YMCA Announces New Board and Staff Leadership
The YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina is pleased to announce new Board of Directors and staff leadership, including the election of Russell Herring as its new Board Chair. Russell succeeds Jim Hundley and will serve a two-year term, ending in 2023. John Cockrum was elected as Vice-Chair and Corby Johnson will continue to serve as Secretary and Treasurer for the Board of Directors.
Russell Herring, Board Chair
Herring, CEO of AssistedCare at Home and Eldercare at Home, will provide leadership to the YMCA’s Board of Directors, setting strategic direction and policy to support the Y’s work in Southeastern North Carolina. Raised in Wilmington, Herring was appointed to the board in 2014, and served as Vice-Chair in 2019-2021.
John Cockrum, Vice-Chair
Cockrum, President and Founder of Environments Unlimited, Inc. has served on the YMCA’s Board of Directors since 2016 and was elected as Vice-Chair for 2022. In addition to his work with the YMCA, Cockrum has served on the Board of Directors for Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity and helped found the local chapter of Honor Flight of Southeastern NC. Cockrum also worked with the Hanover Seaside Club, and is currently on the Board of Trustees for Hampstead United Methodist Church.
Corby Johnson, Treasurer and Secretary
Johnson has served on the YMCA’s Board of Directors since 2013. As the Finance Committee Chair, his guidance and perspective prove to be a valuable asset to Y staff and committee volunteers. Since retiring after 34 years as supervisor for the NC office of the State Auditor, Corby accepted the position of Interim Chief Audit Officer at UNCW. In addition to being on the YMCA of SENC Board of Directors since 2013, he volunteers his time with the Boy Scouts of America, Central NC Food Bank and St. Therese Catholic Church.
Jim Hundley Jr., Past Chair
Hundley, Executive Vice President and Director of Preconstruction at Thomas Construction Group will continue to serve on the YMCA’s Board of Directors for two more terms as past chair. He was appointed to the YMCA’s board in 2012 and served as Board Chair from 2019-2021. Additionally, Hundley serves as Treasurer for the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and is Chairman of the Board of the Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, LLC Board of Directors.
The YMCA also elected new board members; Jennifer Devers with PT by the Sea, Christa Faison with New Hanover County Schools, Fidias Reyes with UNCW, and Ford Williams with Live Oak Bank to serve a two-year term on its Board of Directors.
The YMCA of Southeastern NC’s 2022 Board of Directors includes the following members:
Russell Herring, Chair, AssistedCcre at Home + Eldercare At Home
John Cockrum, Vice-Chair, Environments Unlimited
Corby Johnson, Treasurer and Secretary
Jim Hundley, Past Chair, Thomas Construction Group
Chris Behm, Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP
Anne Coffee, Outcome, LLC
Bill Darrough, Camp Timberline
Jennifer Devers, PT By the Sea
Christa Faison, New Hanover High School
Andy McVey, Murchison, Taylor & Gibson, PLLC
Greg Miller, DMJ & Co., PLLC
Bill Oakley, Oak-Bark Corporation
Annemarie Petroff, UNCW
Fidias Reyes, UNCW
David Sprunt, Harris Management, LLC
Ford Williams, Live Oak Bank
The YMCA of Southeastern NC is also pleased to announce Meghan Merritt as its new Chief Operating Officer. Merritt is joined by two new Executive Directors including Jared Barrier, Executive Director of the Sampson County YMCA (opening soon) and Savanah Standifer, Executive Director of YMCA Camp Kirkwood.
Meghan Merritt, Chief Operating Officer
Merritt, who previously served as the YMCA of Southeastern NC’s Director of Organizational Development accepted the position as Chief Operating Officer earlier this year. She has 12 years of YMCA leadership experience including 5 years as the Executive Director of the Corpening Memorial YMCA. Merritt also serves as a faculty trainer for YMCA of the USA.
Jared Barrier, Executive Director of Sampson County YMCA
Barrier was hired in December 2021, to help the YMCA open its newest branch in Clinton, NC. He has a background in health and wellness leadership and previously managed the Sampson County Health + Wellness facility when it was operated by Sampson Regional Medical Center. Barrier is a well-respected leader in the Clinton community and looks forward to opening a YMCA this spring to serve the greater Sampson County community.
Savanah Standifer, Executive Director of YMCA Camp Kirkwood
Standifer comes to the YMCA of Southeastern NC with more than 17 years of experience working with YMCA youth development programs. She has worked at a variety of small to midsize and even large metropolitan YMCAs, giving her a vast experience in understanding the needs of both small and large communities. Standifer has an extensive background in camping, afterschool care, program development, behavioral services and training.
“This is an exciting time for our YMCA. New leadership brings new ideas, and we are very pleased to share that our YMCA has continued to see growth in our programs and service areas even while navigating our way through a pandemic,” says Dick Jones, President and CEO of the YMCA of Southeastern NC.
“We look forward to serving even more children, adults and families as we open our doors to the Sampson County YMCA, and continue to see growth up at YMCA Camp Kirkwood,” says Jones.
