Monroe County YMCA Chooses Jason Winkle As New CEO

The Monroe County YMCA has selected Unionville resident Jason Winkle, Ph.D., as its new chief executive officer (CEO). He replaces Roberta Kelzer. She announced earlier this year that she was stepping down after 28 years of working at the YMCA, the last 15 as the non-profit association’s CEO. Her last day will be June 30.

Incoming Monroe County YMCA CEO Jason Winkle (Photo: Business Wire)

As CEO, Winkle will provide executive leadership to the Monroe County YMCA. That includes overseeing its financial stability, community and philanthropic relations, staffing and operations.

“Assuming the leadership of the Monroe County Y gives me an exciting opportunity to continue this organization’s great legacy while focusing on what needs to be done to ensure its ongoing success,” said Winkle. “Working with Roberta and others to manage a smooth transition is my main focus now so we can seamlessly continue our mission of serving the local community.”

Winkle is a Bloomington-area resident and a longtime Y member with a history of involvement in the organization. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University Bloomington, and earned his Ph.D. from the Indiana State University School of Education. His most recent position has been associate dean and associate professor at ISU’s College of Nursing, Health and Human Services.

“This is an important time when the Monroe County YMCA is expanding and offering new facilities and new services to the people of south-central Indiana,” said Laura Hammack, chairman of the Southeast YMCA Council and a member of the search committee. “Jason will make an exceptional leader, furthering the work pioneered by Roberta during her extensive tenure. We’ve been blessed to have had such talented CEOs throughout the Y’s 30-year history, and we look forward to a great future under Jason’s leadership.”

“My tenure at the Y provided me with not only an incredible career, but an incredible set of life experiences. I’ve been blessed to work with many outstanding individuals, and I’m confident we’ve found the right person to sustain the mission of this organization in Jason Winkle,” said Kelzer, who was invited to assist the search committee in finding her replacement. “Jason brings a unique blend of energy, vision and relationship-building to the job that will help ensure its success for many years to come.”

“The Monroe County YMCA has been and continues to be blessed with exceptional talent throughout the staff, members, volunteers and directors. Roberta Kelzer, our current CEO, leads with her heart, has a brilliant thoughtful mind and is passionate about the mission of the Y,” said Jean Willey Scallon, chairman of the Northwest Y Council and a member of the search committee. “As she leaves behind her legacy of leadership we get to refocus our lens with the new CEO Jason Winkle. His educational background and relationship-based leadership skills, mixed with some cream and crimson, is going to build on the already outstanding contributions the Y makes to our community.”

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