The final stop on a long and winding road

ASHEBORO — After years of heading back-and-forth across the Mason-Dixon Line, Kathleen Russell has found a home — in Asheboro.

She began her new job with the Randolph-Asheboro YMCA on April 27, succeeding Patrick O’Hara as executive director.

In a Dec. 17 interview, O’Hara said of his decision to call it quits: “I knew it was time, to get new ideas in here, a different perspective. I look forward to see how the Y grows.”

The YMCA search committee came to the opinion that Russell was the one to fit the bill. She admitted on June 17 that “I identify with being a part of YMCA. I tried leaving for periods but I always found a way back.”

In fact, Russell traces her time with the YMCA to growing up in Binghamton, NY, where she spent time at the local Y, learning to swim and experiencing other youthful activities.

She attended Binghamton University, earning a degree in education and human development and interning at the Y, working with school-age children. That led to a fulltime job as a camp counselor and later as the wellness director.

“I got out of Binghamton, looking for something more exciting and not having to wear workout gear,” Russell said. 

That led her to the South, where she was a corporate recruiter in Atlanta. It was there that she got married and had a son, leading to five years as a stay-at-home mom.

By then, Russell was ready to re-enter the workforce, but on a part-time basis, at a YMCA in Atlanta. When the wellness director quit, she was asked to fill the slot and was persuaded to accept. She spent the next eight years in the position before reorganization laid her off in 2012.

Russell then learned of a wellness director job at the YMCA at Buffalo-Niagara. She went back North where a new facility was being opened, providing her with more experience.

But after two years there, Russell said, “I was getting tired with wellness.” 

A conversation with a friend led her to manage one of his restaurants for the next two years. “I’ll never manage another restaurant,” she declared.

Leaving the North again, Russell returned to Atlanta “for a paycheck.” Then she heard of a small YMCA in Canandaigua, NY, that was looking for a membership and marketing manager. 

She spent nearly two years there before taking her first director position — this time back down South in coastal Georgia. But that was during COVID when she spent more time trying to keep things together during the shutdown.

“I wanted to go back North and applied for a job in central Massachusetts,” Russell said. But another job opened in Red Bank, NY, which she applied for, and she rescinded her other application. But, again, she was convinced to take the Massachusetts job as executive director of a YMCA branch.

“That’s where I got my best experience as executive director,” she said, adding that she was responsible for “big fundraising.”

But after nearly four years, the road was calling Russell once again. “I didn’t want to be in New England any more. It was too expensive. So I started looking for other positions.”

She found a listing for the executive director position at the Randolph-Asheboro YMCA. She applied for the job and became one of the finalists. 

Then she had second thoughts and again rescinded her application. But, again, she was convinced to re-send her resume. 

“I checked with the employees,” Russell said. “They were ready for a fresh perspective and other ideas.”

Going before the board of directors, Russell wanted to know if she would be supported in changes for sustainability and upward mobility. “The answer was a resounding yes,” she said.

“The board has been very receptive to new ideas and they want someone who questions things,” Russell said, noting that the board of directors have deferred to her in the day-to-day policy operations.

“Working in different Y’s gave me more perspectives,” she said. “I can bring new good ideas. I come in with fresh eyes and new ideas. I like getting into the trenches and solving community problems.”

Russell said she can see more fundraising opportunities and that the “community is very supportive. It’s time to tap these revenues.”

Asked about potential changes, Russell pointed to improvements to the aquatic program, such as resurfacing and cleaning the swimming pool. 

She said the YMCA needs to upgrade its automation, particularly in human resources, employee performance and applications, which, she said, will improve employee performance by freeing more staff time.

She wants to move toward licensed child care and opening up summer camps to more youth. She said there’s now a waiting list.

Additionally, Russell wants to collaborate with the North Carolina YMCA Alliance to do strategic planning for the future. That would also include member surveys to find out what the community needs.

Among other concerns, Russell wants to do succession planning. “Who’s going to take over when I’m gone?” That would extend to other staff members as well, many of whom have been with the local Y for decades.

“The staff needs to be invested in,” Russell said. “That’s important to me.”

With fresh leadership and new ideas, the future of the Randolph-Asheboro YMCA appears to be on the rise. And Russell plans to be part of it.

“This is my final stop,” she declared. “I’m not going anywhere else. It was a good move for me.

“I’m happy to be here. The community has been very welcoming. It’s the easiest transition I’ve ever experienced. And I’m closer to my family than in Massachusetts.

“I’ve always been involved in the community. Everybody here is intertwined and very eager to work together. Everybody wants to help everybody.”

Finally, Russell put a seal on her decision to come back South: “I’m super excited to be here. I absolutely love Asheboro.”