YMCA of Youngstown appoints a new president and CEO

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The YMCA of Youngstown appointed Thomas M. Gacse, a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court magistrate, as its president and chief executive officer beginning Jan. 1.

Gacse will replace Timothy M. Hilk, who had served in the role for six years, the YMCA announced Monday.

Gacse is a lifelong resident of Northeast Ohio and has lived in the Youngstown area for 25 years.

Before being a magistrate in June 2015, Gacse worked as an attorney and in the banking industry. He is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and the University of Akron School of Law.

Since 1998, he has served in many volunteer roles with the YMCA, including chairman of the 2014 and 2015 annual campaigns, chairman of the strategic planning committee, and a member of other committees. Most recently, he served as chairman of the board of trustees.

J.D. Mirto, interim chairman of the YMCA of Youngstown CEO search committee, said, “While this role requires many skills and experiences, our committee placed the highest priority on finding a visionary leader to expand upon our already strong foundation, inspire new organizational growth, and address the most critical issues facing our communities. We were fortunate enough to have those skills in one of our own family. We wholeheartedly believe Tom is the right leader to build upon our successful history of the Youngstown Y and to achieve even greater levels of impact in the community.”

In addition to his service to the YMCA, Gacse has also served as an elder at Old North Church in Canfield and volunteers for numerous committees and causes. He has been a fixture at noontime basketball at the Central Y for the past 25 years, and has coached and refereed for a number of youth sports leagues.