The Granite YMCA Names First Female Interim President & CEO
Posted 03/31/2022
The Board of Trustees of The Granite YMCA unanimously appointed former Chief Operating Officer Michele Sheppard to the position of Interim President & CEO. “Michele has over 13 years of proven leadership within The Granite YMCA, and she is very highly regarded by the staff, members, donors and community leaders,” said Rob Glew, CVO of Trustees. “Michele has spent over 30 years in the YMCA network evolving, growing and sharing her immense talents and we are confident she will be an effective leader for us,” Glew added.
Michele Sheppard holds a BS in kinesiology from the University of Maryland. She began her YMCA career in 1986 as the Physical Director at the Chambersburg YMCA in Pennsylvania and she also enjoyed time with The Watertown New York YMCA for several years as a Health and Physical Education Director.
During her 10 plus year tenure at the Chambersburg YMCA, she earned her program and senior program director certifications from Y-USA, attended the Indiana University School of Fundraising, and was certified in personal training, spinning, and yoga; and was promoted to the Associate Executive Director role. Michele's unwavering commitment to health and wellness is so strong, that when she left the Chambersburg YMCA in 2009, they named their youth fitness facility in her honor.
In 2009, Michele joined The Granite YMCA as the YMCA Allard Center of Goffstown Executive Director. After five years in this role, she was promoted to District VP and two years later became the Chief Operating Officer (COO). She is a strong community convener, believes heavily in supporting health equity initiatives, coaching and developing staff, and has worked hand in hand with various partners and collaborators across the state of New Hampshire to improve the overall health and well-being of the surrounding communities.
“I am honored and humbled by the Board’s vote of confidence in me and I’m equally proud to lead as the first female to assume this position with The Granite YMCA,” explained Michele Sheppard, Interim President & CEO. “I have dedicated much of my adult working life to the mission of the YMCA, and I believe strongly in all that we have accomplished over the years. Our impact is life-altering for many adults, children and families, and I look forward to illuminating new opportunities for growth and inclusiveness to every member of the community wanting to join the YMCA movement under my leadership,” Sheppard added.
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