YMCA names new director

BY SARAH ELMS selms@record-eagle.com | Posted: Monday, December 22, 2014 4:04 pm

TRAVERSE CITY — The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA will have a new leader in place before the end of the year.

Jay Buckmaster will take over as executive director Dec. 29. He replaces longtime director Tom Van Deinse, who left the organization unexpectedly in August.

Club officials remain tight-lipped about Van Deinse's departure, citing confidentiality in personnel issues even after backlash from Y members who pushed for more transparency.

Buckmaster comes to Traverse City with several other YMCA management positions under his belt. He worked at Ys in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Wichita, Kansas, before accepting his most recent position as Senior Group Vice President for the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA.

Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Board President Lynn Schultz said Buckmaster stood out "head and shoulders" from other applicants. There were 62 initial candidates, and board members narrowed that to three top contenders with help from YMCA of the USA consultants.

Buckmaster opened a new 105,000-square-foot facility in Wichita, a similar project to the Grand Traverse Bay Y's facility that opened in September, Schutlz said.

"He's very personable, full of energy and excited about our future," Schultz said. "He's as excited as we are."

Buckmaster replaces Carolyn Helmlinger, who served as interim director

"We are all just very excited to have new leadership," Schultz said. "We're confident he's the guy."

Buckmaster could not be reached for comment.