7th Annual Celebration of Impact recognizes employee and volunteer excellence

The YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg recently hosted its 7th annual Celebration of Impact, honoring the dedicated employees and volunteers who went above and beyond in 2024 to bring the Mission of the YMCA to the greater St. Petersburg community.

The event brought together Y staff, volunteers, and Board Members to reflect on the collective impact of their efforts. In the past year, the Y has served more than 30,000 members and supported thousands of youth and families across southern Pinellas County through its programs and services.

The event also highlighted exceptional achievements, recognizing individuals who made a significant difference in their roles.

Impact Award

Natasha Walker, Community Health Specialist Jim & Heather Gills YMCA

Natasha been a branch and YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg leader for over 18 years in her varying roles at the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA. She is a gifted instructor and trainer with legions of past participants who sing her praises as a kind, empathetic and always uplifting advocate.
Natasha is a bright light in the building, always smiling, looking out for staff in all departments and engaging with members. For years, she opened the building with the Membership team, greeting our members and supporting the staff. In her role as a Community Health coach, she is a rock star encouraging cancer survivors to push themselves just a little and Diabetes Prevention participants to keep on making healthy choices. She does this in a warm and wonderful way sharing her vulnerability and creating an atmosphere of trust and camaraderie.

She is an exemplary employee and branch leader who has boundless energy, a beautiful spirit, and a willingness to help and do the right thing for members and staff.

Unsung Hero Award

Cheryl Calder, HR Administrator

Cheryl is incredibly responsive to all kinds of random requests and operates with excellent efficiency to get the job done. She is hardworking and does whatever it takes to make sure we all get treated fairly, and paid accurately and on time.

At the same time as being professional, she is also funny, warm and engaging. Cheryl never misses an opportunity to ask about her colleagues personally, and always opens or closes her emails with a tremendous Y spirit.

With the new IT requirements and paperwork related to outgoing employees, she has handled the transition with professionalism, providing all the information needed to keep employee/technology database clean.

Cheryl’s role is critical in keeping the organization operating and she does it with accuracy and diligence, along with a great attitude of collaboration.

Leadership Award

Craig James, Association VP, Membership & Programs

Since coming into our Association, Craig has worked with our existing teams to unify and create collaboration across all branches and departments, building a strong and effective Matrix team and consistency in the member experience. He has also taken on the significant responsibility of overseeing school-based childcare.
Craig is not only a professional, but also a is caring and compassionate. His unique perspective and outlook on situations are always in the best interest of all involved. He is willing to hear out issues although they may not be part of his scope of duties, which are already vast, and provide plausible solutions.
Craig does not just manage a team, he is a mentor who motivates and makes people feel valued. He takes time to acknowledge everyone, give real and meaningful appreciation, and create a culture where people want to do their best—not because they have to, but because they feel supported.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Lance Latimer, Youth Sports 

His dedication, passion, and impact on the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg's youth sports programs exemplify volunteerism at its best. In 2024, Lance volunteered over 120 hours coaching soccer, flag football, t-ball, and basketball, positively impacting around 500 young athletes over the past five years.

Lance connects deeply with players and parents, earning the trust and admiration of all, making him the most requested coach. His focus on teamwork, sportsmanship, and confidence-building ensures that every athlete leaves motivated and accomplished. Lance’s leadership, collaborative spirit, and mentorship of new volunteers have enriched our sports programs and inspired others to give back. His contributions have left a lasting impact on our YMCA and the lives of our young athletes.