Meg Pickard

She/Her

Director of Recreation & Fitness Center Manager

Recreation — Programming

About Meg

Meg Pickard is director of recreation for Chautauqua Institution with responsibility for administrative oversight at the Chautauqua Golf Club, Chautauqua Tennis Center, Chautauqua Sports Club, John R. Turney Sailing Center, Chautauqua’s four public beaches and Sharpe Softball Field. Meg also serves as fitness center manager of Chautauqua Health & Fitness, located inside the Turner Community Center.

Prior to joining the staff at the Institution, Meg worked in a variety of management roles at several organizations including the City of Jamestown Police Department, Economy Steel and the Jamestown Area YMCAs. Notable are her years of service as a faculty member and trainer for YMCA of the USA where she helped certify YMCA staff across the country in YMCA hallmark health and wellbeing programs. As a 30+ year veteran health and wellbeing advocate, her ambition is to inspire county residents and visitors alike to take full advantage of the supportive environments and relationships within Chautauqua’s recreation areas, inspiring their desire to lead a high quality of life.

Meg holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Her postgraduate area of focus was Business and Policy Studies culminating with a deep dive into improving the nation’s health during a year-long leadership symposium convened by the YMCA of the USA and held at the prestigious Washington University Institute for Public Health in St. Louis. Except for a few years residing in Atlanta, Georgia, Meg has been a lifelong resident of Chautauqua County.

Why did you choose to work at Chautauqua? What do you like about working at Chautauqua?

I chose to work at Chautauqua to hone my leadership skills and stretch beyond the boundaries of my previous roles.

Current and Former Volunteer or Board Roles

• Chautauqua Lake Association, Board Member (present)
• Creche, Board Member (present)
• YWCA Jamestown, past Board Member
• Chautauqua Leadership network, past Secretary

Professional Affiliations

• United States Golf Managers Association
• American Council on Exercise
• NYS Recreation & Park Society
• IDEA Health & Fitness Association

Personal Interests

Avid hiker, bicyclist, and kayaker.