Job Description

The South Mountain YMCA Camps has a commitment to creating a culture of safety.

The Opportunity

The South Mountain YMCA Camps seeks an energetic and focused Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to succeed its long-time CEO. The new leader inherits a historic program poised for additional growth with a strong leadership team in place. With 2022 child protection accreditation from Praesidium, our camping programs operate at a high standard of child protection. The CEO currently supervises a FT management team of 6 that oversee additional FT staff and more than 100 seasonal team members.

We seek an effective and empathetic leader with broad management experience, preferably in the YMCA and/or nonprofit sector, including experience in camping, strategic planning, board/volunteer development, fiscal management, and fundraising. We seek a diverse pool of candidates committed to our mission and upholding our values and ethics; individuals that can persuasively communicate our impact to the community at large.

This position is in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and requires year-round residency within 15 minutes of our campus. Plentiful housing, and multiple high-quality school districts, exist within this radius.

Our Mission & Vision

The Mission of the South Mountain YMCA is to provide a camping experience, educational and other programs that build personal leadership, character and life skills while developing caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in young people, families and communities.

Our Vision Statement: We welcome you to the mountain and invite you to share in our Fire of Friendship, determined in our belief that every person shares the potential to grow in wisdom, to discover their unique and independent voice, to nurture others and to engage their communities. The fun and challenging programs we offer foster communication, trust, problem-solving and deeper spiritual connections, while preparing young people to lead and be led. The South Mountain YMCA Camps are more than a series of camping and retreat programs on the mountaintop, they are a way of life – a philosophy – that are exciting to explore and easy to embrace. Keep the Fires Burning!

South Mountain YMCA Camps Facts

The South Mountain YMCA Camps, operating as an independent YMCA Camp and Conference Center since 1983, has been providing youth recreational and educational programs for over 75 years (previously under the direction of the YMCA of Reading & Berks County). Camp Conrad Weiser and Bynden Wood Day Camp provide the primary backdrop for all activities; however, program opportunities today stretch into areas of Outdoor Education and Environmental Education Programs, Curriculum Training, Corporate Conferencing, Kindred Group Retreats, Church Retreats, Parent/Child Programs, and more.

Sitting atop Cushion Peak, our campus feels remote while remaining close to shopping, entertainment, and tourism centers. The South Mountain YMCA Camps are 12 miles from downtown Reading, 30 miles from Lancaster, 40 miles from Hershey, 60 miles from Harrisburg, and 70 miles from Philadelphia.

Our YMCA camp programs serve over 8,500 individuals annually with participants largely drawn from Berks County and surrounding communities. Our summer campers come from Pennsylvania, neighboring states, and more than a dozen other countries.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

A cause-driven YMCA Camp and Conference Center is led by staff and volunteers who intentionally strive to promote an inclusive organizational culture that values diversity, strengthens inclusion, and builds a global community in the U.S. and abroad. At the South Mountain YMCA Camps, we work to ensure that everyone, regardless of race, gender, income, faith, sexual orientation, ability, or cultural background feels welcome and has an opportunity to participate in our programs and camp community.

We believe:

• Our staff and volunteers should be welcoming, nurturing, determined, genuine, and hopeful for each and every visitor to our campus
• Every person shares the potential to grow in wisdom, to discover their unique and independent voice, to nurture others and to engage their communities
• The fun and challenging programs we offer foster communication, trust, problem-solving and deeper spiritual connections, while preparing young people to lead and be led
• Our programs, volunteer opportunities, and are “for all”

Current Key Strategic Initiatives

The overarching theme that appears in our developing strategic plan is PEOPLE. This theme crosses through all other priorities. This includes: Quality Staffing (attract, recruit, maintain, develop/train); Campers of all ages; Community Members (provide programs and services that attract the community to our site); Funders; and Volunteers (policy and program volunteers).

