Tom A. Finch Community YMCA
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Our Staff
Laura Sweitzer
Chief Executive Officer
Laura Sweitzer has been a part of the YMCA Thomasville Community since 1998. She began her YMCA career as a Summer Day Camp counselor. After graduating in 2003 summa cum laude with an education degree from High Point University, Laura joined the Tom A. Finch Community YMCA in a full-time role. During these 15 years at the YMCA, she provided leadership in the childcare program and later assumed supervisory leadership of sports programming. In 2008, she led the Child Care Department to obtain its five-star licensure status from the state of North Carolina. In 2018, she provided executive leadership to many moving parts of the day-to-day operations of the Tom A. Finch Community YMCA as the Associate Executive Director. Her most recent role began in 2022; when she assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer.
She is married to Nick Sweitzer and has two children, Corbin and Ava. Laura has a solid belief in the mission of the Tom A. Finch Community YMCA and in serving the community through strong programming that highlights the “C” in the YMCA. Laura is thankful for her years of putting that mission into practice with the wonderful community the Y serves. In doing so, it has allowed her to build strong personal connections and relationships with community members to build a stronger Thomasville.
Karen Apple
Director of Financial Management and HR Services
336-474-5241
Karen has been with the Y since 2012. She graduated from Appalachian State with a BS in Social Work and went on to get her Master of Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill. Karen is married to Josh and has 2 children, Allison and Micah. She enjoys running and working out, hanging out with family, and is a reality TV fan.
Melynda Brewer
Operations Director
336-474-5245
Melynda started at our YMCA as a lifeguard before becoming the Director of Aquatics. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a BS in Exercise Science. Some of her favorite things to do in her free time are going to the beach, gardening, and cooking.
Tonya Kennedy
Member Service Coordinator
336-475-6125 ext. 221
Tracy Ballard
Director of Youth Development
336-474-5240
Tracy Ballard has been with the YMCA since 2005. She began her Y career as an after-school counselor. During her time at the YMCA she has been a camp director, held the position of Assistant Director of Child Care and Director of Child Care. Tracy is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she earned a BS degree in Early Childhood Education. She is also a level 3 Administrator and has a minor in Special Education. Tracy is married to Rob Ballard and has two adult children (Hailey and Carson). Tracy is passionate about providing the very best quality care and having a partnership with the families of the children we serve in our community. Tracy enjoys reading, decorating and spending time at the beach!
Emily Wheeley
Director of Child Care
336-474-5249
Emily Wheeley has been with the YMCA since 2016. She began her Y career as a summer camp counselor. During her time at the YMCA, she has also served as a summer camp director, administrative assistant, summer camp coordinator, CPR instructor and building duty personnel. Emily has her North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and is a Level II Early Childhood Administrator. Emily is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she earned a BS degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Public Health. She also has a Graduate Certificate in Middle and Secondary Education from Appalachian State University. During her free time, Emily loves spending her time with her husband camping, cooking, gardening, and riding their four-wheeler.
Ryan Ayscue
Assistant Director of Child Care
336-474-5256
Ryan has been with the Y since 2019. Prior to getting his current position, he has worked as an Afterschool and Summer Day Camp counselor, Administrative Assistant, an Afterschool lead, and Summer Day Camp Director for the Trailblazers. He has also volunteered as a basketball coach at the Y for a few seasons. Ryan is a graduate of DDCC with an Associate in Arts and also an Associate in Business Administration. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing golf, watching sports, and spending time with friends and family.
Emily Palmer
NC-Pre K Teacher
336-474-5248
Emily has been with the YMCA since 2019, working in a variety of roles that have deepened her passion for youth development and community engagement. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Now, she is excited to take on the role of NC Pre-K Teacher and begin this next chapter. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time at the beach and being with her family.
Jackson Palmer
Director of Marketing & Community Engagement
336-475-6125 ext. 293
Jackson Palmer serves as the Director of Marketing & Community Engagement at the Tom A. Finch Community YMCA, where he leads social media, website content, newsletters, advertising, and community outreach while also supporting adult sports and serving as a liaison for teen programs. A magna cum laude graduate of Liberty University with a degree in Sports Management, Jackson began his career at the YMCA working directly with youth and teens, later serving as Teen Coordinator before stepping into his current leadership role. Driven by a strong faith and a passion for community impact, he is committed to sharing the YMCA’s mission of strengthening spirit, mind, and body. Outside of work, Jackson enjoys sports, golf, and cheering on the Atlanta Braves.
Nathalie Talavera
NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant
Nathalie grew up at the YMCA, where she attended after-school programs and summer camps that inspired her love for working with children. In 2022, she began her career at the Y as a Summer Camp Counselor, later becoming an After-School Counselor, Classroom Lead, and now the NC Pre-K Teacher Assistant.
As a college student pursuing her education in early childhood, Nathalie is continually inspired by the children and coworkers she works with every day. The YMCA is more than a community—it’s a family—and she's grateful to give back to the place that helped shape who she is.
Linda Fitzgerald
Director of Healthy Living
336-474-5243
Linda simply loves the Y, it’s mission and being a part of this extended family. She is married to the love of her life, Brian, and they have three “pups” – Mia, Pete and Cameron. She enjoys hiking, working out, helping others reach their goals and spending time with family and friends.
Melanie Kuppel
Director of Property Management
336-474-5246
Josh Rathell
Director of Youth Sports
336-481-0050
Josh has been a part of the Y organization his whole life. As a kid, he took part in childcare programs and played sports at the Y. He started working as a referee at the Y when he was 15. Right out of high school, Josh started working in childcare and also coached basketball for the Y for several seasons. Sports have always been a part of Josh's life and now he gets to work and do something he is passionate about.
Alex Laughlin
Aquatics Coordinator
336-474-5242
Alex has been with our Y in a variety of roles in the Aquatics Department for over 18 years, and has always been around water. Alex grew up in New York and then graduated from UNC- Greensboro with a BS in Recreational Management. She has taught swimming lessons to beginners all the way to coaching highly competitive swimmers, and has a passion for helping people of all ages learn the life skill of swimming. Alex has loved the Y since she started working here and really believes in its mission. Alex enjoys spending time at the lake with her friends and family, watching Hallmark Christmas movies, and loves the snow!
Sheila Wray
Active Adult Coorindator
336-475-6125 ext. 228
Sheila has been with the Y since 2013. She first worked at the Member Service Desk before accepting her current position of Active Adult Coordinator. She is married and has lots of fur babies. Her life consists of her faith, family, and friends.
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