YUSA 30 UNDER 30 AWARDEE: ARIEL SMITH
In the summer of 2017, the National Emerging Leaders Resource Network Steering Committee embarked upon a strategic planning process. Through research, we identified a substantial imbalance between the proportion of Millennials as it relates to the total workforce in the USA and the percentage of Millennials who make up the YMCA workforce. In other words, the YMCA workforce is aging as the rest of the country’s workforce is getting younger. After conversations with our stakeholders, we determined the need to create a recognition program for emerging leaders across the Movement.
This program seeks to identify and formally acknowledge 30 full-time YMCA leaders under the age of 30 for their accomplishments and recognize their potential to lead our many Y Associations in the coming decades. 2020 was a year unlike any other across the nation and throughout the YMCA Movement. Leaders from all over have committed to doing what it takes to ensure their community has the support they need to stay strong through this trying time. Because of this, the National Emerging Leaders Resource Network Steering Committee felt it was imperative to continue to recognize the work of our under 30 colleagues working beside us each day.
RECOGNITION FOR ARIEL:
Our team has seen Ariel grow from three positions, group exercise instructor and personal trainer, to a Health and Wellness Director, to a Personal Training Director over a Region in less than two years! Ariel has a tremendous work ethic as she goes above and beyond her scope of responsibilities to help out in any department as needed. Although she is young, she has earned the respect of many older than her as she leads by example. Staff appreciate her leadership style as she gently pushes them toward stretch goals with her belief and confidence in them. Ariel has a positive attitude and an energetic spirit.
Ariel went above and beyond during the pandemic when our doors were shut as well as with our Association transition. We came back as a much smaller Y, and Ariel quickly took on more responsibility. She went from running one branch’s Wellness to three. She is seen as a leader within her peer group and helps coach and develop her peers as well. Ariel always steps up to assist the branch and Association any way she can, even working in Emergency Childcare while we were shut down. She also saw a need as our LIVESTRONG members wanted to come back as they missed each other and wanted to come back for their mental and physical health. Ariel organized a LIVESTRONG comeback in not one but two branches and is helping us get the program back up and running overall.
ABOUT ARIEL:
My Y story started three years ago when I finished my last semester at Oklahoma State doing an internship with the Y. I transitioned from the internship into my first career job as a Personal Trainer. The Y has given me the opportunity to be a full-time Personal Trainer, a LES MILLS instructor, a GX coordinator, Health and Wellness Director, and a Personal Training Director. Outside of the Y, I volunteer through my church mentoring an elementary school student that I have been with for three years now. In my spare time, I enjoy baking different flavors of cake balls. I love to read various types of books. I also consider exercise as a hobby as I really enjoy and exploring what the human body can accomplish. I see my future here at the Y; it is my love and my passion. I hope to continue growing through and with the YMCA.