Saturday, October 27, 2007
News
YMCA CEO going ‘home' to Ohio
By GARY WEBSTER Argus-Press Education Editor
OWOSSO - Doug Saunders is going “home.”
Saunders, four-year CEO of the Shiawassee Family YMCA, has accepted a similar position with the Fayette County YMCA in Washington Court House, Ohio, south of Columbus.
Foremost with Saunders is that the job switch will move him much closer to his 8-year-old daughter Sybil, who lives in Jackson, Ohio, less than two hours from Washington Court House.
Saunders' last day on the job in Owosso is Friday. Mary Kay Larsen, who served as CEO of the Shiawassee Family YMCA from 1999 until Saunders' arrival in 2003, will return to the Owosso-based YMCA until Saunders' replacement is selected.
“This is a great opportunity for me,” Saunders said. “First, it gets me closer to my daughter. Then there is the brand-new Fayette County YMCA in Washington Court House, which just opened last week.
“It is 36,000 square feet and has an indoor swimming pool. It's on 10 acres leased for $1 for the next 99 years. It cost $4.3 million and was community financed. Developing ballfields will be among my first priorities.”
Saunders is not leaving Owosso without regret or without leaving his mark on the Shiawassee Family YMCA.
“It's been great,” Saunders exclaimed. “This community has really welcomed me. The people here really value their YMCA and all that it offers. The Board - Bob Allen, Ron Baker, chairman Ann Bentley, Lynn Bowne, Bruce Cook, Dale Espich, Bill Gilbert, Bill Graham, Greg Gray, Charlie Green, Bob Hemenway, Jim McAvoy, Michael Moore, Hugh Parker, Cheryl Peterson, Jeff Sherman, Lori Sherman, Kristi Stambersky, Dr. Fred VanAlstine, Patricia Vaughn and Tony Young - are really passionate about making this YMCA the very best it can be.”
Saunders also mentioned senior program director Joe Skotcher, membership and marketing director Teresa Brown, facility and property manager Dave Pizzie, business manager Terri Pizzie, sports coordinator Josh Annett, fitness coordinator Robin Russell and aquatics coordinator Eugene Howe as being essential to the day-to-day operations of the Shiawassee Family YMCA.
Under Saunders' watch, membership scholarships and other benefits from the Strong Kids Campaign have risen “from the $42,000 range to around $73,000.” Saunders is also proud that attendance at Camp Shiawassee in Bancroft was up to 480 last summer from 352 for the 10-week program in 2004.
“We've developed some tremendous outreach programs ... Perry, Morrice, Shaftsburg, the schools,” Saunders added. “The hospital has been a great partner.
“People ask about new facilities. More partnerships like we have with Memorial Healthcare, possibly Baker College and maybe some key industries are needed in these tough economic times.
“I would ask that the people of Shiawassee County support their leaders - city managers, mayors, superintendents - to keep the YMCA moving forward.”
The Shiawassee Family YMCA, with 2,000 unit (families) memberships and right at 5,000 total members, has been hurt by the ongoing economic downturn, according to Saunders.
“We've lost some members to Powerhouse and other workout facilities,” the CEO conceded. “We've also seen some (membership) terminations because of people moving from the area. Requests for financial assistance are up, again because of the economy. The United Way is getting overwhelmed.”
The Shiawassee Family YMCA is a United Way agency.
But, Saunders summed up his stay in Owosso on a more positive note.
“I've truly enjoyed the Owosso community and this YMCA family. I like the small-town charm ... the Farmers' Market, the Curwood (Festival) races, all the kids' activities that the ‘Y' embraces. I'll always look back with good feelings about my time here.”
n Mary Kay Larsen will begin her interim tenure next week.
She left the Shiawassee Family YMCA to form Larsens Appraisals with her husband, Mike Larsen. The Owosso-based business is thriving, Mary Kay Larsen related while saying that she will work 15-20 hours a week as CEO of the YMCA until the Board picks Saunders' replacement.
Saunders, four-year CEO of the Shiawassee Family YMCA, has accepted a similar position with the Fayette County YMCA in Washington Court House, Ohio, south of Columbus.
Foremost with Saunders is that the job switch will move him much closer to his 8-year-old daughter Sybil, who lives in Jackson, Ohio, less than two hours from Washington Court House.
Saunders' last day on the job in Owosso is Friday. Mary Kay Larsen, who served as CEO of the Shiawassee Family YMCA from 1999 until Saunders' arrival in 2003, will return to the Owosso-based YMCA until Saunders' replacement is selected.
“This is a great opportunity for me,” Saunders said. “First, it gets me closer to my daughter. Then there is the brand-new Fayette County YMCA in Washington Court House, which just opened last week.
“It is 36,000 square feet and has an indoor swimming pool. It's on 10 acres leased for $1 for the next 99 years. It cost $4.3 million and was community financed. Developing ballfields will be among my first priorities.”
Saunders is not leaving Owosso without regret or without leaving his mark on the Shiawassee Family YMCA.
“It's been great,” Saunders exclaimed. “This community has really welcomed me. The people here really value their YMCA and all that it offers. The Board - Bob Allen, Ron Baker, chairman Ann Bentley, Lynn Bowne, Bruce Cook, Dale Espich, Bill Gilbert, Bill Graham, Greg Gray, Charlie Green, Bob Hemenway, Jim McAvoy, Michael Moore, Hugh Parker, Cheryl Peterson, Jeff Sherman, Lori Sherman, Kristi Stambersky, Dr. Fred VanAlstine, Patricia Vaughn and Tony Young - are really passionate about making this YMCA the very best it can be.”
Saunders also mentioned senior program director Joe Skotcher, membership and marketing director Teresa Brown, facility and property manager Dave Pizzie, business manager Terri Pizzie, sports coordinator Josh Annett, fitness coordinator Robin Russell and aquatics coordinator Eugene Howe as being essential to the day-to-day operations of the Shiawassee Family YMCA.
Under Saunders' watch, membership scholarships and other benefits from the Strong Kids Campaign have risen “from the $42,000 range to around $73,000.” Saunders is also proud that attendance at Camp Shiawassee in Bancroft was up to 480 last summer from 352 for the 10-week program in 2004.
“We've developed some tremendous outreach programs ... Perry, Morrice, Shaftsburg, the schools,” Saunders added. “The hospital has been a great partner.
“People ask about new facilities. More partnerships like we have with Memorial Healthcare, possibly Baker College and maybe some key industries are needed in these tough economic times.
“I would ask that the people of Shiawassee County support their leaders - city managers, mayors, superintendents - to keep the YMCA moving forward.”
The Shiawassee Family YMCA, with 2,000 unit (families) memberships and right at 5,000 total members, has been hurt by the ongoing economic downturn, according to Saunders.
“We've lost some members to Powerhouse and other workout facilities,” the CEO conceded. “We've also seen some (membership) terminations because of people moving from the area. Requests for financial assistance are up, again because of the economy. The United Way is getting overwhelmed.”
The Shiawassee Family YMCA is a United Way agency.
But, Saunders summed up his stay in Owosso on a more positive note.
“I've truly enjoyed the Owosso community and this YMCA family. I like the small-town charm ... the Farmers' Market, the Curwood (Festival) races, all the kids' activities that the ‘Y' embraces. I'll always look back with good feelings about my time here.”
n Mary Kay Larsen will begin her interim tenure next week.
She left the Shiawassee Family YMCA to form Larsens Appraisals with her husband, Mike Larsen. The Owosso-based business is thriving, Mary Kay Larsen related while saying that she will work 15-20 hours a week as CEO of the YMCA until the Board picks Saunders' replacement.