(Atlantic) The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors, YMCA dignitaries, family members, and community members gathered at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA on Thursday morning to recognize Executive Director Dan Haynes for 35 years of service.
YMCA Board President Ruth Sears said Haynes’ longevity has been one of the organization’s greatest strengths. Haynes began serving as Executive Director on July 1, 1991. Since then, he has helped guide the YMCA through decades of growth, starting with older facilities and a staff of four people.
Sears said Haynes has played a role in many of the YMCA’s most significant accomplishments over the past three decades. Whether leading the organization or volunteering his time, she said he has consistently served as a role model in the community. She also credited him with helping create a welcoming environment for thousands of youth and adults while never seeking recognition in return.
Sears says that those who know Haynes describe him as loyal, hardworking, and family-oriented. For the past 35 years, the Nishna Valley Family YMCA has been his second family, and his impact on the organization and the community continues to be felt.
Dan Haynes noted that it is all about relationships.
Haynes says it makes the job so enjoyable, getting up, going to work, and loving what you do.
