Alumni Spotlight: Michael A. Smith Assumes Title of President and CEO of the YMCA of the Roses
Thanks to the support of his mentors and the opportunities presented to him throughout his nonprofit career, Michael A. Smith '04/MBA '09 will be moving into a new leadership role for the YMCA of the Roses.
As of August 2025, Michael A. Smith '04/MBA '09 has assumed the title of President and CEO of the YMCA of the Roses in York, Pennsylvania.
As stated on their website, “It is the mission of the YMCA of the Roses to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. We exist to develop and practice the principles of faith, hope, love, honesty, respect and responsibility.”
Smith comes into the position with a wealth of experience volunteering and working with nonprofits and a steadfast faith. He looks forward to carrying on the mission of the YMCA of the Roses and stepping into another leadership role that will allow him to impact the communities the organization helps.
“I know, in my role, I am going to be the face of the organization,” Smith said. “[...] I understand that responsibility, but it is really more than just one person. It’s about the mission. It’s about the impact. Not so much about the title, but it’s very humbling stepping into this role. It’s also very exciting for me.”
Finding the Right Career Route
Having grown up in York, PA, Smith pursued higher education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. However, in the fall of his first year there, Smith got into a motor vehicle accident that resulted in a serious neck injury.
He went home to recover, but found that he couldn’t return to college in the spring like he hoped. Smith chose to enroll at York College of Pennsylvania for the upcoming Fall Semester, a decision influenced by the experience of his grandfather, late Dr. Robert Denoncourt, who had been a Biology professor at the College for 25 years and the reason his mother’s family came to live in York.
“Looking back on it at the time, it just felt like the right thing to do,” Smith said.
Smith entered college unsure of what sort of work he wanted to pursue. With his leadership skills and instincts growing up and an interest in business, Smith figured his education would lead him into entrepreneurship or finance/insurance work.
York College allowed him to explore his interests through many hands-on opportunities, including a capstone group project that involved working at Johnson Controls and learning more about operations management.
However, an experience outside of his assigned class work would ultimately influence the way Smith went about looking for and completing work: signing up to be a Big Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
“I’m a man of faith, and I believe that God had a different calling on my life,” Smith said. “I didn’t know it at the time, but looking back now, I can see what was happening there.”
Having made mistakes in the past, Smith felt compelled to pay forward the kindness and grace he received by volunteering with the nonprofit. Being a commuter and not being too involved with on-campus activities gave Smith plenty of time to participate in the program and make a difference as a Big Brother.
Smith still keeps in touch with his Little Brother, who is now in his 30s and has a family of his own. Being a part of the organization meant a great deal to him, further pushing him to see the lasting effects nonprofits can have on communities.
“That was the first experience of service for me,” Smith said, “and [it] provided a pretty solid foundation in terms of nonprofit work [...] [that continued] to nurture that heart for service that I think I was born with.”
Becoming a Nonprofit Leader
Smith graduated from York College in 2004 with a Business Management degree and a Human Resources minor. He continued his studies at the College until he received his MBA (Master of Business Administration) in 2009.
After completing his first year of his MBA and deciding to take a one-year break, Smith moved to Tampa, FL, in 2005 and found work as a seasonal, full-time campaign person for the United Way of Tampa Bay. There, he participated in fundraising, assisted communities, visited different businesses, and completed campaign presentations while collecting donations for the organization.
The experience exposed him to a wide array of programs and services across the community that provided a backbone to the underserved and underprivileged families. Smith would continue working there for several years before returning to Pennsylvania in 2008 to finish his MBA. He also took up the role of campaign and relationship manager for the United Way of Harrisburg, and was later promoted to Workplace Campaign Director in York.
During his time at United Way, Smith connected with a volunteer named Greg Myers, who at the time was the board chair at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Myers shared that the agency was searching for a new executive director. After much convincing and assurance that he would be a perfect fit, Smith accepted the role of Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of York and Adams Counties.
“For me, it’s a calling,” Smith said. “It’s a passion in the stuff that I believe in, youth and giving back to kids and providing opportunities for them.”
