Merger Brings Strength and Unity with Lake Superior YMCA
After a two-year management agreement and working with an integrated task force, the formal merger of the Duluth YMCA and the Superior branches was finalized in January of this year.
The newly named Lake Superior YMCA (LSY), also includes facilities in Hermantown, Cook County (Grand Marais, Minnesota), the Iron Range (Virginia, Minnesota), and the two Y camps, Camp Miller (Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota) and Tall Pines (Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin).
Sara Cole, CEO of the former Duluth YMCA, also served as acting CEO for Superior’s chapter during the interim and has now taken the position of CEO for the new Lake Superior YMCA.
Cole became President and CEO of the Duluth Area Family YMCA in November 2017. She is the first woman to hold the CEO position in the history of the Duluth Area Family YMCA, which began in 1870.
“We brought together board members and community members to discuss how this merger could benefit both Duluth and Superior. Working with Will Robinson, Superior’s Executive Director and the Branch advisory councils has been critical to the smooth integration of the merger,” Cole stated.
Cole works now with one corporate board and one foundation board on the Y’s initiatives of healthy living, social responsibility, and youth development, as well as a variety of community programs on both sides of the bridge.
“With the second largest service area in the United States, the goal of making membership access at all locations easier and more streamlined were also top priorities for the Lake Superior YMCA,” Cole noted.
“I am excited to get to know the Superior community better,” she said. “We want to reflect the individual personalities of each place we serve and to preserve the shared vales of all communities.”
She explained that people will still see the same faces and facilities that they were used to before and will now enjoy enhanced services for members.
“While the programs may not be identical in each place, having a variety of programs means more options for Y members who can access all of the offerings at each,” Cole explained.
Catherine CarterHuber, chair of the board for the Lake Superior YMC, was also a member of the task force. “The merger process was thoughtful and careful.
Each Y facility still maintains its own identity and is unique to their own communities,” she explained.
“We’re the stronger for this merger,” she added. “Sara Cole’s leadership has been invaluable throughout the transition making sure the two-year process allowed the time for everyone to be heard, combining the best ideas from both Y’s. The organization has been so important to the communities and now offers more stability of all our community services.”
Chris Stenberg is the Director of Alliance Services for Minnesota at the Upper Midwest Alliance of YMCAs, a position he took after serving as the CEO of the Superior Douglas County YMCA from 2016 to 2021. He helped work on the merger sharing samples of agreements to make this process work.
“I was very gratified for Sara and her team who jumped in and brought their resources and expertise to make this merger happen. Resources can now be used more efficiently. Collaboration can help to save money that can be invested in facilities,” Stenberg said.
“The Y is really a community within a community. Superior has a vibrant and busy facility that will only get better with this merger, “ he added.
Taylor Pedersen, President and CEO of the Superior Chamber of Commerce, noted, “The merger was healthy for both organizations. Duluth’s Y has a long and strong tradition, as does Superior. Taking the time to successfully blend both organizations was so important and it brought out the best in both.”
Pedersen added, “The YMCA is such an important part of our community, and so critical for families, with all the opportunities and programs that they offer. Whether for self improvement, youth programs, or as an important work partner with the Superior Public Schools, the new Lake Superior YMCA will continue to make us a better place to live.”
Will Robinson, the new Superior Branch Executive Director, has been here for just three months, so he was not in on much of the work of the task force. “I was drawn here because of the wonderful community. And the staff here at the Y is great! The merger gives members more access to more programs, opening up additional resources that the Y has to offer.”
He added, “Sara has been so supportive. She wants everyone to feel included and part of the Y family. And everyone is very conscious of saving the identity of the Superior chapter while being part of the larger team.”
Bobbi Switzer, Y Healthy Living Director in Superior, stated, “While we offer some of the same programs as Duluth, we are always conscious of serving our Superior community. We share ideas as we bring in new programs and align programs with each other. We are still the same Y but with even more to offer.”
Jeff Cushman, formerly Vice Chair of the Volunteer Office in Superior and now a LSY board member, said, “Some people were concerned that the merger meant that more of the money and resources would go to Duluth. That has not been the case at all. Donors can designate specific programs and sites where they want their money to go.”
“Sara was instrumental in helping us plan the best path for the Superior Y. The process went smoothly with everyone feeling that they could be heard,” Cushman added. “We can use funds and resources more effectively. Employees are also doing better with salaries and benefits.”
Steve Glonchak, former Superior Vice Chief Volunteer Officer, is now on the LSY board of directors. He also worked on the task force. “We are very happy with how seamless this transition has been. We did not let go of our identity but were able to protect it with this merger,” he said.
investments in facilities, youth development, and wellness programming across the Twin Ports,” hesitated..
As the unified Lake Superior YMCA, the organization will be able to provide services for a bigger area and promises to be “here for the community” moving forward. For over 100 years for the Duluth chapter and 150 years for the Superior, the YMCA has been a vibrant community partner in both cities.
“We are proud to honor the history and legacy of both chapters,” said Cole. “We are definitely stronger together.”
