2023 Staff Assembly

Our intent is to pair staff with a coach and they will meet for 30 minutes during the event. This time will be predetermined and coaches preassigned, based on the nunmber of requests and coaches we have available. If you are selected to meet with a coach, you will be notified prior to the event starting. 

In this workshop participants will learn: Our 5 senses, plus 2. A brief overview includes:

• What is self-modulation- how do our senses work?
• Therapeutic use of self- being in tune with myself
• Prepping our classroom- Minds in Motion, obstacle course, light & sound
• Prepping our little people- group and individual activities
• Extras- Links, social media groups, and gurus

Mariann Frigo OTR, MS Vitae is an Occupational Therapist with over 35 years of experience. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Jacob’s Ladder Pediatric Rehab a not-for-profit in Chesterton Indiana. Jacob’s Ladder provides therapy services to nearly 800 babies and toddlers in Early Intervention and 200 school aged kids at their outpatient center. Mariann also is the past chair, appointed by Gov. Holcomb for the Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) overseeing First Steps- Indiana’s early intervention program. At Jacob’s Ladder Mariann divides her time between working with kids and the administrative duties of training staff, overseeing capstone projects, creating new programs, and coordinating with donors, board of directors, and the community. Mariann is married and has 4 grown children. She and her husband enjoy outdoor hikes with their dogs, consulting to upstart healthcare companies, and quiet time, reading or cooking.

David Quick, a 3x CEO, Vistage Chair, Pinnacle Guide, Culture Index Advisor and Executive coach will use assessment results from those in the audience and improv games to demonstrate in a fun and very engaging session how human analytics can help us all hire and inspire our teams more effectively.  Prior to the session attendees should complete a Culture Index Personality assessment (https://take.surveys.ci/s/69AC7B0000/26716).   Your individual results will be printed and available during the session.  

David Quick is a speaker, executive coach, Vistage Chair, and a Culture Index Licensee.  He is committed to “helping bulls thrive in china shops” by helping people who run companies: work fewer hours, be significantly more successful, and build stronger professional and personal relationships.

After receiving his BS in mathematics from the United States Naval Academy, David served eight years active duty as a Surface Warfare Officer, including deployment during Desert Storm and as an Instructor at the United States Naval Academy.  David also holds a MA in education from Loyola University Maryland and attended the London Business School Executive Leadership Program.

As a three-time CEO as well as a small business owner, he has broad experience in both small and large companies. He spent over 20 years in sales, marketing and leadership roles in the medical diagnostic marketplace, working for companies including Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, Boehringer-Mannheim and Roche Diagnostics.  Career highlights include: CEO of Vivax Medical Corporation and HydroMassage, both doubling in size during his tenure, and Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing of CCS Medical Holdings, Inc. which grew from $85MM to over $500MM during his 4-year tenure.

He has volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Abused and Neglected Children and as math/GED tutor in the prison system.  He lives in Bloomington, IN with his wife and youngest of four sons.

Have you ever been invited for a job interview? Then you are familiar with the rush of excitement accompanied by the feeling that you are about to be thrown to the wolves.  NO NEED TO PANIC… In the course of a YMCA career, most staff tend to apply for new positions and change jobs at least a few times. The process of getting a new role or obtaining a new position often involves several steps. We will examine the information and skills needed for achieving success in resume writing, listening skills and how to ROCK answering typical interview questions. Effective interview tactics and strategies may result in making the best impression, reducing anxiety and get you to where you want to go – to the next step!

Dana Bois is an Associate Vice President for Staff Experience and Engagement for the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. She has been with the Indy Ys for 21 years specializing in Business Services, Membership and she is especially passionate about helping to create greatness in people and teams! Dana is a proud graduate of Marian University with a Bachelors in Business Administration and HR, and a Masters of Management and Leadership from Western Governors University. Dana resides in Indianapolis.

Lifeguard shortages and staffing challenges have caused major challenges and disruptions in pools across the country during the last few years. Andrea Ziegler, Crossroads YMCA Association Director of Aquatics will lead conversations about hiring, creative solutions, and programming for a successful aquatics department. Andrea leads an aquatic staff team of five aquatic directors and over 200 aquatic staff across an association currently with five indoor pools and one outdoor waterpark. She will talk about processes and solutions she has implemented to keep pools safe, staffed, and even increased programming to over 1800 swim lessons per month.

Andrea Ziegler is Crossroads YMCA Association Director of Aquatics. Andrea has served in the YMCA movement for over 20 years, with the past 10 years here in Indiana. Beginning as Her career in aquatics prepared her for leading Crossroads YMCA association aquatics through unprecedented times of growth. As she worked to serve more kids and families through monthly swim lessons, Andrea is credited with making swim lessons more efficient, reducing time in between lesson start times, and doubling the amount the branches can serve (over 1800 swim lessons per week). Andrea leads an aquatic staff team of five aquatic directors and over 200 aquatic staff across an association currently with five indoor pools and one outdoor waterpark. Andrea is passionate about processes/solutions to keep pools safe and staffed to make the member experience legendary.

