Cleaver Family YMCA

Hometown: Prairie Village, Kansas

Y Start Date: June 2022

Certifications: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Kansas; Certified Agility Coach with DeBruce Foundation

Hobbies: I like to spend time with my adult children Jake and Jess, as well as friends and family. Gardening flowers and vegetables, live music, community events, hiking, reading and cooking.

Favorite part of working at the Y: “The people! It’s a pleasure to come to work each day knowing that I get to work with and serve an amazing community of people. The core values of honesty, respect, caring and responsibility shines through in everything we do at the Y. Being guided by these values leads us to be intentional about healthy living, youth development and social responsibility. I love the diversity, energy and sense of community that exists with our members, guests and associates alike! Being a top notch gym facility is wonderful, but I love that we are so much more than a gym. Being a beacon of light and a source of support and programming for our members and our community sets the Y apart and makes it the best organization that I’ve been blessed to be a part of.”

Hometown: Kansas City

Y Start Date: November 2016

Certifications: Master’s Degree in Exercise Science from Ohio University - Athens; NASM Personal Training Certification; Yoga Alliance Certification

Hobbies: Spending time with my wife.

Favorite part of working at the Y: “Helping others achieve their fitness goals!”

Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri

Y Start Date: March 2008

Certifications: Y-USA Faculty Swim Lesson v6 Certification; Y-USA Swim Lesson Instructor Trainer v6 Certification; Y-USA Swim Lesson Instructor v6 Certification; American Red Cross Lifeguard; American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor; American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid Instructor

Hobbies: I paint, something I returned to during COVID. I have some finish carpentry skills, I’ve spent the last 15 years restoring or remodeling the family home I inherited. I’m what I like to call an “avid spree” reader. I have, on average, four books in some state of progress. I keep telling myself to “complete one book at a time.” Apparently I don’t listen.

Favorite part of working at the Y: “The opportunity to serve the associates I have the privilege to lead, to help them in their journey, to hopefully inspire in them the call to serve others in our community. The chance to give back to the community I grew up in. To give others, be they children or adults, life-saving skills and life-long love of the water. To be part of one of the most diverse and inclusive organizations that serves its neighbors.”

Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri

Hobbies & Background: Kansas City is more than home—it’s a big part of who I am. I’m a proud KU graduate and lifelong sports fan with a special love for the Chiefs, Royals, and all things KC. Professionally, I’ve built my career around people, service, and organization, with experience spanning in operations, event coordination, training, recruiting, and client relations. This includes bringing my passion for sports to life as part of the Kansas City Chiefs Activation Team and contributing to that gameday experience.

Why for working at the Y: I’m excited about the opportunity to become the Member Engagement Director at the Cleaver YMCA because so much of my career has centered around creating positive experiences, building relationships, and bringing people together. I’ve learned how important it is to make people feel welcomed, heard, and connected. I would love the opportunity to bring those experiences together in a role where I can directly impact our members, strengthen the sense of community at Cleaver, and help create an environment that keeps people excited to be part of the Y.