The Virginian-Pilot
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It came as little surprise when Chuck Harris announced last week that he would be retiring next year after more than four decades with the YMCA. A search committee to find a replacement had already been formed earlier in the week.
Harris, CEO of the South Hampton Roads YMCA, will turn 65 this year and said he's looking forward to spending time with his six grandchildren and traveling with his wife.
Harris was tapped as CEO of the South Hampton Roads Y in the late 1980s from Richmond's Y system, where he was the vice president of operations.
"It's a pleasure when you get up in the morning and you know you're impacting people's lives in a positive way," Harris said of his career. "That's very satisfying."
Over 22 years in southeastern Virginia, Harris expanded the YMCA of South Hampton Roads from four centers to what will be 20 when the new Currituck Y opens in North Carolina in December.
By the time he steps down on Sept. 1, a new CEO is expected to be in place to oversee the Y's two latest projects through to completion: Norfolk's Park Place Y and an aquatics center in Virginia Beach's Princess Anne corridor.
Harris said he has no intention of getting involved in those projects once he has retired but will remain active through volunteering with the national Y and serving on the boards of other nonprofit organizations.
Jim Dille, vice president of the Y's board of directors, is heading the search committee. He said Harris will not be involved in the selection of his successor.
The search committee is made up of some Y board members, as well as community leaders in various nonprofits, plus a representative from the national Y.
Over the next three months, Dille said, the committee will outline a salary range for the new CEO and a list of qualifications. Based on the Y's most recent tax filings, Harris was making about $300,000 a year in 2009.
Dille said the committee likely will make a decision around April or May and have the position filled by the beginning of August.
"We've got plenty of time and we plan to do an extensive search, both internal and national," Dille said.
"It's been fun being CEO. How many people can say that about their jobs?" said Harris, who plans to remain in Chesapeake in retirement. But, he added, "you can't do this work by yourself; it takes teamwork of great volunteers and great staff."
Marjon Rostami, (757) 222-5207, marjon.rostami@pilotonline.com
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Y CEO
AS we all have seen over the past few months the Y formally known as the YMCA has been behaving like a wolf in sheeps clothing. That (sheep), non for profit, Young Mens, Christian Association, sure looked, smelled and acted like a large for profit company (Wolf). I just hope that the new CEO can get back to the core principles, that the YMCA was created for. Let's see what the search group finds. Another wolf or a true YMCA leader.
This Guy Should Be In Politics
$300K for a non-profit CEO...wow! No wonder the Y's membership fees cost so much. The city rec centers are a far better bargain. I'm amazed this guy isn't in politics, with his penchant for pulling in the big bucks, while maintaining the charade of a non-profit.
So....
So does he still get the free membership?
Profiting from the non profit sector
The Y is nonprofit in name only. He seems to be profiting nicely. I'll bet his retirement package isn't too shabby either. He served his community by providing minimum wage jobs. 99% of Y employees are part time (to avoid benefits) and minimum wage. The Y gets doesn't receive bad press for this because they are "serving the community". He should be ashamed of himself for calling his work a "service to the community", while living like a KING among paupers. He served himself mightily.
Well said
If your stats are right then we should all incensed. Perhaps he and Phil Shucet should start their own political consulting firm. It appears that they are both effective at gaming the system. Of course in order to do that, they need a pliable board of directors. Kinda like the bozos at HRT that gave Townes a $300k golden parachute and Shucet a $40,000.00 month salary. Jim Wood was the chairman of the HRT board when they doled out the big $$$$ to Townes and Shucet. Sessoms had the nerve to call Jim Wood a "hero". It's so easy when you are spending other peoples money (OPM). This is what passes for leadership in our fair cities.
Ashamed
As a former employee of the Y of South Hampton Roads I am ashamed to hear that Chuck Harris was making over $300,000 a year. There are branches in the association that have had their budgets and staffing cut to minimal levels that truly impede proper operation. Facilities that once had the necessary directors for each department were reduced to part time directors for some departments and others running two departments. All the while the CEO's salary was climbing. No wonder he "loved" going to work. I hope the new CEO takes this opportunity to restructure. The fee structure for membership is outrageous in comparison to other local associations and many facilities are struggling. Time to get back to the mission.
HAS ANYONE NOTICED THE CHANGE AT THE "Y"
As you drive through the tidewater area have you noticed the "Y" is no longer the YMCA? My inside sources tell me they are shedding the Young Christian Mens Association mantra for a more secular theme. What a shame! Then again, we have to be politically correct these days, we don't want to offend anyone with Christianity.
Not true
That is not true. The YMCA of the USA initiated that change. It has nothing to do with the word Christian in the name. It is still officially known as YMCA. It was done to take a more modern approach since most refer to it as "The Y" already anyway. Similar to when Kentucky Fried Chicken changed to KFC.
Y pay non profits CEO sooo much?
Now is a great opportunity for the Y to refocus itself on its core mission of serving the underserved rather than competing against private sector business with taxpayers underwriting their efforts. The new CEO can start to make up for all the wrong that the Y has done over the years of filling their pockets and not helping the community.