Our developing strategic initiatives involve:

• Staffing
• Outdoor Center & Camp Conrad Weiser Growth
• Diversify Revenue Streams
• Stewardship of Property
• Financial Sustainability

Campus Information:

Our beautiful 500-acre campus includes day camp and resident camp facilities, as well as a day-use program site adjacent to our original acreage. Our 120 rooftops include 2 dining facilities (both Bynden Wood Lodge and the Camp Dining Hall having been renovated within the past ten years), 24 log cabins (14 beds each), 6 lodges, 2 auditoriums, an outdoor swimming facility (built in 2017), and various older cabins and adirondack shelters.

The Camp Conrad Weiser Dining Hall has received funding for the addition of a wing (inclusive bathrooms, camp store, summer camp offices, and meeting space), to be completed in 2023.

Keystone Programs

• Camp Conrad Weiser (CCW): For 75 years, CCW has served summer campers on the mountain. After becoming co-ed in 1982, the program hit peak enrollment in 2002 before falling off precipitously. Enrollment was fully recovered by 2019 before the pandemic. This program features international exchanges of both campers and staff, as well as target sports (archery, bbs, rifles, trap shooting), equestrian programs, climbing and adventure, arts (crafts, music, video production, radio), mountain boards and bikes, aquatics activities, nature classes, court and field sports, and much more. Peak capacity for this inclusive and diverse program sits between 240 and 280 campers per week. Trans campers are currently accommodated, and the team is considering ways to offer gender-neutral cabins in some villages.
• Bynden Wood Day Camp (BW): A Berks County fixture for more than 60 years, Bynden Wood Day Camp most directly serves our neighbors. Offering traditional camp programs (target sports, swimming, climbing, nature, crafts, etc.), BW routinely fills and carries waiting lists. While the traditional capacity has sat at 120, we have experimented with driving enrollment to 160.
• The Outdoor Center (OC): The Outdoor Center began offering year-round programs in the 1980s. Serving schools, scouts, community organizations, and families, our facilities have largely been winterized to accommodate a mix of day and overnight programs.

Annual Campaign

Current Year’s Goal $110,000

Previous Year’s Campaign Impact

• Total amount awarded in financial assistance (scholarship and subsidies) $300,000

Capital Campaign(s)

Our last capital campaign was in 2015-2016 and renovated the main Dining Hall and kitchen, as well as replacing our outdoor pool complex. Prior to that, a 2004 campaign effort replaced our bathrooms, showers, and cabins.

The 4 major capital projects currently on the docket include:

Staff

Current Staff

• FT: 11* (CEO, Business Manager, Registrar, Operations Director, Camp Conrad Weiser Director, Youth & Family Director, Outdoor Center Director, Development Director, Facilities Director, Asst. Facilities Director)
• PT: 2
• Seasonal:100-120
• New FT Program Staff being added in 2023

CEO Direct Reports

• Operations Director
• Business Manager/Controller
• Facilities Director
• Development Director

FT Staff Demographics

• 40% Female
• 60% Male
• 0% American Indian or Alaskan Native
• 0% Asian
• 0% Black or African American
• 10% Hispanic or Latino
• 0% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• 0% Two or More Races
• 90% White

Board of Directors

While bylaws allow this group of policy volunteers to reach 31, membership is regularly around 24. Members are a mix of alumni and community leaders. Recently the Board has enacted strategic goals to further diversify.

Financial

• Current Annual Budget Size: $2.3 million
• Current Debt:$600,000
• Current Endowment: The camp benefits from approximately $200,000 of endowment income per year.
• Cash on hand: $750,000
• 3-year pattern of annual surplus/deficit
• Modest surplus for the past 3 years (including current year)

COVID Relief: Twice Camp received PPP funds and all amounts were forgiven. The Camp also received more than $200,000 in ERTC Funds. Finally, the Camp has more than $200,000 in EIDL funds that have not been utilized yet.

Population & Demographics – From DataUSA

In 2020, Berks County, PA had a population of 419,000 people with a median age of 40.2 and a median household income of $66,154. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Berks County, PA grew from 418,025 to 419,062, a 0.248% increase and its median household income grew from $63,728 to $66,154, a 3.81% increase.

The five largest ethnic groups in Berks County, PA are White (Non-Hispanic) (70.5%), White (Hispanic) (9.51%), Other (Hispanic) (6.2%), Two+ (Hispanic) (4.5%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (4%).