Join Christina for open dialogue about how leadership development at the YMCA can improve your personal overall staff experience. The Leader and Team Leader Certification levels will be reviewed and the courses within the respective certifications and other impactful Learning and Leadership development opportunities will be highlighted and discussed. We will also plan to highlight stories of impact and encourage you to come with your own story to share.

Christina Carter currently serves the YMCAs in Indiana and Michigan through our regional HUB supporting training and event services while concurrently supporting the State Alliance of Michigan YMCAs in HR, risk management, and employee engagement. Throughout her 24-year YMCA career, Christina became a passionate cause driven leader through service in programs and departments including aquatics, family programming, teen programming, HR, training and leadership development. Christina looks forward to continuing the work of strengthening and supporting YMCAs across the movement while building relationships with leaders along the way. 

Transforming member experience sounds like a daunting task—but it is very possible! Jay Buckmaster, CEO/President at Crossroads YMCA will explain why you can’t transform member experience unless you align the organizational culture. This conversation will explore ideas and strategies to create a “Kids and Members First” culture. Jay will lead you through the journey Crossroads YMCA started in 2018 with the successes and failures. This conversation will leave you with many ideas and possibilities for your YMCA.

Jay Buckmaster serves as President/CEO at Crossroads YMCA in Northwest Indiana. Jay has over 25 years of experience in YMCA leadership. Before his current role, Jay served as CEO/President at Grand Traverse Bay YMCA in Traverse City, MI. Jay has previously held positions including Senior Vice President at the Tampa Metro YMCA, Vice President of Operations and Executive Director (both with the Greater Wichita YMCA) after beginning his Y career in 1996 as a swim coach and aquatics director at Stevens Point Area YMCA (WI).

Jay oversees Crossroads YMCA with six full branches and a new destination day camp. Crossroads YMCA is also approaching a capital project to build a destination YMCA in one of their communities. This 2^nd Destination YMCA will continue to move forward Crossroads YMCA’s work to TRANSFORM LAKE COUNTY through people, places, and programs.

Crossroads YMCA has seen tremendous growth during his leadership. His passion for membership and program innovation is seen throughout the association. Crossroads embraces a “Kids & Members First” philosophy and all leaders make member experience a key focus. Jay’s strategies have proven successful as they are a national example for membership & program participation numbers. Some of these numbers include Crossroads as one of the fastest growing YMCAs in the country and high member attrition rates. Jay is a proponent of feedback loops to understand trends, hear from members and continue to improve. His expertise also includes capital project planning, space utilization, and developing a collaborative/supportive culture to create service excellence across an association.

Jay is a proud husband and father of three children. In his free time, he enjoys exercise, reading, supporting his children in activities/sports, and last but not least…Green Bay Packer football! Go Pack Go!

Creative conversations and examples on how your YMCA can create remarkable spaces and relevant programming for children. The conversation will focus on youth program development and space design for ages 6-12 years. Mary Beth Bapple serves as the Youth & Family Director at Dean & Barbara White Southlake YMCA from the Crossroads YMCA Association. Mary Beth will lead this presentation along with Michaline Tomich, CEO & Executive Creative Director at mixdesign, inc. Mary Beth has successfully created innovative and engaging programs to serve hundreds of youth each month. In 2022 Crossroads decided to transform traditional YMCA spaces into ones that would truly excite youth and families. Crossroads hired Michaline and the mixdesign, inc. team to bring several spaces alive and transform the YMCA experience for kids and families in youth programming. Together they will share the success that has been seen and how the innovation is possible throughout the YMCA movement.

In this workshop, participants will:

• Receive an overview of the social determinants of health (SDOH)
• Begin to develop understanding of the impact of the YMCA on SDOH

Jasmine Hardy works as Manager, Movement Engagement with the Network Experience team, specifically focused on the management and implementation of the Lilly Grant received for Indiana YMCAs. Through the facilitation of the grant and innovation process, Jasmine will engage partners and collaborators, thought leaders, innovation teams, learning cohorts, and others to promote mutual understanding, to cultivate shared responsibility, to identify inclusive solutions, to implement quality improvement strategies, and to propose sustainable pathways in response to an identified critical issue among local Ys.

Jasmine started at Y-USA in January 2023 after over 12 years of working for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, her last role being the Association Director of Community Health. A Charlotte, NC native, she is an advocate for viewing community health as extending beyond the "walls" of traditional chronic disease prevention programs to include all areas in which the YMCA can make an impact on improving the social determinants of health (SDOH) for communities. She has served as a trainer for Introduction to Listen First and the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program Prevent T2 and is a graduate of MECA (NitroGen cohort). 

When she isn't looking for ways to integrate SDOH in all areas of work, Jasmine loves spending time in the kitchen creating cakes and desserts that have been featured in major bridal publications, spending time with friends and family, listening to music, and watching Disney or Marvel movies.  

Making advocacy work an important part of your Y’s strategic focus will result in a substantial return on investment (ROI). What would it mean to your Y if a governmental entity removed or limited your tax-exempt status? Started imposing new fees? Imposed costly and burdensome regulations?  What would it look like for your Y to receive funding for programs and capital projects from local, state, and federal sources? What would happen if elected officials viewed your Y as their expert resource in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility? In this workshop, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the vital role advocacy plays in the survival and growth of their organization. Participants will learn the fundamental components of effective advocacy work and how their Y can realize the substantial ROI of advocacy.

