YMCA of Greater Houston names Stephen Ives as President and CEO

Highly respected leader brings over 30 years experience in the YMCA Movement to Houston

Houston, TX (Oct. 9, 2018) – After a nationwide search, the YMCA of Greater Houston has appointed Stephen Ives as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.

Ives comes to the YMCA of Greater Houston from the YMCA of Central Ohio (Columbus), where he served as President and CEO since 2015. The YMCA of Central Ohio is amongst the 25 largest Y’s in the country and during his tenure the Y doubled its work with homeless populations, doubled its annual fundraising, built out a growth strategy that will result in the opening of two new Ys in 2019, completed a merger and increased overall operating revenue by 30%.

Before taking the position in Columbus, Ives was the CEO at the Merrimack Valley YMCA in Lawrence, MA for 10 years and served as the CEO of the Northern York County YMCA in Biddeford, ME for 11 years.  In addition to his localized YMCA accomplishments, Ives is a national leader in efforts to protect children from abuse, diversity and inclusion, and innovation. In addition to his 24 years of experience as a YMCA CEO, he carries an MBA from Northeastern University and a degree in Speech Communication from the University of Maine.

“The search committee was focused on finding a CEO who was savvy in the business of the Y, had great community presence and a strong focus on culture,” said Board Chair Khambrel Marshall, “We were also interested in finding someone who would infuse our organization with innovative approaches to service. We were thrilled to find Steve and are confident about what our Y will become with the help of his leadership. He and his wife Lisa Collins are both excited about joining us and will be a welcome addition to the Houston community.”

The YMCA of Greater Houston is among the four largest YMCAs in the country, serving over 177,000 families with 26 locations and over 300 program sites in 11 counties throughout the greater Houston area. The YMCA strives to strengthen the foundations of community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

“Lisa and I were impressed with the vision, engagement and leadership demonstrated by the Board of the YMCA of Greater Houston,” said Ives, “We look forward to diving into and becoming a part of the community. With a staff of 4,000 cause-driven leaders, a strong board and a long history of service there is tremendous potential for even greater impact. I am honored to join that effort and be part of something truly remarkable.”