• Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Login
Community Rec
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
Community Rec
No Result
View All Result
Home In Print

Six Questions with Bertram L. Lawson II

Brittany Howard by Brittany Howard
August 31, 2021
in In Print, The Last Word
0
Bertram Lawson
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Bertram LawsonIn The Last Word, we sit down with an industry expert to share their wealth of knowledge. This issue, the conversation features Bertram L. Lawson II, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Central New York.

1. How did you get started in the community recreation industry? 

I started working for the Greater Philadelphia YMCA in June 1998 as a camp counselor. I saw a job posting for executive director of the Columbia North Branch in the Greater Philadelphia Y Association. I applied but got hired as a camp counselor.

2. What’s been a key to your organization’s success? What are you most proud of? 

Identifying gaps in organizations, sharpening my skills, asking for guidance from experts — always remaining a student — and performing at a high level to accomplish goals. My follow through and passion pays major dividends because it keeps me focused and determined.

I am most proud of working with an amazing group of leaders while serving as the vice president of operations for the Greater Philadelphia Y. Together we turned five city YMCAs into financially sound operating units. Everyone won in this scenario: the members got more services and programming, a majority of staff received promotions, the community got better performing Y branches that deepened our impact, and the overall morale was amazing across all locations.

3. What has been one of the biggest accomplishments of your career? 

Prior to the pandemic, it was opening a new YMCA that was partnering facilities and programming with a major hospital system, another nonprofit and the City of Philadelphia. Since the pandemic, it was transitioning 24 K-12 charter schools operationally when I served as chief operating officer for Mastery Charter Schools in Philadelphia/Camden to ensure students received education, providing over 10,000 Chromebooks to students and more than 1 million meals, as well as recommissioning air circulation systems at some of these schools to make sure they were prepared to reopen by March 2021.

4. What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your career? 

Leaving the Y after 21 years for a different industry, Charter School Management. This was a huge step to see if my talents were transferable and if they would assist me with achieving my goal to be the president and CEO of a YMCA organization.

5. What is one lesson you have learned that other community recreation professionals can learn from? 

It’s not about how long you hold a seat but how much impact you make while in the seat.

6. Tell us one fact about yourself others may not know. 

I am an introvert by nature but adapt to my environment as needed. I also have lots of twins in my family: My father was a twin — my uncle and father are deceased now. I have twin sons, twin nieces and my paternal grandmother had a twin.

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Tags: Bertram L. Lawson IIcommunityCommunity Reccommunity recreationSeptember/October 2021YMCAYMCA of Central New York
Previous Post

JCC Chicago’s Plan for Reengaging Teens

Next Post

Background Checks for Nonprofit Organizations

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany is the editor of Community Rec Magazine. Reach her at brittany@peakemedia.com.

Related Posts

YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region
Cover Story

YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region: On the Cutting-Edge of Innovation

July 9, 2025
Players Health
Brand Voice

Creating Accessible and Safe Recreation Environments with Players Health

July 9, 2025
Outdoor fitness
Ask The Expert

Q&A on the City of Lima’s New Outdoor Fitness Court

July 9, 2025
Facility Design
Facility Development

Facility Design for Belonging

July 9, 2025
Pickleball
Features

Game on for Pickleball

July 9, 2025
Data Analytics
In Print

Driving Impact with AI and Data Analytics

July 9, 2025
Next Post
Background Checks

Background Checks for Nonprofit Organizations

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Exposure Guide + Media Kit

July/August 2025 Issue

Get Updates in your inbox

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

Contact us at info@communityrecmag.com

  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us

The Current Issue

The Latest from CO

  • Bath Area Family YMCA Names Amy Vendt as New CEO
  • Getting the Most Out of Recovery in Community Rec
  • YMCA of Western North Carolina President and CEO Paul Vest to Retire
  • Future Energy Solutions Installs No Upfront Cost LED System at Family YMCA of Lancaster & Fairfield County

© 2025 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide

© 2025 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.