Thomas Speidel. Courtesy photo.
SANTA YNEZ — The Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA is proud to announce Thomas Speidel as their new Executive Director. Speidel has been involved with the Y since he was eight years old, playing basketball at the Manchester Y in Richmond, Virginia. He first joined the Y staff as a Fitness Specialist, achieved a series of significant promotions, and in 2009 was appointed Executive Director of the Southside YMCA of Coastal Georgia.
In 2013, Speidel joined the Channel Islands YMCA as the Branch Manager of the Lompoc Family YMCA and in 2014 was promoted to Executive Director. During his time at the Lompoc Family YMCA, he collaborated with staff and volunteers in many facets of YMCA work, including fund development. In 2015, the Lompoc Family YMCA was awarded the Chairman and Association Financial Development Awards for achieving 100 percent of goal, board support, and highest percentage raised in the Channel Islands YMCA Association.
“We are glad to have Tommy bring his talents to the Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA,” said Sal Cisneros, President and CEO of the Channel Islands YMCA. “We look forward to strengthening the Y’s presence in the Santa Ynez Valley with him at the helm.”
Speidel has supported and guided the implementation of Livestrong® at the YMCA, Afterschool Achievement Gap signature YMCA of the USA programs, offsite charter school PE programs and helped to create a formal partnership with Boys and Girls Club – Lompoc Unit, focusing on youth development and healthy living programs.
He served on the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, while also representing the Y on the Lompoc Unified School District Collective Impact, Lompoc Valley Leadership Group, Healthy Lompoc, and Leadership Lompoc Valley. Speidel earned a BS in Sports Science from Ohio University.
About the Channel Islands YMCA: Established in 1887, the Channel Islands YMCA is a charitable organization of seven YMCA branches serving Santa Barbara and Ventura counties including: Camarillo Family YMCA, Lompoc Family YMCA, Montecito Family YMCA, Santa Barbara Family YMCA, Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA in Santa Ynez, Ventura Family YMCA, and Youth and Family Services YMCA which operates Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter, the St. George Family Youth Center and My Home.
The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Channel Islands YMCA serves over 46,000 individuals and provides over $1.3 million in financial assistance to families in need for child care, YMCA memberships, away and day camps, youth sports, and teen after-school programs. For more information about the Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA (Santa Ynez Valley), visit http://www.ciymca.org/stuartgildred/ or call (805) 686-2037.