October 18, 2023 • 9 mins
In his youth, David Brown spent his time learning how to swim at his local YMCA. Then, as a teenager, David started working at the YMCA as a janitor and health club attendant, scrubbing down the showers, cleaning equipment, etc.Once he graduated from Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, he began looking for a job. Fortunately for him, his neighbor was the CEO of the YMCA where he grew up and helped refer him to a YMCA in Rochester that had an opening for a Youth Director, a position he immediately fell in love with.He enjoyed working at the YMCA, not only for the membership but also for the camaraderie he found working in after-school programs, summer camps, and other YMCA experiences. These activities were a blast, but he soon realized the fun wasn't the only purpose of the organization. In short, David explains that the Y is for "youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility". There are numerous programs they offer that aim to help strengthen the community from all perspectives, whether it be by offering childcare services, leadership development programs, or other helpful services for the Capital Region.David's work in the community makes it obvious that the YMCA is a necessary organization for the well-being of locals. Recently, they have helped set up housing for 165 men in Schenectady, and for 65 seniors. Some community issues the Capital Region YMCA assists with include food insecurity; diversity, equity, and inclusion; helping new immigrants assimilate, and not to mention giving them supplies and resources to help ease their transition. For David, it is extremely rewarding to see the difference they make, especially considering the YMCA is largely volunteer based.The pandemic really made it obvious how necessary the YMCA is to the community because that time of uncertainty created such a need for assistance. David delves into how his organization had to pivot quickly and respond "to the needs that are critical to people today"-- words he continues to live by. He explains how for-profit companies might cater to what their stakeholders prefer, but for the YMCA, the stakeholders are the community.Still a youth director at heart, David has been humbled to see what an impact the YMCA has had on upcoming generations. He foresees that in 10 years' time, the YMCA will continue to respond to the needs of the community, just on a larger scale, expanding the YMCA's footprint in the Capital Region.David Brown is a CEO You Should Know!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
I'm Doug Goudie and this is anotherepisode of CEOs you should Know. Joining
me today is David Brownie's the President'sCEO of the Capital Region YMCA. Good
morning, David, Good morning.You have a fun story considering you know
so many CEOs that I've talked toover the years started their business after college.
(00:20):
What was your very first job?Wow, Well, my very first
professional job at the Why. Iwas a youth director at the YMCA.
But my roots in the Why goback to when I was a teenager.
Actually, when I was a youth. I grew up in the Why.
I learned to swim at the yMy very first job at the Why,
(00:42):
I was a janitor. I wasactually the health club attendant. I watched
Jim bags and clean the health cluband wash towels and scrub the showers and
all that kind of stuff. Andwhen I graduated college, you know,
I was really looking for a job, and it just so happened to my
next door neighbor was the CEO theWhy where I grew up, and he
(01:02):
referred me to someone at the RochesterWhy. I went to Roberts Wesleyan in
Rochester, New York, and theyhad a youth director position, and I
said, well, you know,I'll just do this for a year or
so until I can find a realjob. And one thing led to another
and I'm still here. But theylove to say, you know, I
used to bus tables at this restaurantbefore I owned it or whatever. You
were literally cleaning out the showers stalls. I mean, come up, yeah,
(01:26):
yeah, yeah, it was youknow. For me, I just
wanted to get the membership at thehy so I could play basketball and hang
out at the y and you know, and then you know, I started
working in after school programs and summercamp programs and I was developing all this
YMC experience and not really even realizingit. So for a lot of companies,
(01:48):
I'll say to him, you know, tell me what it is you
do and how you do it.I think we all have like a generic
view or thought of what the whyis about. But you know, now
obviously that there is so much morethat goes into this and that you guys
provide. Talk a little bit aboutthat. Yeah, you know, so
a lot of people look at thewhy. They obviously they think of our
buildings, they think of the gym, the pool, But the why does
(02:10):
so many things and really in short, the whys for youth development, healthy
living, and social responsibility. Alot of focus on helping kids, especially
kids who come from marginalized communities,camping, childcare, leadership development programs.
