YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg announced on Wednesday, March 26, that David Jezek, the president and CEO of the Y, will retire at the end of the year, closing an extraordinary 42-year professional career with YMCA organizations in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Florida.
Jezek’s service to the YMCA technically spans more than 50 years. Influenced and guided by his father, also a career YMCA executive, Jezek worked
in various volunteer and part-time roles during his high school and college years. This background made him a natural fit for a full-time Y career upon graduation from Texas Tech University.
Since becoming president and CEO in 2008, Jezek guided the organization through unprecedented growth, tripling the operating budget from $7 million to $22 million and securing more than $40 million in capital funding for transformative projects. Particularly notable are an $8 million naming gift for the Speer YMCA — the largest in the organization’s history — and the YMCA’s first-ever $2.5 million state appropriation.
Under Jezek’s leadership, the YMCA established its first-ever Preschool Academies, with three successful launches and further expansions to meet growing early childhood education needs. The innovative joint partnership with Pinellas County Schools integrating the Speer YMCA with Mangrove Bay Middle School is a landmark accomplishment of David’s tenure. This endeavor was recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Community Impact Award in 2022.
The upcoming Jim & Heather Gills YMCA Redevelopment project is a mixed-use development partnership that will fund YMCA facility modernization with upgraded fields, expanded parking, and improved amenities. Jezek’s vision and ability to identify community needs deem this major
achievement a noteworthy milestone in the Y’s continued growth.
Beyond local initiatives, Jezek played a pivotal role in founding the YMCA of the Cayman Islands (YCI), chartered in 2014 as the 119th global YMCA movement. As a YCI Founding Partner, the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg maintains a mutually beneficial relationship, demonstrating how YMCAs can connect globally to expand their mission. David also spearheaded the Small and Mid-Size YMCA Network, which officially launched in 2021 after providing critical support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the network engages 635 YMCA CEOs nationwide.
Jezek is past Board of Directors Chair for both the Florida YMCA Professional Network and Florida State Alliance of YMCAs. He received the 2019 YMCA Legacy Award for his enduring contributions. Under his guidance, the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing its excellence in non-profit leadership and community impact.
“David’s legacy at the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg is remarkable,” said Kim Jackson, current Chair of the YMCA Board of Directors, in a statement. “His strategic leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthening our community have positioned the Y for continued success and impact for generations to come.”
The YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg will begin a national search for the next President & CEO in the coming months.
