Alamance County Community YMCA - Meet the Directors

Alamance County Community YMCA
Directors and Branch Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: Walter Britt
Senior Program Director: Dominique Ireland
Finance Director: Patricia Brewer
Facilities and Rentals: Jon Harris
Wellness Director: Pam Duckworth
Member Relations Director: Andy Sharpe
YBAC Director of Competitive Swimming: David McDevitt
Aquatics Director: Mary Wilson

Walter Britt
Chief Executive Officer

Areas of Responsibility: Organization Operations

Years with the Alamance County YMCA: Since February,1998

Other YMCA Experience: Camp Seagull Summers of 1986-1991, Capital Area YMCA 1987-1991, Chapel Hill-Carboro YMCA Fitness Director 1991-1996, Associate Executive Director 1996-1998.

Education: BS in Biochemistry, North Carolina State University

Professional Certification: YMCA Senior Director, YMCA Fitness Specialist

What motivates you to work for the YMCA? I desire to teach and assist others to face and challenge their fears and to find the strength of character to persevere and build self confidence and self worth.

Favorite Quote: "To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dominique Ireland
Senior Program Director

Areas of Responsibility: Supervision and support of all aspects of YMCA programs and the program team.
Years with the Alamance County YMCA: 9 years
Other YMCA Experience: Membership Director, Communications and Marketing Director
Professional Certification: YMCA Senior Director, Association of YMCA Professionals Member, Leadership Alamance Graduate
Why have you chosen a career with the YMCA? I believe in the mission of the YMCA and want to have a part in helping people develop a healthy spirit, mind and body. I am blessed to love what I do for a living!
What attracted you to your particular program area? I enjoy helping staff develop their professional talents.
Interests/Hobbies: In my spare time I enjoy fine dining, traveling, hiking, Carolina basketball and spending time with my family.

Patricia Brewer
Finance Director

Areas of Responsibility: Responsible for all financial operations, including payroll. Human Resource Director and Financial Assistance administrator
Years with the Alamance County YMCA: 9 years
Education: BS in Accounting from Elon University; Leadership Alamance Graduate
What do you consider to be your biggest professional reward? To know that I have made a difference in someone's life, no matter how small the impact.
Why have you chosen a career with the YMCA? The YMCA is a great place to work! I choose to work at the YMCA because of the new challenges and rewards that each day brings. It is an awesome feeling to know that you are part of an organization that emphasizes the YMCA's four core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility each day.
Favorite Quote: "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jon Harris
Facilities and Rentals Director

Areas of Responsibility: YMCA Facilities and Rentals
Years with the Alamance County YMCA: Started in 1980
Education: Cummings H.S. & ACC
What do you consider to be your biggest professional achievement? My entire YMCA professional career
Why have you chosen a career with the YMCA? Being a life-long resident of Burlington and participating in the Basketball program it supplied. I wanted to give back to the YMCA, and started volunteering with the Y, and enjoyed working with the members until it grew into a life time commitment.
What attracted you to your particular program area? Always been a hands on person, and enjoyed working the area. Also being able to diagnose and solve problems, and find the solutions.
Favorite Quote: "If two people agree, only one person is thinking" - my father; "Life isn't what you get out of it, but what you give to others"

Pam Duckworth
Wellness Director

Areas of Responsibility: Cardio Theatre, Child Watch, Women's Health Center, Group Exercise, Free Weight Room, Older Adults Programs & Activities
Years with the Alamance County YMCA: 25 years
Professional Certification: Health and Fitness Instructor, ACSM Certified, Silver Sneakers Certifications
What do you consider to be your biggest professional achievements? The successful completion of prescribed requirements and a personal commitment to educational and professional career development as a YMCA Director. Also the successful completion of the course requirements required to be a YMCA of the USA Active Older Adults Director.
What motivates you to work for the YMCA? I find it very rewarding when I see YMCA members improve their health and build relationships as they become part of the YMCA Family.
Bible Verse: Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."

Andy Sharpe
Member Relations Director

Areas of Responsibility: Responsible for membership, program registration and supervision of Front Desk staff; Project Manager for Activate America Initiative; Marketing and Communications
Years with the Alamance County YMCA: 4 years as a full-time employee; 6 years as a part-time employee.
Education: BS in Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
What do you consider to be your biggest professional achievement? I was selected by a peer review panel to receive the "Outstanding Program Achievement" award from AYP in Spring 2007. The award was for sustaining outstanding growth in both After School and Summer Camp programs since becoming a full-time Director.
Why have you chosen a career with the YMCA? Growing up I attended YMCA Summer Camps and other youth activities. As an adult, I want to impact the lives of other children as much as my life has been impacted by the YMCA and the YMCA staff.
Favorite Quote: "Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." -Robert Frost.

David McDevitt
Director of Competitive Swimming

Areas of Responsibility: YBAC Swim Team
Years with the Alamance County YMCA: Started in 2008
Related Work Experience: Over 25 years as a Professional Coach. Program Director of Age Group Swim Teams in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Maryland, Georgia, California and Arkansas. College coach at Ohio University, Rockford College and the United States Naval Academy.
Education: BS in Human Performance from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. Masters degree in Sport Science from Ohio University.
What do you consider to be your biggest professional achievement? Coaching a team that placed 5th at Sectional Championships and coaching a swimmer to the Olympic Trials. I am also proud that several swimmers wrote college application essays about how I impacted their life as a swimming coach.
Why have you chosen a career with the YMCA? I love coaching and working with children in the pursuit of their swimming careers. This position will allow me to develop a team which can prosper and a community for my family to grow and develop in, as my daughter will be attending kindergatern in the Fall.
What attracted you to your particular program area? Swimming is an avenue where I can apply my love for the sport and my background in science, while helping kids grow, become better swimmers and people. The joy of seeing children develop and achieve their goals is what motivates me in this sport.
Favorite Quote: "Know what you want to do and go at it with everything you got."

Mary Wilson
Aquatics Director

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For staff contact information, please see our contact page.