Meet the New CEO

The Tom A. Finch Community YMCA announces that Laura Sweitzer will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer. She will succeed Billy Freeman, who retired in July, as previously announced.

No stranger to Thomasville or the YMCA, Sweitzer has served as Associative Executive Director at the Tom A. Finch Community YMCA since 2018, and most recently interim CEO. Sweitzer began her career at the YMCA in youth programming in 1998. Under her direction, the Y’s childcare center earned its 5 Star license and serves more than 200 children annually.

“We are thrilled to name Laura as our next CEO and believe she is the right leader to more our organization forward,” Sara Faulkner, Chair of the Tom A. Finch Community YMCA Board of Directors. “Laura’s experience in operations, community engagement, leadership and strategic thinking, along with her deep commitment to the Y’s Christian mission to serve all, make her the ideal servant leader to be our next CEO.”

The Tom A. Finch Community YMCA serves roughly 4000 adults and children in the Thomasville area with an operational revenue of $1.2 million. While the pandemic had a devastating financial impact on YMCAs nationally, the Tom A. Finch Community YMCA repurposed staff and resources to serve neighbors with feeding programs, remote education and childcare when need for these services was most critical.

“I feel honored to have the opportunity to lead our YMCA,” Sweitzer said. “I appreciate the sincere support from our community and staff. I know that I have big shoes to fill following great leadership - Stan Styers, Tommy Hodges and Billy Freeman - but I will give my best to lead our YMCA and make our community proud!”

Sweitzer is a graduate of High Point University and serves on several community boards and committees. She and her family are active members of Mt. Pleasant Church in Thomasville.