Ceann Bales serves as the Director of Public Policy and Alliance Intiatives for the Indiana Alliance of YMCAs.  She has spent her entire professional career in the not-for-profit sector, serving as the CEO of three not-for-profit organizations: Girls Incorporated of Wayne County, the Randolph County YMCA, and Randolph County United: An Economic, Chamber, and Tourism Partnership. Ceann is also an adjunct faculty member for Ashland University in Ohio. She earned a B.A. from Purdue University, a M.P.A. from Ball State University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in organizational leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University. Ceann and her husband Brian have two children and live on a farm in rural Randolph County. 

Brad Boswell is a Government and Regulatory Affairs Staff Attorney in Indianapolis at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP. Brad helps his clients advance strategic goals and navigate complex political issues. Brad has vast experience handling government regulatory matters and serving as a political advisor and advocate. He often provides counsel to clients on matters of legislative advocacy, administrative law, election law, lobbying and campaign finance compliance, as well as provides general political consulting.

Prior to his current stint at Faegre Drinker, Brad most recently served as Indiana University’s executive director for state relations, where he represented the university to the Indiana General Assembly and advised university leaders on matters of strategic political importance. Prior to his recent role at Indiana University, Brad was an associate at Faegre Drinker and also spent several years in Indiana University’s Office of Government Relations. Additionally, Brad was a former summer associate with Faegre Drinker, served as a legal extern with the Indiana Supreme Court, and served as a U.S. Air Force officer.

What do you know about your community?  How can you learn more? In this session, discover a suite of resources a Y can use to better understand community opportunities and needs. While not a replacement for paid professional market or consumer research, it outlines several tools and approaches that YMCAs may use in combination to establish a firm grasp of community needs. It is recommended that YMCAs use these tools in collaboration with their Alliance Partners as part of strategic planning, capital planning, or similar initiatives.

Seana Hasson is a Senior Director in the Research, Analytics & Insights (RAI) Department at YMCA of the USA (Y-USA). The department equips Ys to strengthen communities through research and data resources across all areas of focus: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. RAI also directly supports the evaluation of the YMCA service network, manages organizational health metrics, and contributes to the development of Y-USA’s strategic plan. Seana’s been with the team since 2002 and lives in Chicago.

This session will provide an orientation to the rich data available to YMCAs through Community Insights Lite, from the Insights Hub. Using location software, Community Insights Lite visually presents data via maps to help YMCA staff visualize key data points in their communities such as population growth and the location of assets such as schools and childcare sites. Other layers include household income, race/ethnicity boundaries and health care spending.  Attendees will also be briefly introduced to two peer resources that provide convenient access to even more data and research: the Insights Hub, and the Science of Strengthening Community. 

Seana Hasson is a Senior Director in the Research, Analytics & Insights (RAI) Department at YMCA of the USA (Y-USA). The department equips Ys to strengthen communities through research and data resources across all areas of focus: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. RAI also directly supports the evaluation of the YMCA service network, manages organizational health metrics, and contributes to the development of Y-USA’s strategic plan. Seana’s been with the team since 2002 and lives in Chicago.

Join Christina to discuss what all C-suite Leadership should know about the YMCA certifications. This session will include two major sections: 

• Personal Certification Knowledge- How to certify and re-certify within the Multi-team and Organizational Leadership Certification including LCDC tips and tricks 
• Certification knowledge to support and encourage your staff teams- A brief overview on the Leader and Team Leader Levels, LCDC tips and tricks, and examples of supporting documents and best practices for planning and budgeting. 

Christina Carter currently serves the YMCAs in Indiana and Michigan through our regional HUB supporting training and event services while concurrently supporting the State Alliance of Michigan YMCAs in HR, risk management, and employee engagement. Throughout her 24-year YMCA career, Christina became a passionate cause driven leader through service in programs and departments including aquatics, family programming, teen programming, HR, training and leadership development. Christina looks forward to continuing the work of strengthening and supporting YMCAs across the movement while building relationships with leaders along the way. 

Who? You! Do you have a tried and true plan for hiring staff? If not, join Wade Hampton to learn about one method that has proven positive results.

With more than 40 years of nonprofit program, executive and operations experience, Wade has a rich portfolio of consulting CEOs, CVOs and boards of directors on governance and board development, CEO search process, strategic planning, and operational issues. As a nonprofit CEO for thirteen years, in addition to thirteen years as a branch executive and program director in large, midsize and small YMCAs, and as a policy volunteer on several community boards, Wade’s first-hand knowledge and experience in nonprofit management is foundational to his unique ability to serve as a catalyst in empowering executives, teams and boards to shine. In his current role as the CEO of the Indiana Alliance of YMCAs, Wade is leading the efforts to enhance the relevancy and sustainability of all Indiana YMCAs through advocacy, public policy, board governance, strategic planning, shared services and networking efforts.