The Bath Area Family YMCA reaches new heights with deep small-town roots.
For 170 years, the small community of Bath, Maine, has looked to one entity as its pillar of connection: the Bath Area Family YMCA.
As one of the oldest Ys in the U.S., generations of families have passed through the organization’s two branches. But it’s the present where the Y is experiencing a thrilling period of growth and innovation, highlighted by high staff retention, excellence-first culture and large expansions.
For Amy Vendt, the CEO of the Bath Area Family YMCA, that success can be seen with most residents having some sort of relationship with the Y. With Bath, Maine, being a small town, the organization has worked for decades to be deeply entrenched in the community. Now that work is paying off.
“What sets us apart is how closely we listen to our community and respond with programs that meet real, everyday needs,” said Vendt. “We’ve been embedded in the Bath community since we were founded. During those 170 years, the association has adapted, grown, rebuilt, expanded and been reimagined. However, the core purpose has never changed — to strengthen the foundations of our community.”
From Aquatics to Leadership
Vendt first got her start in community recreation as a lifeguard. Through her time in aquatics, she saw firsthand the difference the Y makes in lives.
With her experiences in assisting youth with water safety, aquatics wasn’t just another job, but her passion. She was offered the opportunity to become aquatics director at the Waltham YMCA in Massachusetts. That’s when she made the decision working in the YMCA system would become her career.
She then moved into supervising additional departments, eventually becoming an executive director. Her journey spans through Massachusetts to Maryland and now to Maine. When the position of COO at the Bath Area family YMCA opened, Vendt saw it as a natural fit.
“It’s a place where relationships matter, and I saw an opportunity to bring my years of experience and passion for the Y to help continue to grow the YMCA,” said Vendt. “When the previous CEO moved on, I was thrilled to step into the role to continue to lead this amazing team.”
Vendt has been CEO for a year now and her team has responded positively to her leadership.
Will Gunther, the COO of the Bath Area Family YMCA, said Vendt leads the Y with a rare blend of steady, high-level business acumen and profound empathy.
“She’s a resilient strategist who navigates complex negotiations with poise, always ensuring our organizational decisions align with the best interests of our staff and community,” said Gunther. “Beyond her operational strengths, Amy is a captivating communicator who translates our mission into a powerful vision from the stage. Her leadership is defined by a people-first philosophy. Under her guidance, the Y has transitioned from a period of change into an era of steady growth.”
Overall, Vendt has been within the YMCA system for 32 years and worked with four different associations. But it’s the Bath Area Family YMCA that stands out as a passionate, hometown recreation center.
“We’re so established in the community, I can’t go somewhere without somebody saying, ‘Oh, you work for the Y,’ or ‘I swam on the swim team,’” said Vendt. “Everybody has a story with our organization.”
Growth-Driving Additions
While generational passion has helped the Y maintain its operations for decades, it’s the new, forward-thinking initiatives now making the association thrive.
Specifically, the Veggie Van program, the new community navigator position and the organization’s childcare expansion efforts are accelerating growth.
Vendt said the Veggie Van brings fresh, affordable produce directly into neighborhoods that may not have easy access to healthy food. In fact, this past year the YMCA delivered over 73,480 pounds of groceries to families and older adults.
The new community navigator, Kashmir Bemski, plays a critical role for members, as he helps connect individuals and families to resources like housing support, food assistance and mental health services.
“Bringing on that position has been amazing,” said Vendt. “He meets the family where they are. There are all these state assistance programs he’s able to use and create accessibility, open doors and help families navigate paperwork. We’ve even had domestic violence issues he’s been able to provide support for and help them get to safety. He’s a hub that reaches all those resources a family might need. He’s able to get through the red tape and be that first point of contact.”
But perhaps the biggest difference-maker for the organization has been the recent waves made in childcare. Vendt said families are struggling to find reliable care for their young children, so the Y is expanding its capacity to serve while maintaining high-quality programming.
“In the past year we have added over 132 slots to our childcare and with our new expansion opening in September 2026, we’ll increase our total capacity to 232 children,” said Vendt. “Overall, we’ll be able to serve five times as many families as we did just three years ago.”
Previously, the Y could only serve two classrooms at most. The staff recognized this chronic issue and knew affordable, quality childcare wasn’t available. So, the association began a multi-year, multi-phase project that will eventually provide over 18 classrooms while also expanding fitness opportunities and community spaces.
Kerrie Benedict, the chief financial officer of the Bath Area Family YMCA, said the organization was constantly maintaining a waitlist for up to two years after a daycare provider in the area closed with little notice.
“We recognized an immediate need,” said Benedict. “We were able to pivot quickly to expand our programs to include toddler care for the first time. This allowed us to meet a critical community need while reinforcing our role as a reliable source for families.”
Capitalizing on Success
The Bath Area Family YMCA’s major initiatives have created a prosperous environment for the organization over the last few years. However, Vendt said the smaller, everyday offerings continue the foundation of the small town’s love for the Y.
These include Family Fun Fridays, additional programming for small children, enhancing drop-in care and making family membership a value add.
“I know most of this growth came from the top, but a lot of it came from bottom-up,” said Vendt. “It doesn’t have to be big changes. The Family Fun Fridays, they’re not huge. We have very fun small things like popcorn in the morning. It’s about listening and looking at those small elements.”
Also playing into the Y’s success is the popularity of the area. Annie Colaluca, the executive director of early learning and family services at the Y, said the MidCoast area in Maine has seen a recent population surge.
“It’s been a joy to witness the growth of our YMCA over the past several years, but it’s not surprising,” said Colaluca. “The MidCoast has been a hub for people of all ages because the quality of life is truly exceptional. I chose to raise my own family here over 15 years ago and have enjoyed the access to nature, beaches, coastal towns with vibrant local businesses and community resources that make you feel connected to others. The Bath Area Family YMCA feels like a hub for it all and it’s special to be a part of it.”
For Benedict, she’s been at the Y for over 16 years. In that time, she said the organization has evolved successfully due to their everlasting concentration on the people.
“Our focus has remained the same — to strengthen our community by adapting, listening and responding to what is needed most,” said Benedict. “We focus on understanding the community gaps that need to be filled and look to respond in meaningful ways. We strive to have high-quality programs and services where our community finds value and continues to support us.”
A Strong Foundation
Before the last few years of triumph for the Bath Area Family YMCA were possible, the staff at the Y were intentionally set up to succeed.
Gunther said the team first sought input from staff at all levels as they looked at everything they had historically done — from meeting rhythms to long-standing processes — and considered what would best continue moving the organization’s mission forward, whether that meant introducing new ways of working or moving away from outdated practices.
“Our departments were staffed specifically to accommodate the fast growth that’s essential to our strategic plan,” said Gunther. “Furthermore, our board of directors has supported us in all ways possible by providing expert guidance every step of the way. I would also attribute a significant part of our success to the tools and resources provided by the YMCA of the USA’s National Resource Office. That helped alleviate pressure on our team to create everything from scratch, allowing us to focus our energy on high-level execution and community impact.”
With the Y’s facilities consistently outperforming the market and maintaining near five-star ratings, Gunther said it was because of the investments in a culture where every staff member understands their ‘why.’ And that why is to be a community anchor by combining the heart of a nonprofit with the operational precision of a top-tier service provider.
“Our staff and volunteers are deeply committed to the community, and their work drives everything we do,” said Vendt. “The Y was founded on innovation, and whether it’s here or nationwide, those new ideas and inspiring that in your team is critical. Take a leap, step out, try it and you’d be you’d be amazed.”