During his early years as a new executive, Smith had signed up for a mentor program through Leadership York to learn how to lead larger groups of people for his staff and programs. He was paired with Larry Richardson, the former President and CEO of the YMCA. For an entire year, Smith was given the guidance needed to become a nonprofit leader and the position's responsibilities. The experience also led to a lifelong friendship with Richardson.
“He’s still my friend and mentor,” Smith said. “And quite honestly, it's been a relationship that ultimately brought me here to the YMCA.”
After about seven years of making positive change with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Smith was ready for a new challenge. Richardson understood that, and when a long-time executive in Shrewsbury retired, he suggested it would be the perfect opportunity for Smith to join the YMCA.
The Journey Through YMCA
Smith officially became the Branch Executive Director of the YMCA in Shrewsbury in 2017. Formerly the largest branch, it was also a part of the YMCA of York and York County before merging with the Lancaster branch.
“I got all the experience of running a YMCA, including a capital expansion project, which we embarked on right before I left,” Smith said.
In 2021, Smith became the Director of Operations in Lancaster, overseeing their Lancaster and Lampeter-Strasburg locations.
“I spent about three years doing that, and a year prior to the merger, I got to work for the Lancaster Family YMCA,” Smith said. “So, I had to shift cultures from the York YMCA to learn the Lancaster Family YMCA culture. Ultimately, after a year, the merger was finalized, and I got to take the Lancaster Family YMCA folks and teach them the York, or YMCA of the Roses, and that merging those cultures together, which was all an interesting experience in terms of management and leadership.”
Smith went on to serve as the Vice President of Administration in January 2024. Now, a year and a half later, Smith is succeeding Richardson as President and CEO in August 2025. Though the job will carry with it the largest amount of responsibility he has taken on, Smith has been more than prepared to undertake the task.
“I’ve known Larry long enough to know the trials and tribulations of being a YMCA CEO,” Smith said. “But again, I feel called to the work. I feel strongly that I’m very prepared to step into that role, and I’m very confident in my ability to work with our team and confident in the team that we have here to be able to continue to move our mission forward.”
“I understand that responsibility, but it is really more than just one person,” he continued. “It’s about the mission. It’s about the impact, not so much about the title, but it’s very humbling stepping into this role.”
“I’m excited about the scope and being able to continue to have an impact on the future of the organization. I feel confident being able to build strong teams and put strong plans together to continue to serve the communities that we do.”
Having Faith and Gratitude
When looking back on his path to achieving his new title, Smith shared his gratitude for York College and the direction it gave him at the start of his journey, especially when it came to developing the important skills he would need in the future.
“No doubt, [York College] gave me more than just a degree,” Smith said. “It gave me some confidence, gave me some direction, [and] gave me some tools that I continue to use to this day in terms of communication and leadership and thinking critically about things.”
“These are all skills that were nurtured and developed at York College [and] continue to help me throughout my career [...] as I move into this new role.”
He also expressed how much his family's and mentors' support has allowed him to grow into the person he is today. They allowed him to follow his dreams and instilled values he still holds onto while preparing him for the leadership roles he would accept.
“I think that’s what mentors and leaders do,” Smith said. “They see things in you that you don’t see in yourself, and they provide you with opportunities and situations and skills that help you achieve those goals.”
For anyone interested in getting involved with nonprofit organizations, Smith called for people to remember that it starts with the heart and a calling. Once people recognize why they are pursuing their career interests, a solid foundation will form. They will find fulfillment in their work as long as they remember the importance of humility and growing outside their comfort zone.
“Nonprofit work isn’t easy, but it’s very fulfilling,” Smith said, “and you can stay grounded in your purpose, and you can lean into something that you believe in. It’s a passion.”
“I don’t believe in luck; I believe in preparation, and I believe in being ready and staying ready for when the opportunity knocks. But when you’re prepared and you’re ready, and the opportunity comes calling and you take advantage of that, that’s not luck. That’s preparation, that’s hard work. That’s having confidence in yourself.”
