Mike Heinisch, executive director of Kent Youth and Family Services (KYFS) since 1999, will retire in the fall.

“The greatest honor of my 38 year career in human services has been the privilege and trust so many previous and current KYFS staff, board members, and community members placed in me to be the executive director,” Heinisch said in a Wednesday KYFS press release. “I should and will attempt to put into words the journey KYFS has been through in the time I’ve had the fortune to be the leader of this outstanding agency. At this point my purpose is to simply ‘thank you’ all for what you do each day that makes KYFS outstanding. It is the privilege of a lifetime to have been the executive director of Kent Youth and Family Services.”

The Board of Directors of Kent Youth and Family Services expressed gratitude for Heinisch’s leadership and outstanding service as the executive director.

“It is bittersweet to announce that in our January meeting, the Board of Directors accepted the retirement announcement of Mike,” Board President Lesley Hogan said. “We have the utmost appreciation for Mike’s leadership of Kent Youth and Family Services these past 21 years, and the local nonprofit community has benefited greatly from his collaboration, contributions and partnership. We are fortunate that Mike’s plan includes a recruitment and transition period through the 50th anniversary celebration later this year. The board looks forward to working with agency leadership and community partners in the search process for the new executive director in the coming weeks.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Kent Youth and Family Services’ founding on Sept. 21, 1970.

“2020 also marks the 21st year I’ve had the privilege of representing this outstanding agency as executive director,” said Heinisch, chosen in 2013 at the Kent Reporter Person of the Year. “It has long been a personal and professional goal of mine to be in this role, if appropriate, into the KYFS 50th year. With the turning of the calendar to 2020, this particular year of note and celebration for the agency has arrived.”

His retirement plans include a little bit of golf, reading, writing about his memories and spending more time with family and friends. And, being Mike Heinisch, he’ll still maintain an active presence in the community that he’s passionate about.

The KYFS Board will announce in the coming weeks its plans for a search for a new executive director.