We have a lot of aquatic programs, most people a lot of people have
(02:30):
learned to swim at the YMCA.And socially we do a lot. I
mean, we house one hundred andsixty five men in Schenecty through our housing
corporation. We house another sixty fiveseniors. You know. We do a
lot of programs around food and securitieswhere we're collecting food and getting into people
(02:51):
who need food. We do alot around diversity, equity and inclusion,
you know, and just a lotof community stuff. We have programs were
helping the new immigrants and refugees getassimilated into this country, helping them get
clothes, food, learning how tospeak English. So I mean lot of
(03:13):
programs and stuff with seniors. Sowe really do serve the community. Because
a lot of folks don't know this, but the YMCA is a volunteer organization.
It's owned and operated by volunteers.They employ me to hire a staff
team to manage the y but theymake the decisions, and so basically whatever
(03:35):
programs and initiatives we have is becauseit's what the community wants to have from
the YMCA in order to best servethe community. So many CEOs I've asked,
you, know, what do yousupport locally that keeps you involved with
the community, and the why comesup all the time. You must see
that, and it must fill youwith gratitude knowing that the people that are
(03:58):
out there moving in shape and makingthings happen, they're coming back to be
a part of this thing that youhad. Absolutely, I mean our tentacles
reached deep into the community. Imean we are very fortunate to have strong
support not only from the business community, but elected officials, from local community
(04:23):
leaders, grassroots folks, families.So it's very rewarding to see the difference
that we make in the lives ofso many different people. But I tell
you, I never realized just howimportant the y MCA is to the community
until the pandemic hit. Because wequickly pivoted to to food insecurities, health
(04:49):
disparities, racial equality. We respondedto the needs of the community really on
the fly, and I think that'sone of the ran things about this organization
and what we contribute to the community. So when you were a young man
still cleaning out those shower stalls andwashing those gym bags, to where you
(05:10):
are now, the wise mission hasn'tchanged, but I bet the way that
you do it and the approaches andthe things life has changed. Right,
So how have things within your organizationchanged? A lot of changes, a
lot of changes. We really aredoing a lot more that doesn't require us
(05:30):
owning and operating a huge facility.We really are very engaged with other not
for profits and you know, partnershipsand collaborations and as I just said,
you know, responding to the needsthat are critical to people today. So
getting people access to food, helpingrefugees and new immigrants get acclimated to the
(06:00):
community, housing more programs for youknow, seniors, and one of the
biggest things that we're doing that's reallykind of been a staple for us for
many years now, though, butit's becoming a greater need is childcare.
More and more folks need childcare sothey can return to the workforce, and
so we're really increasing you know,that service as well. So it's really
(06:27):
about us responding to the needs ofthe community. And uh, you know
the for profit corporations. You knowthey have you know people who own stocks.
Well, we are our stakeholders arethe community. Uh, they're the
ones that are the shareholders of ourorganization. They're the ones that are invested
in the in the y MC.I listen, you're You're a testament to
(06:50):
what the WHY can do. Itinstilled values in you and talk to you
that touch you the benefits of hardwork and determination and all that. Do
you see young David when you goto work each and every day still working
at the Why? Oh yeah,I see lots of young David Brown's And
in fact, I see people whohave far greater potential than I have had.
(07:12):
And one of my passions, I'mstill a youth director at heart.