None of the households in Berks County, PA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.4% of the residents in Berks County, PA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Berks County, PA are Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (1,817 degrees awarded in 2020), Alvernia University (815 degrees), and Reading Area Community College (457 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Berks County, PA was $187,600, and the homeownership rate was 71%. Most people in Berks County, PA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 25.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Berks County, PA was 2 cars per household.

Berks County, PA borders Chester County, PA, Lancaster County, PA, Lebanon County, PA, Lehigh County, PA, Montgomery County, PA, and Schuylkill County, PA.

Additional Important Information

Area Amenities and Community Benefits

The Greater Reading community boasts beautifully diverse neighborhoods across the county. From old-fashioned charm and rich history to hip, up-and-coming areas with walkable layouts, there’s something for everyone here. Finding your perfect fit for housing is easy, with everything from condos, loft apartments, and townhomes to historic houses and new homes.

Berks County, PA is a great place for education – with outstanding public school districts in the service area and hosts to multiple colleges and universities including Albright College and Penn State Berks.

From art and jazz festivals to outdoor adventures, there’s so much to see and do in Reading, PA. Plan your weekend getaway to Berks County and explore our Pennsylvania Dutch Heritage including traditional foods, museums and farmers’ markets.

Other Sites for Information:

www.ymca.org

https://www.smymca.org/

Qualifications

Preferred Criteria for Candidates:

Essential Functions

Key Deliverables of the Next CEO:

Fiscal Management: Use high-level financial analysis to forecast financial trends, growth and stability, while consistently leading organization to balance or surplus operations by growing earned revenue and contributions and controlling costs. Empower and guide staff leaders to lead their departments to successful financial operation. Develop and implement stewardship strategies. Key competencies: Fiscal Management, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Developing Self & Others, Philanthropy

Improve Operating Performance: Engage the board and appropriate staff to develop an annual tactical plan for identifying and achieving key goals and objectives towards operating with safe, relevant and sustainable practices. Quickly address issues that may arise, forecast future needs, and manage and direct the Y’s operations and activities. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Innovation

Develop and Implement a Strategic Plan: Work effectively with volunteers, community leaders, and key staff, to create and develop a strategic plan that addresses the needs of the communities served by the Y and includes defined organizational strategies, a clear implementation plan with deliverables, and measurable goals. Key competencies: Change Leadership, Communication & Influence, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Program/Project Management

Build and Lead Staff: Ensure a talent development system is in place and executed in an affirming, culturally competent and effective manner. Effectively hire, motivate, nurture, retain, and hold staff accountable for key objectives. Work towards recruiting, retaining, developing and promoting staff that represent the diversity of the communities you serve. Encourage the team by creating a spirit of camaraderie, inclusion, and sense of mission and purpose. Create a learning organization to help staff achieve their highest potential. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Inclusion, Emotional Maturity, Change Leadership

Steward Fundraising Efforts: Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan that will establish the YMCA as a leading nonprofit organization within the community through the engagement of members, volunteers, staff, and donors. Identify the need for successful capital fundraising, while taking the organization to a new level of effectiveness and impact in annual giving and endowment. Key competencies: Philanthropy, Engaging Community, Communication & Influence

Salary Range: $115,000-$140,000

Benefits: Retirement contribution, vacation plan, health plan and other benefits per personnel policy included.

Target Dates for the Search Process

Resumes accepted through: December 23, 2022

Preliminary interviews scheduled: January 17-18, 2023

Final interviews: January 30 and February 1, 2023

CEO selection made: February 1, 2023

New CEO on board (anticipated): March 6, 2023

To Apply

Candidates will apply via the following website: https://tinyurl.com/south-mountain-ymca-camps-ceo

You will be requested to submit the following with your online application: A resume and cover letter, along with four professional and two personal references. Note: References will be checked on final candidates.

Questions regarding this position should be directed to:

David Martorano

YMCA of the USA

David.martorano@ymca.net

312-419-2839

Mel Roth

PA Alliance of YMCAs

melanie@rothlan.com

610-635-6856