The YMCA of Coastal Georgia has announced that Joel Smoker will become the next president and chief executive officer of the organization.
The YMCA’s board of directors, acting on the recommendation of a volunteer-led CEO search committee, voted unanimously Jan. 27 to name Smoker to take over the role on April 2.
“Joel’s knowledge of our service area and his familiarity with our local operation will allow him to step right in and keep our association moving in the right direction,” said board chairman David Mason. “He has established relationships with volunteer leaders in most all of the communities where our branches are located, as well as with many community leaders here in Savannah.”
Smoker started his YMCA career in 1986 as a youth sports director at the YMCA of Providence in Rhode Island. Two years later, he became the senior program director of the Hanover Area YMCA in Pennsylvania.
In 1992, Smoker came to Georgia, where he began work with the YMCA of Coastal Georgia.
Randy Bugos, current president/CEO, hired Smoker as the branch director of the Liberty County/Armed Services YMCA in Hinesville. Then, when the Islands YMCA opened its 40,000-square-foot facility in 1999, Smoker was hired as the branch director on Whitemarsh Island.
Seven years later, Smoker was promoted to vice president at the corporate office where he supervised several branches and worked on a number of community and partnership collaborations. He was appointed chief operating officer in January 2014.
In recent years, Smoker has worked to bring programs to the coastal area such as the YMCA’s diabetes prevention program, LIVESTRONG at the Y and early readiness.
In addition, he has headed the partnership between the YMCA and Gulfstream with Gulfstream’s Student Leadership Program. This program mentors teens in the Savannah-Chatham Public School System.
He also serves as president of Healthy Savannah, a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization that the YMCA has supported with financial, technical and help since its establishment in 2009.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have, in my opinion, the most qualified candidate for our CEO position currently on staff,” said Bugos, the outgoing CEO.
“Joel has such a strong grasp of what our association does well and where it can improve. His plans to move ahead are both positive and well thought out,” Bugos said. “I strongly believe he will do a great job and continue to advance the Y movement in the communities we serve.”
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About the YMCA of Coastal Georgia
The YMCA of Coastal Georgia has served the Coastal Georgia community for more than 160 years through its three areas of focus — youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
Today the organization operates 12 units in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, McIntosh and Glynn counties. Included is Pryme Tyme the before- and after-school program that operates in 53 elementary and middle schools. Visit www.ymcaofcoastalga.org or call 912-748-9622 hours and programs.