The Greater Peoria Family YMCA has named Brad Ruehrdanz as its next CEO, selecting a leader whose career has been closely tied to the YMCA movement.
Ruehrdanz joins the Peoria organization from the Bloomington-Normal YMCA, where he most recently served as senior director of membership experience. During his tenure, he also held roles as director of sports and wellness and director of operations, gaining experience across membership growth, programming, and day-to-day facility management. He began his YMCA career on the membership team and spent nine years in Bloomington-Normal building his leadership experience.
In LinkedIn message following the announcement, Ruehrdanz described himself as humbled and honored to step into the CEO role. He emphasized a commitment to servant leadership and community impact, noting that the Greater Peoria Y is well positioned to build on its strong foundation of service. He also shared appreciation for his nine years in Bloomington-Normal, calling them among the most formative and memorable of his life, and expressed gratitude to colleagues who helped shape him both professionally and personally. Ruehrdanz said he is eager to begin his new chapter and join the Peoria team on April 1.
Beyond his professional work, Ruehrdanz has been active in the community, volunteering as a football coach at Normal Community High School and serving as a member and past president of the Bloomington Kiwanis Club according to reporting by the Peoria Journal Star.
He succeeds Andy Thornton, who stepped down in October 2025 after eight years leading the Peoria Y and has since taken on the CEO role at the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs.
The YMCA’s board conducted a regional search before selecting Ruehrdanz, citing his operational background, leadership experience and deep alignment with the organization’s mission as key factors in the decision. Board leadership expressed confidence that his blend of strategic vision and hands-on management experience positions him well to guide the Greater Peoria Y into its next chapter.
Connect with Ruehrdanz on LinkedIn.
