The YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina recently named Josh Gravette as the new executive director of its Nir Family YMCA branch on Market Street in Wilmington.
Gravette served as executive director of the Southside Virginia Family YMCA in Farmville, Virginia, for five years, according to a news release. There, he oversaw charitable donations and the allocation of funding to support Y programs and services.
“Fiscal management and making sure we are using our dollars to have the best impact is a huge part of what we do at the Y — whether it be ordering the correct machines, making better use of space or growing our programs,” Gravette stated in the release. “Being able to analyze how we can best support our members and community is important.”
Originally from Lynchburg, Virginia, Gravette earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in human genetics from Tulane University. After working in the field of food testing for a few years, Gravette was ready to make a career change and accepted a lifeguard position at the YMCA of Central Virginia.
Within a few years, he expanded his role to include bus transportation.
"He picked up students from school, took them to swim lessons, served them healthy snacks, and dropped them off at home," the release stated. "Gravette knew he was making a meaningful difference in the lives of these children and enjoyed watching them gain confidence around the water."
He was later promoted to aquatics director at the YMCA of Central Virginia and made his mark on the Y by creating a second-grade swim lesson program and implementing a new safety around water curriculum to combat the high number of child drowning fatalities, which is especially high in impoverished communities, according to the release.
As the new executive director of the Nir Family YMCA, Gravette plans to use his fiscal management skills and foster relationships with Y members and the community.
“We have a passionate group here at the Nir Family YMCA,” he said. “I especially love getting to know our volunteers because they’re giving their time to make a difference in our community.”
