Matt Mitchell, the chief executive officer of the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, began his journey with the YMCA as a college student working as a wellness attendant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“It’s the Y. It’s going to be fun, and I’ll get to work out,” recalls Mitchell. But it became so much more.
After a woman came in determined to get healthy as an example to her daughter and to live long enough to meet her grandkids, Mitchell realized the impact of his role and the organization.
“People come [to the YMCA] to really change their lives,” Mitchell says. “I started looking at the job in a whole new light and saw all the possibilities to help people.”
Mitchell’s leadership career with the YMCA took off when he was given the opportunity to build new programs on Milwaukee’s south side. He launched successful community activities, fostering connections.
This experience further cemented his belief in the YMCA’s mission to bring people together and create a sense of belonging.
“The YMCA is this really cool avenue to bring communities together, to give people a sense of hope, to look forward to something,” he says.
Over the course of 16 years, Mitchell worked in Milwaukee before moving to San Antonio, Texas, where he continued to build his career with the YMCA without any personal ties to the area.
While honing his leadership skills within the organization, he had no idea he would eventually relocate to Tampa.
“It’s a whole different environment. I feel so fortunate to be here, but also it’s a lot of responsibility too,” Mitchell says. “We need to think about how we grow responsibly and serve as many kids and families as possible.”
Mitchell stepped into the leadership role at the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, in 2017. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded its reach to serve more neighborhoods and communities.
One of the most anticipated projects is the new YMCA facility in Tampa Heights, a vibrant area undergoing revitalization.
This new building is designed to reflect the YMCA’s mission of fostering community and wellness. It will feature state-of-the-art fitness spaces, swimming pools and areas dedicated to youth development programs. Mitchell emphasizes that the Tampa Heights YMCA will serve as a hub for community engagement, offering programs that go beyond physical fitness including mental health services, chronic disease prevention and opportunities for social connection for families and individuals alike.
“Our goal with the Tampa Heights project is to build more than just a gym,” Mitchell says. “We’re creating a space where people can come together, feel supported and find the resources they need to lead healthier, more connected lives.”
As the Tampa Bay region continues to expand, Mitchell is overseeing plans to build new YMCA facilities, such as those in Wesley Chapel, to serve families and children. He emphasizes the importance of evolving the YMCA’s services to remain relevant and impactful, recognizing that the needs of the community have shifted over the years.
Beyond physical fitness, the YMCA in Tampa, under Mitchell’s leadership, offers programs addressing chronic disease prevention, cancer recovery and youth development. Mitchell is particularly proud of the YMCA’s ability to serve a diverse cross-section of the population, ensuring that everyone, regardless of financial capability, has access to YMCA programs. His goal is to maintain the YMCA’s legacy while positioning it for future growth and impact, always with a focus on community connection and inclusivity.
“I’ve been here for almost seven years now, and I’m still on this sort of investigative journey of what’s around the corner because it’s so much to take in,” Mitchell says