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Dara Northfield - A Tribute

By MYAS Staff, 01/17/25, 4:00PM CST

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Dara Northfield Retires after 26 Years with MYAS

Dawson Blanck and Others Pay Tribute to Dara Northfield

In every organization, there are occasions to reflect on the journey and achievements of those who have significantly contributed to its success. Dara Northfield, our CFO and Director of Finance, is retiring, and anyone who has been around her knows how impactful she's been to the MYAS.

But I think context matters, and I want to paint a full picture of who Dara is, why she was so influential, and what legacy she leaves in our organization and in her community.

Dara joined MYAS in 1998 as our accountant. This was still considered the early years of our organization, as MYAS was founded in 1991. From her first days, she embodied a unique blend of professionalism and warmth, earning her the affectionate moniker of the "MYAS mom." Her influence extended beyond her official duties, supporting colleagues with both work-related and personal challenges.

Over the years, her dedication to the organization has been instrumental in maintaining the high standards of integrity and values that define MYAS. She has been a steadfast figure who has ensured that our organization has remained in good standing year after year.

But she didn't do things alone. Dara has been a superb collaborator, with an intuitive sense of balancing financial prudence with a common-sense approach, allowing the team to mediate differences constructively. This approach nurtured strong working relationships based on mutual respect and understanding, which I valued greatly during my time as Executive Director.

Culture matters within any organization, and Dara was intentional in fostering positivity at MYAS. She consistently adhered to a business casual dress code, and she had an open-door policy that endeared her to leaders inside and outside of our organization.

It wasn't unusual for Dara to go above and beyond. One of the best examples I can recall is her time serving MYAS as a tournament director for baseball and basketball tournaments. Though she had no obligation to take on this position, she did so to gain a deeper understanding of the organization’s operational challenges. This experience not only broadened her perspective, but it also allowed her to contribute valuable suggestions for improving efficiency.

On a personal note, I want to thank Dara for her guidance and wisdom as I transitioned into my current role as Executive Director. Her easy-going nature fostered an environment where I felt comfortable asking questions and showing vulnerability, which was essential for me to understand the nuances and intricacies of my position. Her efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly navigating the complexities of relief opportunities, further underscored her dedication.

So Dara, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for being such an incredible colleague and friend. Your contributions to our organization extend far beyond the operational excellence you delivered every day. You are truly the heart and soul of the “MYAS family,” a cornerstone of everything we stand for. Your kindness, dedication, and unwavering positivity make a difference not only in our work but in the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know you. We cherish you dearly and are so grateful for all that you do and all that you have done for MYAS.

But I'm not alone. I offered others an opportunity to share their thoughts about Dara, and the response was quick and overwhelming, which is why I wanted to share some of them below:


"Dara Northfield is best described as a "Bundle of Classy!" She set a great example for ALL of her coworkers. She has been the epitome of competence and caring. She has a big heart with an even bigger brain! We are all better people because our lives were touched by Dara."

      - Dan Klinkhammer - MYAS co-founder and former Executive Director

 

"I admired her always positive attitude, and there are too many memories to state just one.

But Dara is a large part of the success of MYAS."

      - Mike DeWane - Former President, MYAS Board of Directors

 

"Dara's legacy is keeping MYAS off the radar of the IRS. But, more importantly, being the 'mom' to the MYAS Family. I think in a lot of ways, there isn't an MYAS without Dara; she's the Oz behind the curtain. We'll miss her kindness, her knowledge and her approachability."

      - Tom Kuykendall - President, MYAS Board of Directors

 

"As the former auditor for MYAS, I admire Dara for her work ethic and empathic nature. I looked forward to working with her each year. From an auditor’s perspective, Dara’s legacy is keeping a complex athletic organization grounded and in compliance – keeping everyone honest. MYAS is fortunate to have had such a competent and wonderful human holding you all together. She will be greatly missed.”

      - Julie Richardson - CPA

 

"Dara has led MYAS with honesty, integrity and collaboration. She’s approachable, a good listener and very thoughtful with her communication. She has lived and breathed the MYAS mission as a staff member, volunteer, parent and grandparent. She is also one of the kindest humans I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I recall one instance when we had to work very hard to gather a lot of information in a short amount of time, and she never complained nor wavered. I’m deeply appreciative of her partnership and friendship, and I will miss that smile."

      Andrea Murphy -Treasurer, MYAS Board of Directors

 

"The thing I admire most about Dara is her ability to stay calm and level-headed in any situation. I have witnessed it day in and day out. I think her biggest legacy at MYAS is her dedication to keeping us afloat during COVID. I don’t know how — or if! — we could have survived had she not navigated PPP loans and other funding issues, helped staff get squared away with unemployment accounts/benefits, handled all of our financial issues, and tackled numerous other tasks that probably nobody even knew about. I want people to know that Dara is one of the kindest, most honest, and most caring people I have ever known. She goes out of her way to offer her help in any situation. She is book-smart and people-smart, and if there’s ever something she’s not sure about, she goes the extra mile to investigate/research until she has an answer or solution."

