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Q&A: New YMCA leader happy to call Marietta home

The Marietta Family YMCA has a new leader.

Kerry Jean Waddle has been named the new CEO of the Y, which had been operating under interim CEO Phil DiCasolo since April.

“We are excited to have a dynamic leader who has a history with the Marietta Family YMCA, and who truly believes in the mission of the YMCA,” said Rick Smith, chairman of the board and chief volunteer officer, in a release. “Kerry Jean has positive working relationships with members of our community, and we are delighted to welcome her ideas and visionary thinking to our business.”

Waddle’s previous work includes serving as a fitness and sports director at Kettering Fitness Complex in Kettering. Since moving to Marietta, she has served at the Marietta Family YMCA as an aerobics instructor and at Marietta College as an adjunct professor and group fitness instructor.

Though she was raised in a small town in Ohio, Waddle said she’s spent most of her adult life in larger cities and is happy to call Marietta home.

“We moved here when my husband became the football coach at Marietta College,” she said. “We’re just so excited to be here and now for me to take over this new position. We love living in a small community where we recognize people at the grocery store and can really get involved.”

Question: Before taking this position, you were already involved with the Y, right?

Answer: Yes. When I first moved to Marietta seven years ago, I started working here as a fitness instructor.

Q: When the CEO position became available, was that something you were interested in right away?

A: I was interested right away because of the people here. It’s a great community here at the YMCA. It’s not just a gym where people go to work out by themselves and then leave. So, I was excited right away.

We had an interim director who lives in North Carolina. He had a lot of experience and did a great job and made some great improvements, but I think he was ready to be back in North Carolina. I’m excited to be a community member here in Marietta that can take on this position.

Q: What aspect of your new role are you the most enthusiastic about?

A: I’m the most excited for the changes that are coming. Everybody knows that our building is for sale and we have big changes ahead of us. In the process of being interviewed and learning more about the YMCA, I become very excited for the future. Change can be a really good thing.

Q: Has there been a lot of interest in the building?

A: I’m so new to the position that I haven’t really been a part of that conversation yet, but I do hear that we have interest.

Q: So the timetable for a new location is still up in the air at this point?

A: Yes.

Q: I would imagine it would be a little daunting but also very exciting to get into a new, bigger facility and make it your own. Is that something you’re looking forward to?

A: I’m really looking forward to making a new place ours. We have so many people that come here to work out and they say they’re coming with us. That’s what makes the YMCA–not the building, the people. We’ve had so many people say they’ll be sticking with us and that’s really great.

Q: Unlike when the Y was established, there are now a lot of workout facilities and other options in town. Why is it important to have a YMCA in the community?

A: It’s such a staple in our community. It’s a community itself. People look out for each other here. There are people who come in here from all walks of life and when they come in, they’re family.

Q: Having been an instructor do you already know many of the members?

A: I do know a lot. Part of what I love most about being in a different capacity is how fun it is to come into a new line of work already knowing the people.

Q: You managed a fitness center in another part of Ohio prior to this? How did it compare to the Marietta Y?

A: Most recently, I was with the Parks and Recreation department in Kettering and I managed a fitness facility. It was actually really similar to this.

Q: Have you always been interested in fitness or was that interest sparked at some specific point in your life?

A: It was definitely sparked after college. Health was always important and it was part of my degrees but in my 20s I became really sick. I was diagnosed with leukemia and I had to have a bone marrow transplant. I really learned how essential health is. It sparked an excitement in me to work with people in a gym and to help them become healthy.

Q: Is that pretty rewarding, to help people in that way?

A: It’s very rewarding. I spent time as a personal trainer and that one-on-one time is really great. I’ve seen a lot of accomplishments with people not only losing weight but also feeling better about themselves socially, mentally and physically.

Q: Do you have a favorite workout right now?

A: I love spinning, so I’m really happy we have it at the Y. It’s fun, you can make it your own workout…I love that it’s cardio so I don’t have to run. It’s upbeat and when you’re done, you feel like you’ve definitely worked out.

Q: What are your goals going into this new position?

A: Of course, I just want to have a great transition and a great move and people joining us in that excitement.

Q: Do you feel like you’re in a learning phase right now, or are you already pretty familiar with operations?

A: I’m definitely learning. I’ll probably have different goals a month from now. I’m ready to learn.

Q: How are memberships at the Y? Are they steady?

A: They are steady. We’ve had all these gyms pop up and they’re all wonderful and all have their own purpose, but the YMCA is holding steady.

Q: For people who aren’t that familiar with the YMCA, how would you explain all you offer?

A: We have 15 classes a day. That’s a lot of different classes to offer, a lot of instructors and different things.

Q: And you have the pool and you’re still offering summer camps for kids?

A: Yes, people really love those. I’m excited to get my kids involved.

Kate York conducted this interview.

Kerry Jean Waddle

¯ Age: 36.

¯ Hometown: Leesburg.

¯ Education: Bachelors degree in physical education/health education from Otterbein University; masters degree in human services health and wellness from Liberty University.

¯ Family: Husband, Andy; Children Hope Lyn, 3, and Spencer, 1.

Source:

Kerry Jean Waddle.

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