YMCA of Pawtucket Announces New Chief Executive Officer

In his new position as Chief Executive Officer, Clifford will work closely with the Board of Directors in achieving the YMCA of Pawtucket’s mission of strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. He will lead the strategic direction of the organization’s philanthropic efforts, maximizing community partnerships and engaging volunteers, while overseeing its financial stability, community and philanthropic relations, staffing, development and operations.

“I am excited to be joining such a strong YMCA that is so highly-regarded within the community,” said Clifford. “Working closely with the Board and staff, I look forward to building upon the success of the YMCA of Pawtucket to further the YMCA mission and to help improve the quality of life within the communities we serve.”

Clifford’s experience includes serving the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA over the past eight years, most recently in the role of District Executive Director where he managed a multi-million dollar annual budget. During that time, he was responsible for the daily operations of two branches, eight off-site childcare locations, two summer day camps and a 47-acre outdoor center. Clifford also completed a capital campaign to build a wellness center, kid’s zone, expanded preschool and parking at the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA’s Woodruff Family YMCA branch.

“Charlie’s enthusiasm for the YMCA mission and his extensive experience in community building, along with his management and fundraising expertise, made him the best candidate to succeed our long standing CEO Ess McNulty,” said Rebecca Book, President of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Pawtucket. “After an extensive search utilizing the full resources of the YMCA of the USA’s CEO Search Team, Charlie was the unanimous selection of our CEO Search Committee and our Board. We are fully confident that he will lead the YMCA of Pawtucket into a new era that builds on the tremendous success of previous generations, and the Board looks forward to working with Charlie and supporting him as our new CEO.”

In addition to his most recent YMCA experience, Clifford also worked as Vice President of Financial Development for the New Canaan YMCA in New Canaan, CT. During this time, he created an endowment fundraising program and recruited an annual support campaign committee responsible for a 57% increase over the previous year. Clifford also worked at Saint Raphael Healthcare System (now the Yale-New Haven Hospital) as Development Officer, and at the Connecticut Zoological Society as Director of Marketing and Development.

He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing from York College of Pennsylvania and a MBA from Southern Connecticut State University. Clifford also maintains a YMCA Organization Leader Certification, and is a member of the Association of YMCA Professionals and the Northern American YMCA Development Organization. He is active in his community and serves on many local boards, including the Trumbull Rotary Club, the United Way Board of Directors and the United Way Council of Executives. Clifford is looking to relocate to Rhode Island over the next few months and currently resides in Trumbull, CT, with his wife, Holly, and their children, Noah and Quinn.

About the YMCA of Pawtucket, Inc.:

The YMCA of Pawtucket is comprised of five branches across the state: Pawtucket Family YMCA and Heritage Park YMCA Early Learning Center in Pawtucket, MacColl YMCA in Lincoln, Westwood YMCA in Coventry and Woonsocket YMCA. The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 22 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change.

###