Current Position: Senior Program Director, YMCA of Snohomish County (Everett, WA)

Hometown: Tupelo, MS

Degree: B.S. in Sport Communication, 2008

What are the responsibilities of your current position?

I oversee the membership, wellness, youth sports, active older adults and aquatics departments for the Everett Family YMCA in Everett, WA. As a part of this position, I am required to budget and forecast budgets for each department, train staff, hire/fire staff, process payroll and am responsible for the day-to-day operations of the branch.

How did your education at MSU help prepare you for work in the field?

My education at Mississippi State allowed me to get a lot of hands on exposure to areas that I now focus on in my current role, specifically health and wellness.

What advice would you give to current students looking for internships or jobs in the field?

When working for a non-profit, like the YMCA, you have to be very receptive to the idea that you will be wearing a lot of different hats no matter what your position is and you will be working all different kinds of hours. However, there is something special about serving the community and providing people a place of encouragement while helping them grow in spirit, mind and body.