In The Last Word, we sit down with an industry expert to share their wealth of knowledge. In the November/December issue, the conversation features Shae Wilson-Gregg, the CEO of the Athens YMCA.
1. How did you get started in the community recreation industry?
SWG: I began working part-time at the Athens YMCA when I was just 19 years old. I was working at a dry cleaner and one of the customers was the development director for the Y. She set up an interview up for me and I was hired in November 1999 as a kindergarten basketball coach. I quickly realized how much purpose and passion I found in serving others. Over time, I moved through a variety of roles — from youth coach and program coordinator to executive leadership — eventually becoming CEO. What started as a job in college became a calling.
2. What’s been a key to your team’s success? What are you most proud of?
SWG: Our success comes from a strong, values-driven culture rooted in servant leadership. I often flip the hierarchy upside down to show I’m here to support my team because I can’t do this work without them. We train using “The Way of the Shepherd” and focus on professional growth, rest and fun. I require my staff to use their time off, prioritize their families and bring joy into their work. Our motto is, “Y work is too hard not to have fun.”
What I’m most proud of is our team’s longevity and commitment. Nearly all our senior-level directors have been in their roles for over 17 years. That kind of retention doesn’t happen by accident — it’s a direct result of a culture that values people, honors relationships and believes in growing together.
3. What has been one of the biggest accomplishments of your career?
SWG: Leading a capital campaign or growing programs are meaningful milestones, but what I treasure most is being part of people’s personal and professional journeys. I’ve watched young staff members grow into strong leaders, build lifelong friendships, get married, start families, and carry the values they learned at the Y into new careers and communities. Creating a workplace where people feel supported, challenged and inspired that is the kind of legacy I’m most proud of.
4. What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career?
SWG: One of the biggest challenges has been leading a deeply historic organization into the future. When I became CEO, I inherited a YMCA with 160 years of tradition, strong community ties and generations of expectations. It’s an incredible honor but also a heavy responsibility. I stepped into a position held by only four people before me, each of whom left a powerful legacy. Preserving what makes this place special while also modernizing systems, growing programs, and preparing for our first major renovation in over 55 years has required patience, vision and constant communication for our team. Leading a legacy organization means honoring the past without being bound by it. That balance is something I work toward every day.
5. What is one lesson you’ve learned that other community recreation professionals can learn from?
SWG: One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to never mass manage your people. Every team member deserves individual attention and every role matters. Never underestimate the power of relationships. Whether it’s a child in camp, a senior in a fitness class or a potential donor, meaningful connections drive everything. Programs and facilities matter but people always come first.
6. Tell us one fact about yourself others may not know.
SWG: I met my husband at the Athens YMCA and today we get to raise our daughter in the same community that shaped us both. It’s personal — not just professional — for me. This work is home.