I mean I really am. I'mreally still someone who enjoys working with young
people, and I am humbled.I just recently I needed some electric work
at my house and a young manthat I have known since he was six
(07:35):
years old. He learned how toswim at the Why. He was a
really accomplished swimmer. I need anelectrician. He's a grown man, now
owns his own electrical company, andhe shows up at my daughter installed this
outlet for me and do this electricwork, and I'm just like really humbled
to see, you know, thisyoung man doing so well. And there's
(07:58):
so many people that have come throughour doors who are successful, you know,
in life, whether they are adoctor, a lawyer, electrician,
an entrepreneur. We've we've had theopportunity to touch their lives and that that's
a really great reward for me asa professional. So we know where the
(08:20):
why has been. We know whatit is right now. Ten years from
now, Crystal Ball is what's thewhy up to then? Well, we're
gonna We're still going to be here. We're still going to be doing much
of the work that I have discussedwith you here this morning, and I
and I imagine that we're going todo more. I imagine that we're going
to expand our footprint here in theCapital region to serve more families and to
(08:45):
serve more more children. We definitelyare going to do more around the health
disparities and the food insecurities, becausethat's a need that really needs to be
addressed in our communities. But Icould I see us continuing to respond to
the things that are critical for ourcommunities to thrive and to grow. Excellent.
(09:07):
I'm Doug Goudi. That is aCEO you should know. David Brown,
President of CEO right here on WGY. Thank you, David, thank
you, it was great talking withyou.
I'm Doug Goudie and this is anotherepisode of CEOs you should Know. Joining
me today is David Brownie's the President'sCEO of the Capital Region YMCA. Good
morning, David, Good morning.You have a fun story considering you know
so many CEOs that I've talked toover the years started their business after college.
(00:20):
What was your very first job?Wow, Well, my very first
professional job at the Why. Iwas a youth director at the YMCA.
But my roots in the Why goback to when I was a teenager.
Actually, when I was a youth. I grew up in the Why.
I learned to swim at the yMy very first job at the Why,
(00:42):
I was a janitor. I wasactually the health club attendant. I watched
Jim bags and clean the health cluband wash towels and scrub the showers and
all that kind of stuff. Andwhen I graduated college, you know,
I was really looking for a job, and it just so happened to my
next door neighbor was the CEO theWhy where I grew up, and he
(01:02):
referred me to someone at the RochesterWhy. I went to Roberts Wesleyan in
Rochester, New York, and theyhad a youth director position, and I
said, well, you know,I'll just do this for a year or
so until I can find a realjob. And one thing led to another
and I'm still here. But theylove to say, you know, I
used to bus tables at this restaurantbefore I owned it or whatever. You
were literally cleaning out the showers stalls. I mean, come up, yeah,
(01:26):
yeah, yeah, it was youknow. For me, I just
wanted to get the membership at thehy so I could play basketball and hang
out at the y and you know, and then you know, I started
working in after school programs and summercamp programs and I was developing all this
YMC experience and not really even realizingit. So for a lot of companies,
(01:48):
I'll say to him, you know, tell me what it is you
do and how you do it.I think we all have like a generic
view or thought of what the whyis about. But you know, now
obviously that there is so much morethat goes into this and that you guys
provide. Talk a little bit aboutthat. Yeah, you know, so
a lot of people look at thewhy. They obviously they think of our
buildings, they think of the gym, the pool, But the why does
(02:10):
so many things and really in short, the whys for youth development, healthy
living, and social responsibility. Alot of focus on helping kids, especially
kids who come from marginalized communities,camping, childcare, leadership development programs.
We have a lot of aquatic programs, most people a lot of people have
(02:30):
learned to swim at the YMCA.And socially we do a lot. I
mean, we house one hundred andsixty five men in Schenecty through our housing
corporation. We house another sixty fiveseniors. You know. We do a
lot of programs around food and securitieswhere we're collecting food and getting into people
(02:51):
who need food. We do alot around diversity, equity and inclusion,
you know, and just a lotof community stuff. We have programs were
helping the new immigrants and refugees getassimilated into this country, helping them get
clothes, food, learning how tospeak English. So I mean lot of
(03:13):
programs and stuff with seniors. Sowe really do serve the community. Because
a lot of folks don't know this, but the YMCA is a volunteer organization.
