Two more branches of the Central Coast YMCA will experience leadership changes as the association continues to grow, said President and CEO Andy Weighill.
“For our Ys to be successful, it is essential that our staff and our community can come together to further our cause,” Weighill said. “And that starts with making sure we have the best people in leadership roles.”
Mayra Zendejas is the new Center Director for the YMCA of San Benito County in Hollister and Robert Wollenzien has been promoted to district executive director, overseeing both the Watsonville and San Benito YMCAs.
Zendejas is a membership expert, serving as a member services staff person and director at both the Watsonville and San Benito branches over the past 10 years. Most recently, Zendejas served as the senior membership director at the YMCA of San Benito County.
“Because of her hard work, dedication and commitment to the Y, you don’t have to look any further than the recent growth from 70 members to over 1,000 to understand the type of talent and drive Mayra brings to the Y every day,” Weighill said. “In her new role, Mayra will lead the day-to-day operations and build upon the success she has been such an instrumental part of at the YMCA of San Benito County.”
Wollenzien is a lifetime Y member and advocate, and has been an employee of Ys across the country for his entire working career. He currently serves as the executive director of the Watsonville Y, a role he will retain while adding leadership responsibilities in San Benito.
“In Robert’s tenure with the Central Coast YMCA he has demonstrated exceptional leadership by transforming the Watsonville YMCA from a run-down Y to arguably our association’s most vibrant and successful YMCA,” Weighill said.
Zendejas and Wollenzien will assume these new roles, effective immediately.
“Both Mayra and Robert have worked tirelessly to help make our Y what it is today,” Weighill said. “These are well-deserved, and most importantly hard earned promotions.”
About the Y
The Central Coast YMCA was formed in 1989 with the merger of two independent YMCAs: the Salinas Community YMCA (founded in 1921) and the Watsonville Family YMCA (founded in 1898). The YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula, which began as a USO in 1941, merged with the Central Coast YMCA in 1990. The South County YMCA became the fourth branch of the Central Coast YMCA in 1998 and the YMCA of San Benito County followed as the fifth branch in 1999. Today, the Central Coast YMCA employs 30 full-time and about 375 part-time employees whose goal is to serve approximately 30,000 people within Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties. The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors.