MILL CREEK, Wash., August 29, 2023—The Mill Creek Family YMCA is excited to announce its new Executive Director, Gina Casagrande. Casagrande brings over 17 years of YMCA experience to Mill Creek and has worked with nearly every department from camp to child care, sports to aquatics. She most recently served as the Executive Director of the Monroe/Sky Valley Family YMCA since April 2021 before moving to her home community of Mill Creek.
“I’m thrilled to be at a YMCA in the community where my family lives and works,” said Casagrande. “Working and living in the community I serve not only allows me to see first-hand the fruits of our labor, but also helps me have a pulse on what’s going on with our neighbors so we can serve them in the most effective way.”
At the Monroe/Sky Valley Family YMCA, Casagrande successfully fostered key relationships with the City of Monroe and other community partnerships, assembled a top-notch staff team, and cultivated a positive, welcoming culture among staff and members.
“Coming out of the pandemic, we were able to rally together as a team and everyone really contributed to the development and regrowth of the branch,” she said. “I’m looking forward to new challenges at the Mill Creek Y. We have great programs, members and program participants, and board support and I know we can leverage those positives to do even more in the community.”
Casagrande hopes to strengthen relationships with local schools and community groups to reach more people, expand adaptive programs to the Mill Creek Y to serve adults and kids with diverse-abilities, as well as use her expertise to grow Mill Creek’s thriving childcare programs, serving kids from birth through 6th grade.
“I want everyone in the Mill Creek community to know that we have a space and a place for you,” she said. “Everyone is welcome and we will help you find what you’re passionate about, whether it’s health and wellness, volunteerism and more.”
Casagrande spent 15 years working at the YMCA of Coastal Georgia in various roles, including Vice President of Childcare, before moving to the Pacific Northwest. Growing up, she spent summers visiting her father on Whidbey Island and always loved the area.
“The state of Washington has so much to offer – fishing, camping, hiking, rock climbing – I love being outdoors and the summer weather in Georgia is debilitating. I wanted my kids to be able to experience the outdoors,” said Casagrande. “I was also looking for a change professionally and the opportunity to be near my dad made so coming to the YMCA of Snohomish County was a win-win situation.”
As Casagrande steps into this new role, she’s most looking forward to sharing the Y with those who might not know about it.
“There is literally something for everyone at the Mill Creek Y,” she said. “Come check it out!”
Author: Mario Lotmore
