Pennsylvania State Alliance of YMCAs
Staff/Volunteer Information
Nathan Brant
CEO
Nathan has nearly 30 years of leadership experience in small and mid-size YMCAs in Ohio and Pennsylvania. In addition to directing operations for the Alliance, he actively advocates for our Ys in Harrisburg and Washington. As a Blue Ocean Practitioner, Nathan’s strategic planning work focuses on assisting YMCA’s answer the critical needs in their community while avoiding competing with the work of other non-profit organizations. Prior to joining the Alliance, Nathan served as the CEO for the South Mountain YMCA for 13 years, as well as working with the Akron Area YMCA and Carlisle Family YMCA for 4 and 10 years respectively.
Ken Soliday
Director of Service Delivery
Ken has 30 years of YMCA leadership experience. In his current role with the PA State Alliance of YMCAs, Ken leads the service delivery work of strategic planning, strengthening board leadership, partnering with Y USA in CEO search and working collaboratively with new CEOs as they acclimate to their new roles. Prior to his work with the Alliance, Ken spent 25 years working in operational leadership roles in Maryland and in Pittsburgh, PA.
Alisa Harris
VP of Legislative Affairs
Alisa is the Alliance’s VP of Legislative Affairs. She has over 30 years of experience in external affairs for both public and private entities where she gained the reputation of being a strategic collaborator and problem-solver. Alisa has also proudly served on several non-profit and public boards of directors in Southeast and Central Pennsylvania.
Kelsey Happel
Executive Assistant
Since joining the PA State Alliance in 2019, Kelsey Happel has been the dynamic force behind administrative operations. Drawing on her background in executive support and event planning (along with an abnormal passion for spreadsheets), she leverages her skills to organize successful statewide events as well as provide support in payroll, budget planning, and HR tasks. When she’s not scheduling Zoom meetings, Kelsey loves experiencing live music, hiking, traveling and (most importantly) eating amazing food.
Melanie Roth
Service Delivery Consultant
Mel’s leadership experience spans decades with Ys of all sizes in five states. After serving nearly 15 years as CEO of the Boyertown Area YMCA, she moved to Y-USA where she provided board development, strategic planning, CEO searches, sustainability projects, and merger services for 18 years to Ys in NJ, NY, CT, DE and PA. Now part-time with the PA Alliance, Mel loves to work as a partner, teacher, consultant, and facilitator to build the capacity of PA Ys as they strategically plan their future, strengthen their governance, select new CEOs (with YUSA), and successfully
transition new CEOs and board chairs into their new leadership roles.
Joel Larson
Director of State Advocacy in Y-USA's Government Relations and Policy Office.
Joel Larson has served in nonprofit and government positions for over 35 years, currently working as the Director of State Advocacy in Y-USA’s Government Relations and Policy Office in Washington, DC since April of 2013. Prior to his current role, Joel worked at the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities as Executive Director of Institutional Giving and Government Relations and as Public Policy Chair for the Minnesota State Alliance of YMCAs. Joel also worked as Vice President of Development and Government Relations at the Twin Cities Boys & Girls Clubs and at the Minnesota Legislature for six sessions as a writer and committee administrator in the House of Representatives, and as a Public Information Officer in the Senate. Joel earned a B.A. at Hamline University in St. Paul, where he graduated cum laude with distinction in Political Science.
Executive Committee
Volunteer Leadership
Zane Moore – Chairman
President and CEO, YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties
Carla Christian – Vice Chairman
Executive Director, Chambersburg Memorial YMCA
Tina Carter – Secretary
CEO, Meadville YMCA
Larry Richardson – Treasurer
President and CEO, YMCA of York and York County
Members
Shaun Elliott
President and CEO, Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA
Sharon Jones
Executive Director, Blair Regional YMCA
Trish Hooper
CEO, Sewickley Valley YMCA
Mike Ranck
President and CEO, Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County
Amy Kienle
President and CEO, YMCA Greater Pittsburgh
Bonnie McDowell
CEO, Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA
Chad Eberhart
CEO, River Valley Regional YMCA
David Ozmore
President and CEO, the YMCA of Harrisburg