Regional Services Hub Council
Christopher Bryan, President and Chief Executive Officer
YMCA of Metropolitan Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Chris is a Servant Leader committed to the growth and well-being of those he meets through work and volunteering. He has 15 years of experience serving youth, families, and communities in the nonprofit sector, eleven of which are within the YMCA Movement.
He began his Y career in 1999 as a summer camp counselor. Through the years, he transitioned from the Y into various other roles in academia, local government, and the nonprofit sector. In 2012, Christopher made his way back to the Y as Program Director working his way through the ranks to now President and CEO.
Tom Button, Chief Operating Officer
YMCA of the Suncoast
Clearwater, Florida
Tom began his YMCA career in 1990 as a Youth Director with the YMCA in Red Bank, NJ. In 1991, Tom moved to Raleigh, NC, where he served in various roles from Fitness Director, Operations Director and Branch Executive. After 13 years in Raleigh, Tom moved to the YMCA of South Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach, VA, to serve as a District VP. He served in various roles for 11+ years and recently relocated to the YMCA of the Suncoast to serve as the Senior VP/COO.
Cameron Corder,President and Chief Executive Officer
Cleveland County Family YMCA
Shelby, North Carolina
Cam is the son of a retired YMCA CEO and started his Y career at age 15 folding towels with the Greenville, SC YMCA. Cam worked as a lifeguard, camp counselor, membership director, referee, umpire, maintenance man, and lawn mower throughout high school and college. After graduation from Wingate University, he then served the High Point YMCA in various positions from 1987 – 1992.
Jessica Fain, Chief Strategy Officer
YMCA of Middle Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Jessica made the leap from television news to nonprofit management twenty years ago, starting her YMCA career with Tennessee’s Youth in Government program. She later transitioned to communications and was ultimately named Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications for the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. In 2016, she became the association’s first Chief Strategy Officer, supporting the development and advancement of strategic initiatives, driving effective decision-making, and ensuring departmental planning aligns with organizational priorities. Jessica is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville and later earned an MBA from Cumberland University.
Renata Ferrari, Senior Director of Global Advancement
YMCA of the USA
Renata Ferrari is the Senior Director of Global Advancement of the International Group, YMCA of the USA. She develops and implements strategies to strengthen international YMCAs, provides technical assistance to local YMCAs in the United States on issues of diversity, inclusion, and international work, and encourages greater participation of local YMCAs in the United States in the worldwide YMCA movement. Since 2019, Renata provides technical assistance to the U.S. YMCAs of San Juan and Ponce in Puerto Rico in the role of Alliance Partner. Renata has been a YMCA professional since 1986 and dedicated the first 17 years of her career to the YMCA of Montevideo, Uruguay.
Alida Gardiner, Vice President of Operations
YMCA of Easley
Pickens and Powdersville, South Carolina
Alida Gardiner is the VP of Operations for the YMCA of Easley, Pickens & Powdersville, though she started with our Y association in 1998 as a Camp Counselor.
In her role as VP of Operations, Alida works with all of our fabulous staff and volunteers to make the biggest impact we can in our community, meeting people where they are, loving them well and helping them become who God has called them to be. She oversees the Branch Executives for the Easley, Pickens & Powdersville YMCAs, and the Childcare Branch and leads the execution of the Y’s programming.
Kyle Goff, President and CEO
Sparta/White County Family YMCA
Sparta, Tennessee
Kyle currently serves as the CEO of the Sparta/White County Family YMCA in Sparta, TN. His Y journey began at the Sparta/White County YMCA in 2010 as a Welcome Center Attendant. There he progressed to Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Group Fitness Director, and Interim-CEO. In 2014, Kyle paused his Y career in pursuit of aspirations in the private sector. In 2018, he returned to the YMCA as CEO.
Brian Harlen, President and CEO
The Lakelands Region YMCA
South Carolina
Brian earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration Management from the University of South Carolina in 1990. Most recently, Brian was Commissioned by the General Assembly and Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina as Trustee for the University of South Carolina, representing the 8th Judicial Circuit. Currently, Brian and his wife of 29 years, Laralynn Madden Harlan, reside in Laurens, South Carolina. Brian and Laralynn have two daughters (Callie & Haymes) and one son (Collin).
David Hegge, President and CEO
Eastern Carolina YMCA
New Bern, North Carolina
David Heggie is the President and CEO of the Eastern Carolina YMCA. David began his YMCA career in 2002 as the Wellness Director of the Spear’s Family YMCA, YMCA of Greensboro. In 2008, David became the Executive Director of the Kathleen Price Bryan Family YMCA. He was instrumental in leading several Healthy Living programs for the YMCA of Greensboro, including YMCA Diabetes Prevention and LIVESTRONG at the YMCA. Following Greg Jones’ resignation, the YMCA of Greensboro’s executive committee named David Heggie the interim CEO/president from June 2019 until January 2020. David has enjoyed the opportunity to serve the NC Alliance of YMCA’s. He has served the NC Alliance as the Triad Neighborhood Chair and most recently served as an NC Alliance board member.
Angela Howard, President and CEO
North Central Florida YMCA
Gainesville, Florida
Angela Howard was appointed the new President & CEO for the North Central Florida YMCA (Gainesville, Florida). She took her seat in January 2019 while making history as the first woman and person of color to hold this position at this YMCA. In this role, she provides strategic direction, facilitates growth, develops innovative programming, and fosters key relationships that will help the Y grow to become the leading nonprofit within the Gainesville community. Before becoming CEO, Angela served as Branch Executive Director within the Great Miami Valley YMCA association (Ohio). She has served the YMCA for over 16 years providing organizational and community leadership.
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Danny McConnell, President and CEO
Family YMCA of Greater Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Danny has been the President/CEO of the Family Y in Augusta for the past 19 years. Prior to Danny’s arrival in Augusta, he was with the YMCA of Coastal Georgia in Savannah for 13 years and spent eight and a half years with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. On a professional note, he has enjoyed his role as President of The Family Y, and he is very proud of his accomplishments which include The Family Y Miracle League Field, the Kathryn M. York Adapted Aquatics Center, and the newly formed YMCA of Greater Augusta Foundation. Danny very much enjoys fundraising and in 2007 received the “Fundraiser of the Year” award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.