Key Staff
Doug Kohl
President / CEO
Association Services/Trustees
Email:
Phone:
330-376-1335
With the Y Since:
1974 (since 1991 in Akron)
Experience:
Program Director with Cleveland, Chicago, & Honolulu YMCA's. Executive Director with A. Jordan Branch, Indianapolis YMCA. President/CEO with the Akron Area YMCA 1991-Present.
Qualifications:
YMCA Character Counts! Trainer, Fitness Specialist Certification
Hobbies, Movies, & Books:
Hobbies: Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Biking, Handball, Hiking. Book: Leadership is an Art. Movie: Shawshank Redemption.
Talents, Theme Song, Quotes:
Special Talent: Balancing things on my nose. Theme Song: Walk in the Dark (Wayne Watson) Quote: “If Better is possible, good is not enough.”
Gib Butler
VP Finance
Association Services/Trustees
Email:
Phone:
330-376-1335 x1042
With the Y Since:
1992
Experience:
Worked as an accountant for a Manufacturing Company for 7 years, Goodwill Industries for 3 years, a Construction firm for 2 years, and joined the YMCA staff in 1992 as the Vice President of Finance
Qualifications:
BS in accounting, CPA, YMCA Senior Director
Hobbies & Interests:
Bonsai, Photography, and Grandchildren
Favorite Authors:
Grisham, Baldachi
Beth Kelly
VP Child Care Services
Association Services/Trustees
Email:
Phone:
330-376-1335 x1036
With the Y Since:
1973
Experience:
Volunteer in former Cuyahoga Falls YMCA pre-school, pre-school teacher, Program Director, Branch Director at Longwood YMCA, Development Director Assistant, Marketing / Communications Director, Child Care Branch Director. At the YMCA, I enjoy the opportunity to do a variety of things, to be able to “make a difference” & the people I work with keep me coming to work every day!
Qualifications:
YMCA Professional Director
Hobbies & Interests:
Rubber Stamping (making greeting cards), Kayaking, and Bicycling.
Favorite Movies, Books, & My Theme Song:
Favorite Movie: “Raggedy Man” & “Chicago”. Favorite Books: “The Doll Maker” & “Angela's Ashes”. My theme song is “All That Jazz”.
Melanie Lautenschlager
Sr. Bookkeeper
Association Services/Trustees
Email:
Phone:
330-376-1335
With the Y Since:
1996
Experience:
I started with the YMCA doing Payroll. After 4 years I became the Senior Bookkeeper for the accounting Department.
Hobbies:
I love motorcycle riding, hanging out at the pool, and crocheting.
Sandy Turner
VP of Development
Association Services/Trustees
Email:
Phone:
330-926-4936
With the Y Since:
2008
Experience:
Development Director and or Certified Marketing Director for over 16 years in Akron, Canton, Los Angeles, SanFrancisco, and Seattle for non-profit and for-profit organizations
Qualifications:
BA in Communications, YMCA Senior Director
Hobbies & Interests:
Watching my boys participte in their athletic and music events, photogaphy, boating at Atwood Lake
My Theme Song:
"Take Me Out To The Ball Game"
Ken Hoyt
Information Technology Director
Association Services/Trustees
Email:
Phone:
330-376-1335
With the Y Since:
10-year-old resident camper in 1983
Experience:
I started my involvement with the Akron Area YMCA when I was 10 years old and attended summer camp at Camp Y-Noah, since then, I have worked at Y-Noah as the waterfront director, as leadership coordinator, and summer camp director. After Y-Noah, I became the site director for Mogadore Reservoir. And most recently I became the MIS director in 1998.
Qualifications:
Although I'm barely qualified to walk around town, I have had several years of experience in various departments of the Akron Area YMCA. Specific to my current job? Well, I attended Kent State University working on a Computer Sciences Degree for quite some time with questionable results, however, that time was also used to work at the university computer support center and for several years with a private company doing computer repairs and such.
Special Talent:
I can stick an entire Q-Tip up my nose.
Hobbies:
Cooking, home improvement, soon to be fishing, accepting cash donations to my personal prosperity.
Gerri Gruic
Receptionist
Association Services/Trustees
Email:
Phone:
330-376-1335
With the Y Since:
1972
Experience:
I became involved with the Akron Area YMCA at the Firestone Park first as a member & volunteer (Advisory Committee, PWY, & Mother's club.) Because of my involvement with the branch, I was asked to help do some clerical work to help out...well 20+ years later, I'm still involved and still helping out! Three years ago, I became the receptionist at the Association Services Office and I really enjoy working with the people of the YMCA
Favorite Movies:
Any romantic movie! My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Moonstruck
Personality Quirks:
What! You think I have any?
