie Becker,” Mr. Becker said. “Camp Courageous has been the vehicle that has allowed all of us to give back, whether through time, materials, supplies or financial support. The beauty of Camp Courageous is one can see it, one can feel it, one can be a part of the joy it brings to so many.”

Founded in 1972, Camp Courageous provides year-round recreational, respite and travel opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families. The camp is run primarily on donations.