January 2, 2026 –The YMCA Alliance of Northern New England is excited to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Leadership Academy.

Leadership Academy is a unique and robust professional development opportunity for rising stars in the Y movement to sharpen their leadership skills in preparation for taking their careers to new levels.

November 5, 2025 – Today, the YMCA Alliance of Northern New England announced the selection of Katie Parker as its next Chief Operating officer. Parker has 20 years of progressive leadership experience in the YMCA movement, she brings a deep commitment to advancing the Y’s mission through organizational growth, program innovation, and community impact. She is a native of Maine and graduated from the University of Maine (Orono) with a B.S. in Business Administration. Katie started her professional Y career with the Sanford-Springvale YMCA as Aquatics Director in 2006.

September 17, 2025 – Today, the YMCA Alliance of Northern New England announced that they received grant funding to support LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program delivery across Maine. Funding is provided by the Maine Cancer Foundation, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to reducing cancer incidence and mortality through prevention, early detection, and access to care. This project addresses the urgent need for survivorship support in Maine, which has among the nation’s highest cancer incidence and mortality rates. An estimated 150,000 adult cancer survivors, or 13.7% of the state’s population, live with lasting physical, emotional, and social challenges, with even higher prevalence in rural areas. Limited resources in these communities highlight the importance of accessible, community-based interventions.

August, 2025 – The YMCA Alliance of Northern New England is seeking a Chief Operating Officer, responsible for providing strategic oversight of the Alliance’s public policy priorities, fund development, general operations, and service delivery to ensure organizational sustainability and to support statewide and/or regional collaborations of the YMCAs in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

June 26, 2025 – The Board of Directors at the Bath Area Family YMCA announced the appointment of Amy Vendt as interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bath Area YMCA, effective July 14, 2025. Vendt, who currently serves as the YMCA’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), will step into the interim role following the announcement of CEO Rob Gray’s departure to assume the CEO position at the Heart of the Valley YMCA in Huntsville, AL. A highly respected leader with more than 30 years of YMCA experience, Vendt has demonstrated a deep commitment to empowering individuals and creating thriving, mission-driven organizations.

June 16, 2025 – Today, the CEO Search Committee and the Board of Directors at the YMCA Alliance of Northern New England announced the selection of Dr. Rebecca Stanfield McCown, of Lebanon, NH as its next Chief Executive Officer. Stanfield McCown brings more than 16 years of leadership experience in government service and academia, with a career grounded in strategic planning, community engagement, and leadership development.

June 11, 2025 – The CEO Search Committee and the Board of Directors at the YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston announced the selection of Brian Curtin of Kittery, ME as incoming CEO, effective June 16, 2025. Curtin will succeed Steven Wallace, who recently announced his retirement. A mission-driven and community-centered leader, Curtin brings decades of experience in collegiate athletics and national youth safety to the YMCA, along with a proven commitment to youth development, organizational growth, and inclusive leadership.

April 7, 2025 – On Monday, the YMCA Alliance of Northern New England (YMCA Alliance) announced the introduction of LD 1389, An Act to Create the Building Opportunity Through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Program, in the Maine State Legislature. This bill would establish a dedicated grant program to expand and enhance out-of-school time programs across the state, ensuring Maine youth have access to safe, enriching opportunities beyond the school day.

March 25, 2025 – The YMCA Alliance of Northern New England has officially released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new customer relationship management (CRM) software solution. This RFP represents a collaborative effort on behalf of 16 YMCAs across Maine and New Hampshire to identify a CRM platform to support critical areas of YMCA operations.

KEENE, N.H. – The CEO Search Committee and the Board of Directors at the Keene Family YMCA announced the selection of Christy Sterbenz Filby of East Moline, IL, as incoming CEO, effective June 2, 2025. Sterbenz Filby succeeds Dan Smith, who stepped down in November 2024 to lead the Greater Burlington YMCA.