For Stevens Point News

Johnson Brings 25 Years Experience to Organization

STEVENS POINT — The Stevens Point Area YMCA has named Sharon Johnson as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective June 18, 2018.

Selected by the Y’s Board of Directors, following a 4 month search, Johnson will succeed Dave Morgan who stepped down February 18, 2018, to take a CEO position with the YMCA in Kalamazoo, MI. In her new role Johnson will be responsible for continuing the strong legacy of YMCA service to the community, and growing the organization to even greater levels of impact in the county.

Sharon Johnson

“During our search for a new CEO, we looked at candidates locally and from throughout the country, but Sharon Johnson stood out among the rest. Her energy and vision for the YMCA is exactly what we were looking for in a leader” stated Ben Martinsen, Chair of the Search Committee. “With Sharon’s experience in developing and building the Heart of the Valley YMCA in the Appleton area and her passion for the mission of the YMCA, we are convinced that the Stevens Point Area YMCA will have fantastic leadership for years to come”, according to Brian Formella, Incoming Board Chair of the YMCA.

“I am honored and excited to join the Stevens Point Area YMCA staff team and Board of Directors as the new CEO. Our daughter has attended the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point for the past three years so my family and I know the area well and are looking forward to immersing ourselves in the community and culture of Portage County”, stated Sharon.

Sharon Johnson grew up in Menomonee Falls, WI where she completed high school and then continued on at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in December 1992. After graduation, Sharon landed her first job with the Appleton YMCA as the Head Gymnastics Coach for the Heart of the Valley Program Center in February 1993. After marrying her husband, Lance in 1994 and together having two amazing children, Morgan (21) and Evan (17), Sharon worked her way up through positions with the same YMCA Association as Program Coordinator, Program Director and ultimately the Branch Executive Director prior to the opening of the full-facility Heart of the Valley YMCA in September 2002. Sharon also completed her Master’s Degree from Springfield College in Organizational Management and Leadership in 2012 and has remained the Heart of the Valley YMCA Executive Director for the past 15 years.

From gymnastics to aquatics, child care to adult programming, Sharon has developed programs and nurtured community relationships throughout her 25 year career. She believes deeply in the mission and values of the YMCA and is passionate about nurturing the potential of children and teens, improving the health of all people, and building relationships that last a lifetime. “The YMCA has provided me the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive both personally and professionally and has offered me the ability to strengthen the foundations of community in ways that I never thought were possible.”