Meet The Team
Dear YMCA Members and Participants,
Please meet our team at The Granite YMCA. Together, we are a dedicated group of individuals connected by a shared passion and commitment to serving our members and strengthening the foundations of our community through youth development, healthy living, social responsibility, and family strengthening. Our talented staff are well vetted through a thorough interview and reference checking process. All must pass a criminal investigative check and go through both formal and on the job training programs. Our association is very proud of all our team members, and invite you to ask any of them for assistance to better improve your Y experience.
Enjoy your YMCA.
YMCA of the Seacoast staff
Allan Gillis has been working in the non-profit world for over 25 years. Most recently, he was the Executive Director of the Metro West YMCA Outdoor Center, a 122 acre campground with programs focused on family engagement, summer camp, outdoor adventure, and leadership development. Previous experience includes 15 years as Executive Director of All Mass Camps, and over 10 years in leadership positions with Boys & Girls Clubs, starting with direct service roles to Executive Director.
Kevin grew up in Billerica, MA and moved up to the Seacoast area about 6 years ago. He has worked with children for over 10 years as a job coach, paraprofessional, ABA therapist, and theater educator. He also has previous experience running art-based programs at summer camps. This is Kevin’s first position with a YMCA but he grew up taking swim lessons at the Y. Kevin joined the YMCA of the Seacoast staff in 2021. He hopes to learn more about what works best for child care. He cares a lot about the future of children and strives to be someone they can depend on and look up to. In his free time, Kevin enjoys watching a lot of movies and TV shows. He is also a professional performer and does musical theater and play productions in the area.
Zach grew up in Southern Maine. He worked 9 years as a School Age Childcare Director and Camp Director at a Childcare Center in Southern Maine before joining the Y in August of 2020. Zach chose to work at the Y because he has always loved serving families and being a part of something bigger than himself. When the position at the Y became available it seemed like a great fit for Zach!
In Zach’s free time, he enjoys being outside and exploring new places with friends. He also loves Star Wars and Marvel comics. Zac also likes to play guitar.
Maggie studied Nutrition and Wellness at the University of New Hampshire and is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She has been training at the YMCA since September 2018 and has spent a summer helping out at Camp Gundalow. During her time here, Maggie has developed a deep appreciation for the wonderful members and amazing work that the Y does for the Portsmouth community. In her spare time, she likes finding new ways to be physically active and spending time with her friends and family. Maggie is looking forward to the opportunity to work more closely with members and be a part of all the new and exciting things happening at our YMCA.
YMCA of the Seacoast Advisory Board
Morey grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire. Morey’s professional background is in Lumber and Building Management. Morey also has been a Human Services Quality Assurance Director and Consultant. Morey has been involved in the YMCA swim team and various other programs that kept Morey out of trouble growing up. Now, as a Board member and Trustee, Morey is most interested in continuing and expanding the work the Y does in our communities. Morey hopes to continue supporting programs that expand youth opportunities and develop a strong, interactive, critical and independent minded Board that support staff in the work they do.
In Morey’s free time, Morey enjoys traveling, reading, researching, and spending time with friends and family.
Dennis is serving his fourth term as a state representative in the New Hampshire General Court after retiring from a 35 year career in commercial and non-commercial broadcasting. His political career began in 2012 as a state representative and now represents Greenland and Newington, NH with service as clerk of the House Ways and Means Committee and assistant majority floor leader.
Dennis is Trustee of Trust Funds in Greenland, NH chairs the Portsmouth, NH YMCA Advisory Committee and is a Trustee of the Granite State YMCA. He is a member of the Seacoast Pediatric Cancer Cluster Commission, the Pease Restoration Advisory Committee, former chair of New Hampshire Public Radio’s Advisory Board and Trustee of Leadership New Hampshire.
For 25 years Dennis held senior management development positions at Iowa and New Hampshire PBS. Iowa PBS won three national PBS Development awards and created an endowment at the Iowa Public Television Foundation. NH PBS served New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts, including Boston and was recognized by PBS for on-air auction and membership development.
His career began as a news consulting assistant at Frank Magid Associates working with television news organizations throughout the United States, followed by 6 years of managing a Des Moines FM radio station and leading it to the top ratings and advertising sales position.
Dennis holds a BA degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and an MS degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Iowa State University.
While attending Iowa State, Dennis wrote for the Iowa State Daily, served on its publications board, produced and anchored newscasts at KRNT-AM in Des Moines, WMT-AM-FM in Cedar Rapids, WOI-AM-FM in Ames, and later taught classes in the Speech and Journalism departments.
He and his wife Laura live in Greenland, New Hampshire and are both Iowa natives. Dennis enjoys swimming and volunteering for town, state and non-profit board activities.