PEABODY — The Torigian Family YMCA has a new executive director.
Cara Green, who previously served as Torigian’s branch operations’ director and branch co-director for the past year, succeeds former Executive Director Robert Lowell, who is taking on a new position as Senior Director of Community Impact for the YMCA of Metro North Association.
“For the past 22 years, I have made my career at the YMCA and it is a privilege to take on this important role in the Peabody community,” said Green. “The Y is more than a place to work out, we are a purpose and I look forward to expanding our mission and engaging more people in Peabody, Lynnfield, and the surrounding area with our healthy living and youth development activities.”
Green joined the Torigian Family YMCA from the Merrimack Valley YMCA where she served for two decades in a variety of roles in child care, youth services, membership, and health and wellness programs. She is certified in a number of YMCA professional competencies and has earned YMCA equity and mission leadership awards.
Green said she is looking forward to adding more programs and services for families, enhancing wellness opportunities for seniors, and expanding the Y’s swim lessons and water safety offerings to ensure the Y is a continued provider of choice for aquatics programming in the region. She said she will be working with local agencies and Y partners to offer new programming and revive some existing programs that were put on hold due to the pandemic.
“We are thrilled to welcome a seasoned YMCA professional like Cara to our Executive Leadership Team,” said Kathleen Walsh, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro North. “Cara’s vast experience in every aspect of YMCA’s mission will be a tremendous asset to our facility in Peabody as we continue to build back our services and offering to our membership and the community.”
At Torigian, Cara oversaw a team of 50-plus YMCA full-and part-time employees in health, sports, and Y Academy Early Learning and Out-of-School Time programs. She also supervised the opening of this year’s Camp Eastman Summer Camp and outdoor pool season with two new camp directors and a seasonal staff of 65 camp counselors and 15 additional lifeguards. She reintroduced the Y’s Chronic Disease Prevention programs and Livestrong at the Y program for cancer survivors post-pandemic.
Lowell said he has known Green for approximately 10 years and described her as “an accomplished leader.”
“I am so excited to support Cara and her team in delivering excellent programming and services to our members,” Lowell said.
Green currently resides in Lawrence with her husband and two children. She said the Y was a second career for her after working in the restaurant business for Boston Market for a period of time.
“After I had kids, it was too hard to travel so I left my restaurant career to work part-time for the Merrimack Valley YMCA,” Green said. “That decision worked out great. Working for the Y has been fantastic.”
Green said she is wasting no time and plans to hit the ground running, working on the Livestrong 5K Road Race scheduled for Nov. 19, which attracts an average of 300 runners every year.
“It’s not that far off and we have a lot of work to do,” she said. “This race supports our Livestrong program that provides exercise and support for survivors, who receive free Y memberships. It’s a great program.”
To learn more about the Torigian Family YMCA, got to https://www.ymcametronorth.org/locations/torigian-family-ymca-peabody/
