Landry Selected President & CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit

DETROIT - March 25, 2014 - PRLog -- Scott Landry, executive vice president for strategic development for the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, has been selected as the new president and CEO by its board of directors. Landry also serves on the Management Committee of Y-Educational Services, Y-ES. He succeeds Reid Thebault, current president and CEO who will step down officially on May 9. The announcement was made by Will Erken, chairman of the board of the YMCA.

Landry joined the YMCA in 1994 as chief financial officer and has served as the organization’s CFO and COO. His most significant achievements have been restructuring finances and operations, embarking on several innovative initiatives, ranging from a corporate-wide approach to facilities maintenance and development to capital expansion planning and execution. He has also been leading the YMCA’s charter school initiative and is responsible for all wraparound services and outreach programming provided in the City of Detroit, including Y-Arts, SWIFT and My Y.

Landry also coordinates the development of new operations. He has planned and coordinated capital construction projects for the Carls Family YMCA in Milford, which opened in 2002, and the North Oakland Family YMCA in Auburn Hills, which opened in 2003. He also played a leadership role in a unique collaboration with the city of Southgate for the Downriver Family YMCA, working on this project from the exploratory stages through its opening in 2003. Landry was the point person on early development of the Boll Family YMCA (Detroit), working closely with city officials, the architect and contractor.

Most recently, Landry has overseen and directed the process that created the two YMCA charter schools, the Detroit Leadership Academy and the Detroit Innovation Academy. This process included acquisition and development of the site and buildings, working with all relevant oversight authorities, hiring of leadership staff, coordinating the operational start up, managing the relationships with Central Michigan University, the Michigan Department of Education, school boards and YMCA volunteers.

Landry’s YMCA experience includes seven years of service to the YMCA of Greater New Orleans as its chief financial officer. He was also the chief financial officer for Ochsner Health Plan (OHP) in New Orleans, an organization he helped to create. In addition, he worked in financial administration for the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation and in the audit division at Deloitte Haskins and Sells.

A CEO Transition Committee, headed by Jim M. Nicholson, a current board member and vice president of PVS Chemicals, and other YMCA board members conducted the nationwide search for the position. They are:

      • Will Erken, partner, Deloitte & Touch LLP

      •  Mary Corrado, president and CEO of the American Society of Employers

      • John Carter, president, Mich. Middle Market, Commercial Banking, JPMorgan Chase N.A


      • Ehrlich Crain, president of the YMCA Innovation Academy and President of Buildtech

      •  Ron Deneweth, president, Deneweth Dugan & Parfitt

Michael Weil, senior consultant to the YMCA of the USA, was also part of the committee.

“We were looking for an outstanding leader with clear vision, a solid understanding of our organizational model, an experienced team builder – and someone with an intense passion for our mission” said Will Erken, chairman of the board of the YMCA’s of Metropolitan Detroit.  “Scott Landry is all of those and his personal dedication and commitment to our cause is unmatched.”

Landry, a certified public accountant, earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s of business administration from the University of New Orleans.

He and his wife Marlene live in the Detroit area and have three children, Megan, Lauren and Matthew.


About the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit:

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits, strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.  Throughout Metro Detroit, Ys engage more than 300,000 men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the region’s health and well-being and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors.  Anchored in communities throughout Metro Detroit, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver lasting personal and social change.