ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — After a career stretching nearly three decades, Paul Vest, the YMCA of Western North Carolina president and CEO, will retire at the end of this year.
The hunt is on for new leadership for the YMCA branch. Ideal candidates will be described as “a passionate servant leader with excellent business acumen and the spirit of innovation,” according to a YMCA press release.
“The Board of Directors is incredibly grateful for Paul’s visionary leadership and steadfast commitment over the past three decades,” said John Pierce, chair of the YMCA of WNC Board of Directors, in the release. “From the smallest details to the largest initiatives, he has led with heart, vision and an unwavering belief in the Y’s mission.”
During Vest’s time as president of the YMCA of WNC, the branch hit major milestones in the region, including the establishment of food, summer camp and outreach programs and the construction of six additional Y locations.
Vest will conclude his time as president of the YMCA of WNC after a pivotal response from the organization to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. In the aftermath of the storm, the YMCA of WNC fed thousands of people, distributed emergency supplies, hosted a Red Cross shelter and charging stations and offered more than 12,000 hot showers to the public.
“I truly believe in making it possible for everyone in our community to build a healthy spirit, mind and body, and it has been my greatest honor to serve the community alongside our dedicated staff and volunteers,” said Vest in the press release. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. I am confident that the YMCA of Western North Carolina will continue to thrive in the years to come.”
For more information about the YMCA of WNC, visit www.ymcawnc.org or any of the seven workout centers in the area.