Favorite takeaways and lessons learned from the 2024 Community Rec Magazine cover stories.
As someone who is very nostalgic by nature, I always take the last few weeks of the year to look back at everything that happened over the previous 12 months. Every year, I pause in disbelief of how fast time has gone by. So, it’s fitting that we look back at Community Rec Magazine’s six cover stories in 2024.
From the dreams of Brian Steffen and the Eugene Family YMCA to the graceful persistence of Sabrina Smeltz and the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, these leaders inspired an entire industry. It was a pleasure to detail their stories, and here are my favorite takeaways from this year’s issues.
Eugene Family YMCA
Beginning with CEO Brian Steffen and the Eugene Family YMCA, we learned about the importance of shooting for the stars and dreaming big.
Doing so led the Eugene Family YMCA to opening its new state-of-the-art rec center after a capital campaign that raised an estimated $48 million, making the facility one of the most expensive in the history of the national YMCA organization.
“People will look back on a project of this magnitude,” said Steffen. “It’s going to have a transformative impact for our community. The building will remain, but the legacy of learning new skills on your own and developing confidence in your team will change lives for years to come.”
YMCA of San Diego County
In the March/April issue, Todd Tibbits, the CEO of the YMCA of San Diego County, shared how being one of the largest YMCAs in the country means being an organization that’s driven and full of unwavering resolve.
Leading with this mindset helped the Y go from an $8 million projected loss in 2021 amid the aftermath of the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic to a projected surplus in the 2024 fiscal year.
“It’s the pinnacle of our success, evidencing our organization’s resilience and impact,” said Tibbits. “This turnabout has permitted us to reinvest and ensure our YMCA thrives post-pandemic. It’s this collective journey to prosperity and the tangible manifestation of our values that I hold in highest regard.”
Trager Family JCC
For the May/June issue, Sara Klein Wagner, the CEO of the Trager Family JCC, detailed why passion for her hometown JCC helped fuel the rec center to unprecedented success.
As a native of Louisville, Kentucky, Wagner is leading the organization through an incredible period of growth, with the most significant achievement being the opening of a new $44.5 million Trager Family JCC in April 2022.
“How lucky am I to work side by side with an incredibly passionate team that created the new home for the Jewish community here in Louisville?” said Wagner. “For over 100 years our JCC has inspired and changed lives. I’m grateful to those who created a strong foundation and recognize it’s now our time to steward the organization forward. We’re truly a family and proud to welcome new members. Our team inspires me every day as we embrace the work of strengthening the legacy and passing the torch to the next generation. There’s no doubt I’m honored to be part of it.”
New Orleans JCC
In the July/August Issue, readers saw how Michael Rawl, the CEO of the New Orleans JCC, is empowering his staff after being named to the position in later 2023.
One strategy he employed was an all-staff meeting to kickoff 2024. The gathering featured a high-quality breakfast for everyone, free T-shirts, an overview of the JCC’s history, end-of-year results, vision for the future, education on Jewish values and a team picture.
“That was very well received and around 200 staff members were present,” said Rawl. “I had such positive, strong feedback from it. If you’re new somewhere, I would strongly recommend doing that kind of a meeting. It really set the right tone and people were shocked. It’s a great chance at sharing your public personality and build people up.”
YMCA of Greater San Antonio
For September/October, the story of Louis Lopez, the CEO of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio, in our annual DEI issue showcased the power of championing diversity in the community.
In November 2022, Lopez became the first person of color to be named president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio in its 148 years of existence in the community. Now, he’s leading the organization into a prosperous future.
“As I look ahead, I’m inspired by the potential to continue making a difference in the lives of those we serve,” said Lopez. “We will be 150 years old in 2026. What we’ve done well to remain relevant is continue to respond to needs. We’re the oldest human service agency in San Antonio that’s not a university or hospital, which I’m so proud for us to say. We will continue to keep that culture and be here for another 150 years.”
Wakeman Boys & Girls Club
Finally, Sabrina Smeltz, the CEO of the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club (WBGC), detailed in our November/December issue, shows how barriers can be broken down in the community by being both graceful and persistent.
When the organization opened in 1913, the organization was literally known as The Boys Club. Over its 100-plus years, the WBGC has evolved and changed so much that in 2020 the organization named Smeltz its first-ever female CEO.
“I’m very humbled by this whole experience, which is incredibly hard to put in words,” said Smeltz. “I’m just so blessed to have a team at WBGC that brings together skills, experience, expertise and passion in all areas of our work.”
Thank you to all our readers for another wonderful year of learning and developing relationships. I look forward to even more advancements in the industry in 2025.
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