It's owned and operated by volunteers.They employ me to hire a staff
team to manage the y but theymake the decisions, and so basically whatever
(03:35):
programs and initiatives we have is becauseit's what the community wants to have from
the YMCA in order to best servethe community. So many CEOs I've asked,
you, know, what do yousupport locally that keeps you involved with
the community, and the why comesup all the time. You must see
that, and it must fill youwith gratitude knowing that the people that are
(03:58):
out there moving in shape and makingthings happen, they're coming back to be
a part of this thing that youhad. Absolutely, I mean our tentacles
reached deep into the community. Imean we are very fortunate to have strong
support not only from the business community, but elected officials, from local community
(04:23):
leaders, grassroots folks, families.So it's very rewarding to see the difference
that we make in the lives ofso many different people. But I tell
you, I never realized just howimportant the y MCA is to the community
until the pandemic hit. Because wequickly pivoted to to food insecurities, health
(04:49):
disparities, racial equality. We respondedto the needs of the community really on
the fly, and I think that'sone of the ran things about this organization
and what we contribute to the community. So when you were a young man
still cleaning out those shower stalls andwashing those gym bags, to where you
(05:10):
are now, the wise mission hasn'tchanged, but I bet the way that
you do it and the approaches andthe things life has changed. Right,
So how have things within your organizationchanged? A lot of changes, a
lot of changes. We really aredoing a lot more that doesn't require us
(05:30):
owning and operating a huge facility.We really are very engaged with other not
for profits and you know, partnershipsand collaborations and as I just said,
you know, responding to the needsthat are critical to people today. So
getting people access to food, helpingrefugees and new immigrants get acclimated to the
(06:00):
community, housing more programs for youknow, seniors, and one of the
biggest things that we're doing that's reallykind of been a staple for us for
many years now, though, butit's becoming a greater need is childcare.
More and more folks need childcare sothey can return to the workforce, and
so we're really increasing you know,that service as well. So it's really
(06:27):
about us responding to the needs ofthe community. And uh, you know
the for profit corporations. You knowthey have you know people who own stocks.
Well, we are our stakeholders arethe community. Uh, they're the
ones that are the shareholders of ourorganization. They're the ones that are invested
in the in the y MC.I listen, you're You're a testament to
(06:50):
what the WHY can do. Itinstilled values in you and talk to you
that touch you the benefits of hardwork and determination and all that. Do
you see young David when you goto work each and every day still working
at the Why? Oh yeah,I see lots of young David Brown's And
in fact, I see people whohave far greater potential than I have had.
(07:12):
And one of my passions, I'mstill a youth director at heart.
I mean I really am. I'mreally still someone who enjoys working with young
people, and I am humbled.I just recently I needed some electric work
at my house and a young manthat I have known since he was six
(07:35):
years old. He learned how toswim at the Why. He was a
really accomplished swimmer. I need anelectrician. He's a grown man, now
owns his own electrical company, andhe shows up at my daughter installed this
outlet for me and do this electricwork, and I'm just like really humbled
to see, you know, thisyoung man doing so well. And there's
(07:58):
so many people that have come throughour doors who are successful, you know,
in life, whether they are adoctor, a lawyer, electrician,
an entrepreneur. We've we've had theopportunity to touch their lives and that that's
a really great reward for me asa professional. So we know where the
(08:20):
why has been. We know whatit is right now. Ten years from
now, Crystal Ball is what's thewhy up to then? Well, we're
gonna We're still going to be here. We're still going to be doing much
of the work that I have discussedwith you here this morning, and I
and I imagine that we're going todo more. I imagine that we're going
to expand our footprint here in theCapital region to serve more families and to
(08:45):
serve more more children. We definitelyare going to do more around the health
disparities and the food insecurities, becausethat's a need that really needs to be
addressed in our communities. But Icould I see us continuing to respond to
the things that are critical for ourcommunities to thrive and to grow. Excellent.
(09:07):
I'm Doug Goudi. That is aCEO you should know. David Brown,
President of CEO right here on WGY. Thank you, David, thank
you, it was great talking withyou.
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