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Ernest Lamour
Ernest Lamour
Ernest Lamour
Ernest Lamour
Listen to this articlePresident & CEO, YMCA of Greater Rochester
Years in current role: 2
What role do you see Rochester playing in your organization’s growth over the next few years?
Rochester is a crucial part of our five-year strategic plan, as we are looking to increase the number of individuals we serve — youth through seniors. Our Neighborhood Centers are serving as community connectors, helping to put people in touch with the services they need by eliminating barriers of cost. We’re entering the second year of the return of our summer day camp in the city, Camp Thunderbird, where we’re already ahead of last year’s enrollment at this point. We have also added city locations to our Before & After School Program, ensuring families have a safe, reliable place for kids.
What community initiatives or partnerships are you most excited about engaging with this year?
We’re lucky to have purposeful partnerships with so many incredible like-minded organizations in our communities. With Foodlink, we opened our Food Pantry at the Lewis Street YMCA Neighborhood Center; with MVP Healthcare, we provided free swim lessons to youth; with school districts across the area, we expanded our services in our Before & After School Programs. This summer will mark a full year of Esports programming at our Maplewood and Schottland Family Branches, where we are introducing kids to the possibilities that this world can open up for them, in terms of careers and scholarships.
How do you balance fostering innovation while managing day-to-day business operations?
Being here for 170 years didn’t happen by ignoring the need to adapt our services as needs of our community change. Day-to-day activities and routine upgrades are equally as important as the ways we evolve to support critically important community needs. Whether it’s opening a new childcare center in a childcare desert or building the first-of-its-kind Airnasium in the county to serve 500+ campers, I’m committed to ensuring the Y remains a vital resource for the next 170 years. That won’t happen alone; we’re investing in and empowering staff that I rely on and trust to carry out our mission.
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This profile is part of our Power 100 list for 2025. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net. |
