Longtime YMCA CEO Moving On

The CEO of the Olean-Bradford Area YMCA is moving on after leading the local organization for nine years, and being part of it for more than 30 years.

Barb Sweitzer has accepted a position with the YMCA of the USA as a regional resource director. In her new position, she will serve the needs of local YMCAs in Upstate New York. This position allows her to work from her home in Olean and travel throughout the state.

Sweitzer says, "The YMCA has always been a part of my life. I lived at the YMCA as a child – the true definition of a YMCA brat. I started to work for the YMCA the day after my 16th birthday, and never looked back."

"My burning passion has always been to give back to the YMCA all that it has given me, and most importantly, to touch the lives of kids in a profound way as I truly know what it meant in my life," she says.

Through her tenure, Sweitzer was a key player in the success of the Community Corporate Cups in the late '80s and early '90s; instrumental in development and execution of the 2000 strategic plan; and spearheaded the building of the new Olean Y – collaboration with JCC, and the merger with the Bradford Y. Through these changes, she has been instrumental in creating an organization that is strong, growing and a true asset to the communities served by the Olean-Bradford YMCA.

Louis Proto, board president throughout the building of the new Y, and current board treasurer, says "Barb's leadership and vision brought together our community resources and allowed us to build the wonderful Y we enjoy today. It has been a privilege to work with her. We will miss her tremendous energy and enthusiasm. Barb is YMCA."

Sweitzer's professional experience at the Y includes being chair of the YMCA of New York State and a member of the program development cabinet for Upstate New York, and a YUSA faculty trainer for fiscal management and volunteerism.
"Words cannot express how much I will miss my role as CEO of the Olean-Bradford Area YMCA," she says, "but I feel a tug at my heart and a calling to do more for this great organization."

"Our YMCA is in very capable hands," she adds.

Current YMCA Board President Don Fredeen says the organization is sorry to see her move on, but "her legacy is a new regional Y that is vibrant, growing and financially sound in both Olean and Bradford, and for that we will be forever grateful. We congratulate Barb on her new position with the YMCA of the USA and wish her well."

The Olean-Bradford Area YMCA Board of Directors has secured a consultant to help in the search for a new C-E-O.

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