Shawn Armstrong grew up at the Central YMCA, where he played his first pick-up basketball game. “The Y was instrumental in developing my confidence and social abilities,” he recalled.
After an extensive medical career that took Armstrong to Michigan and North Carolina, the Mahoning Valley native has returned to become the executive director of the Central YMCA in downtown Youngstown.
Armstrong began the position on Feb. 6. He was hired following a nationwide search, a series of interviews and a visit back to his hometown. He and his wife, Amanda, have three young daughters – Grace, Hannah and Mariah.
Armstrong most recently worked as regional administrator of the University of North Carolina Physicians Network, where he oversaw seven primary care and specialty physician practices in the western region of the Research Triangle. When he learned that the YMCA of Youngstown was searching for a new Central Y executive director, he applied.
“Being a Youngstown native, I always held a desire to one day return to the city that helped raise me. The YMCA of Youngstown is an anchor in the community, and I saw this position as an incredible opportunity to give back and make a difference,” he said.
After graduating from Chaney High School in 1999, Armstrong left the area to pursue his education and launched a career in radiology technology and health-care administration.
Armstrong graduated from the Beaumont Hospital School of Radiologic Technology in 2008. In 2010, he earned a bachelor’s in applied science radiologic science/health care management from Sienna Heights University. In 2013, he earned a master’s degree in health care administration from Sienna Heights.
Armstrong was a radiologic technologist for six years at Beaumont Hospital before being promoted to supervisor of radiology. He was recruited by the Detroit Medical Center where he worked as manager of radiology. In 2016, he relocated to Raleigh, N.C. where he was manager of imaging services for WakeMed North Campus, then held the same position at WakeMed Cary Hospital in Cary, N.C. In 2018, he was named regional administrator of UNC Physicians Network.
“Shawn made it clear to me that the Central YMCA executive director position gave him the opportunity he always dreamed about – and that is to come back to the community where he grew up and help transform the lives of kids and families who live here,” said Tom Gacse, CEO of the YMCA of Youngstown.
“What impressed me most about Shawn is that he is a success story from our community, someone who grew up on the East Side of Youngstown, graduated from Chaney High School and achieved a successful career in the health-care industry in Raleigh, North Carolina,” said Gacse.
“Shawn’s experience leading teams, both large and small, in for-profit and nonprofit organizations, along with improving the well-being of others with his experience in health care, translates perfectly into his new role at the Central YMCA. We are so blessed to have Shawn as part of our senior leadership team,” said Gacse.
© 2020 Metro Monthly. All rights reserved.
