The West Cook YMCA announced Monday that Phillip Jiménez, River Forest resident, will step down from his role as president and CEO of the West Cook YMCA in Oak Park, Illinois. He will join YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for the nation’s 2,600 YMCAs, as the national lead, CEO engagement, Small-Mid size Y (SMY) Network. The new role is part of Y-USA’s strategy to build support and build closer relationships with association CEOs across the country.
Jiménez begins his new role in November. Committed to a smooth transition, he will advise the West Cook Y through November 15, 2024. Chief operating officer Rebecca Boblett will serve as interim CEO. Y-USA will collaborate with the West Cook YMCA Board of Directors on a nationwide search for the next CEO.
“Phillip is the ideal leader for this role, bringing valuable relationships across the network and a deep understanding of what small and mid-sized YMCA CEOs need from Y-USA and its service delivery system,” said Suzanne McCormick, the president & CEO of YMCA of the USA, in a press release. “I’m confident that Phillip will be a strong advocate for them and a trusted representative of Y-USA within the network.”
Jiménez brings over 10 years of experience as a CEO within the SMY Network, and presently serves on YMCA of the USA’s Board of Directors as a non-voting member representing small and mid-sized Ys. He has a long history of leadership within the YMCA and recently served as the inaugural Chair of the SMY Network and currently sits as a delegate. During his tenure, the West Cook YMCA evolved from priorities as a fitness center, extensive swimming programming and single-room occupancy into offering broader community services for youth development and healthy living and wellness programs. These programs include partnership with community service providers to help people reduce chronic disease risk and enjoy wellness.
“We are very excited for Phillip,” said Tom Irvin, who chairs the West Cook YMCA board of directors. “In his years of service, Phillip led the transformation of the West Cook Y into a community-centered facility focused on healthy living, youth development and social responsibility. His leadership helped reinforce our organization’s role as a trusted community partner and socially responsible center, especially in times of need. His influence has profoundly impacted our community, and his vision will benefit YMCA chapters across the country.”
In this position Jiménez will lead a team dedicated to supporting the unique needs of small and mid-size YMCA associations. They will work closely with the CEOs to ensure they have the resources and guidance needed to fulfill the Y’s mission in their service areas. The new team will serve as a direct communication channel to and from Y-USA, activate strategic support in line with network priorities, and convene CEOs around common attributes and characteristics for shared learning and exploration of tailored solutions. Jiménez will have primary responsibility for building the team to support SMY CEOs.
Reflecting on his new role, Jiménez, who will remain based in the Chicago area, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m truly honored to embrace this new opportunity. I am deeply grateful to the staff, members, volunteers, partners, Board and the entire West Cook YMCA community for their continued trust and dedication, which made the WCY a welcoming and wellness-focused hub for everyone. I am eager to collaborate with colleagues nationwide as we work together to support the success of our YMCAs, just as we have done in West Cook.”
In addition to his extensive experience, Jimenez holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Certificate of Professional Achievement in Nonprofit Management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
