In February, Derrick Stewart became the new president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. Stewart might be new to this position, but working under a YMCA banner is normal for him.
“I’ve been employed by the Y for some part of every year since 1995, when I was a high school senior,” Stewart said.
Stewart grew up in the halls of a YMCA. He learned how to swim, solve conflict on the basketball court and stand up for himself there. His first official job at a YMCA was for a program in the ‘90s called Compute and Shoot. The program aimed to teach both basketball and computer skills to youth. Stewart then worked his way up the ladder. He was a member of the YMCA of the USA National Board of Directors and its Small and Mid-Size YMCA Cabinet, and he served as the CEO of the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana in Evansville for 10 years.
Jeff Harrison, board chair of YMCA of Greater Indianapolis and member of the CEO search committee, called Stewart’s experience with the YMCA “extensive,” making him a good choice for a new CEO. With 75 candidates from all over the country applying for the position, it was not just Stewart’s history with the YMCA that earned him the spot. Harrison was impressed with Stewart’s ability to reach out to both donors and volunteers.
“We wanted a leader that provided and displayed an inclusive demeanor,” Harrison said. “The Y is a very welcoming organization, and so we wanted to make sure we had someone that was very welcoming. We wanted an individual who would partner with the community and it’s very diverse businesses.”
Dusty Mansfield, mother of two and member of the OrthoIndy Foundation YMCA, noticed how Stewart’s demeanor impacted the staff of her local YMCA. She joked how employees in most organizations dislike visits from the CEO. They may be too worried about what the CEO might think, so they scramble to look busy. However, OrthoIndy Foundation YMCA employees seem happy and accommodating whenever Stewart is around.
“There’s no sense of ‘Oh man, he’s coming around,” Mansfield said
As CEO of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, Stewart is in charge of developing the organization’s impact on the community, enacting the board’s strategic plan, boosting membership and continuing a multitude of projects. For example, Stewart enjoys working with the Indiana Youth In Government Program, which teaches children the legislative process by taking them to the Statehouse and having them write, present and defend legislation.
“There really is no average day,” Stewart said. “You sort of have to be prepared for whatever challenges come your way as a leader, and at the same time have to maintain a level of commitment for thinking long term, and not to allow the challenges of the day be what consume your time.”
Mansfield appreciated how Stewart handled a recent challenge involving coed locker rooms. Stewart initially opposed the idea. The OrthoIndy YMCA community then voiced concern because some members, such as children and disabled people, require assistance from family members of a different gender in locker rooms. Stewart heard the criticism and reversed his position.
“He seemed to really want to learn those nuances of that different way of thinking about things that he and the rest of the YMCA staff really didn’t understand before,” Mansfield said.
Contact staff writer Ben Lashar at 317-762-7848. Follow him on Twitter @BenjaminLashar.
Derrick Stewart, new CEO of YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, is an Evansville native who served as CEO of the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana for 10 years before stepping into his current position. (Photo provided)
David Tingey
