Meet Russell and Kim Zapalac
A Journey of Togetherness
Russell Zapalac’s past included a dedicated civil engineering and strategic planning professional who has always been passionate about solving complex problems and innovating solutions that make a difference. With a career spanning over five decades, Russell managed billion dollar “design-build” and highway, subway, transit, and avaition projects across the US, earning respect and admiration from his peers. He holds a degree from the prestigious University of Texas and has worked for several of the country’s leading engineering firms as well as the Texas Department of Transportation.
On the other hand, Kim Stracener Zapalac was a creative force in the marketing world for healthcare and engineering firms. With her strong management, communication, and analytical skills, she presented customer/client-centric approaches to adapt to ever-changing markets. With a background in public relations and a degree in Marketing from Texas A&M University, Kim also attained a certification as a Registered Parliamentarian from the National Association of Parliamentarians. Her recent work included managing a 7000-person, nonprofit lineage society. As the organization’s CEO, she was responsible for management of the society’s $30+ million assets, for fundraising, and completing a new eight-million-dollar headquarter building.
Together, Russell and Kim have built a life filled with family, love, respect, and mutual support. Their shared interests in travel, dancing, and community service have brought them closer as they explore the world and contribute to causes they care about. Their partnership is a testament to their commitment to each other and their desire to make the world a better place.
Russell and Kim’s camping “roots” run deep….they grew up camping. Russell’s family had a “pop-up” trailer and spent weekend and vacations camping across Texas. Kim’s family of 5 toured the western US, living out of a pickup with a camper shell. Russell and Kim married in 1987, and soon after moved from Texas to California where they spent many weekends camping in the desert and mountains of California. In 1993 they bought their first Travel Trailer, an 18’ Starcraft. In 1995, they bought their first motorhome, a 32’ Class C Tioga and spent the next 10 years touring the Western and Central US, followed by a 38’ travel trailer in 2006. Upon retirement in 2023, they purchased a 26’ travel trailer and headed East for 3 months on the road….on our way home we stopped in Mississippi at a Campers World and saw a 2014 DS 4369…..two months later they purchased our own “home on wheels,” a 2015 DS 4369, sold our house, put the furniture in storage and became full-timers.
As they continue their journey, Russell and Kim are pursuing their present interest. Kim’s passion is genealogy, and is a member of DRA, DRT, and several other lineage organizations, which often influences where they stop in their travels. Russell loves the outdoors…hiking, fishing, and biking. They look forward to lots of new adventures as full-time RVers in the coming years…..making new friends, exploring this wonderful country, and continuing to grow, individuals and as a couple.
We are proud of our chapter and its wonderful people, and we’d love to have you join us. To join, please complete the online Membership Application and Renewal Form, or Print and Fill Out the PDF Form, include a check for $6.00 per year made out to the NKK Fulltimers Chapter, and mail it to the Fulltimers Secretary at the address on the confirmation email you receive once the form is submitted.