      - Siri Forde - Office Manager/HR Coordinator & original MYAS hire in 1991

 

"Dara was always the voice of reason about any issues that came up, whether it was related to a sport, employee, or family issue. I always knew that I could consult with her on anything! We discussed many things related to work but also many personal things. Between passings in our families and our kids growing up, we never lacked for things to discuss. For MYAS, I know she was essential to keeping the doors open during the pandemic and other challenging times. I could go on and on, but I'm sure everyone will say the same things: She was the best, and I'm sure will be greatly missed.

      - Joanne Powell - Former MYAS Receptionist (“Voice of the MYAS” from 1994-2018)

 

"Dara has always been a calming influence and a voice that looks at all situations from several perspectives. I'm going to extremely miss our early morning socializing and solving of the world's problems. So many fond memories that it's difficult to list them all. Blessed to be her co-worker all these years."

      - Rich Penick - MYAS Associate Director - Administrator

“Dara always made time to listen to whatever you needed help with, even if she was knee deep in the middle of her own work. Dara was not only the CFO of the MYAS family, she was the mothership. I also viewed her as more than just a coworker, as she was knowledgeable in all areas, a good friend, a good listener, very caring and discreet.”

      - Deb Dahl - MYAS Director of Charitable Gaming

"I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Dara the past 18-plus years. She maintains a positive attitude, takes pride in a job well done, cares deeply about everyone she works with, and dresses far better than anyone else in this office! I could also count on her to relate to my quirky pop culture references from the 70s/80s, and she was my go-to person for domestic and world travel questions. Lastly, Dara’s legacy is that she made it so that none of us had to worry about what was going on with MYAS’s finances. You must be a trustworthy person in that role and she was the epitome of that.

      - Dan Craighead - MYAS Director of Business Development

 

"I admired Dara's ability to do her job at an extremely high level. She was always reliable, accurate, willing to help with anything, and almost always with a smile on her face. I admire the heck out of the fact that she takes her grand kids on vacations. I want to have the time and energy to do that when the time comes."

      - Jeremy Innes - MYAS Associate Director - Operations

 

"Dara will forever be known as 'D-Money,’ someone who brought her expertise into an environment that needed it to further the legitimacy of the MYAS. There is no obstacle that cannot be conquered with her in the room; she thinks 'with' you, leading to a situation where the path to a solution or idea is unveiled through open and honest discussion. No ego whatsoever, only dedication to a common goal lending whatever talents she can offer. We preach, 'Do the Right Things for the Right Reasons,' and her integrity fulfilled our mission in more ways than just financial operations. 'Selfless' would be the word I would use to describe her. Many believe that Dara is/was the most important member of the staff then and now.  If "Dara's" grew on trees, I'd plant a whole forest.

      Adam Klinkhammer -  MYAS Associate Director - Strategic & Business Development

 

"I will always remember D-Money for how she kept everything organized and steered the financial ship. I want others to know that she was dedicated to MYAS, and her belief in what MYAS stood for. She was always willing to help, no matter what, even in her high heels.

      - Eric Rathke - MYAS Program Manger

 

"I admire Dara for her ever-positive disposition around the office, and genuine appreciation of our organization and mission. She kept our organization out of peril from a financial perspective, specifically the grind, commitment, and assistance provided to individual employees and navigation of the org through COVID. I also want others to know that she has a huge heart and always goes the extra mile to care about those she works with.

- Lance Klinkhammer - MYAS Associate Director - Programs

 

"Dara is the most kind and genuine individual you will ever meet. As a leader for MYAS over the years, she has been exemplary as someone who doesn't mind getting down in the trenches to help get the job done. She leaves a legacy of excellence, as she tried every day to help fulfill the mission of the organization."

      - Kevin Wilson - MYAS Program Manager

 

"Dara's legacy at MYAS is her commitment; she was always the first one to work and always volunteered to help out at weekend events. But she was also thoughtful (we could always count on a bag of goodies on our desk every Valentine's and Halloween) and in a good mood, which rubs off on the people around her."

      - Bobby Strickland - MYAS Program Manager

 

"For over 25 years of partnering with MYAS, I will always miss the warm greeting from Dara. 'Well, good morning, Mr. Dover...' She was always positive and made me feel extra welcome when I visited the MYAS office and team members. Wishing you the best Dara!"

      - David Dover - Signature Concepts

As you can see, Dara has been cherished by both current and former team members as well as our valued partners. While we will deeply miss her presence as a full-time employee, we are fortunate to continue benefiting from her wisdom and leadership in her ongoing role as a member of the MYAS Board of Directors.

Dara, we salute you! Thank you for your remarkable service, time, and dedication to MYAS and our shared mission.