New Leader: Breezy Bolden has been the President and Chief Executive of the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver since July.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Denver named Breezy Bolden its new President and Chief Executive Officer on July 8, 2024. Selected by the Board of Directors following a five-month search, Bolden succeeded Sue Glass, who stepped down in January 2024 to lead the YMCA of Greater Charlotte as its President and CEO.
In Bolden’s new role, she will be responsible for driving the organization’s 2023-2026 Charting Our Path to a Better Future Strategic Plan; growing earned revenue and contributions; and ensuring the Denver YMCA continues to embody its vision for building strong, thriving, and equitable communities.
“During our search for a new CEO, we looked at candidates locally, across the country, and among the YMCA network, and reflected on the qualities we heard during our listening tours with community members and our staff,” said Meridith Marshall, Board Chair, YMCA of Metro Denver Board of Directors and Chair of the CEO Search Committee. “With her passion and diverse experience, Breezy was an outstanding candidate. She demonstrated a leadership style that inspires and unifies communities, stakeholders, and staff. I am confident we have brought the right leader to our YMCA, and I’m excited to welcome and introduce her to our Denver community.”
Bolden has been with the YMCA for 24 years. She started as a volunteer in Las Vegas. “I felt really good when I went home that day [her first day],” said Bolden. “I felt it was something worth doing again.”
Bolden was interested in full-time employment and wondered how much experience she would need in order to do so. They told her they would have hired her the day she walked in but she told them she wanted to volunteer. “This was my first insight into the nonprofit world,” said Bolden.
Bolden had really good leaders across the country who believed in her. Several colleagues Bolden has worked with in Las Vegas and San Diego encouraged her to apply for the vacant President/CEO job at the Denver Metro YMCA. Bolden however, admits she never chased the title of CEO. She thought she would remain in Las Vegas (YMCA of Southern Nevada) working with her CEO, Mike Lubbe, until he retired. Lubbe encouraged Bolden to apply for the job and to stop underestimating herself.
Bolden competed with 250 other applicants for the position and was selected after a thorough process. “I am deeply honored to lead the YMCA of Metro Denver, an organization with a rich his
Football Fan: Breezy Bolden is an avid football fan and has a son who played in the NFL. Here, she poses with Miles, the Denver Broncos mascot.
tory of strengthening community,” said Bolden. “I joined the YMCA as a volunteer in the Outreach Department nearly 24 years ago. Here is where I found my purpose and passion for pouring into the lives of others, much like the Y has poured into me. Having served at all levels of the organization, I have seen our impact firsthand and am excited to Chart Our Path to a Better Future with the board, staff, and broader community. Together, we will continue to put people first, ensuring everyone has a place to belong.”
Bolden comes to the Denver YMCA with two decades of experience and dedication to the YMCA movement, most recently with the YMCA of Southern Nevada where she served as the Chief Operating Officer for the last nine years. While there, Bolden doubled the operating budget to a robust $12 million over eight years by restructuring membership pricing, membership categories, and the value proposition of the YMCA; created a safe space for staff to express thoughts, feelings, and lived experiences tied to race, oppression, and social inequity through the series Compassionate Conversations; and, most recently, bolstered sponsorship and donor acquisition toward a highly successful annual campaign.
Bolden also served as Executive Director of the Copley-Price Y in the YMCA of San Diego County where she cultivated relationships with legacy donors, community leaders, universities, and the International Rescue Committee to serve one of the largest newcomer populations in the United States.
“What has been most rewarding about the Y is that some of the things I am m
Community Engagement: Breezy Bolden enjoys getting out into the community and meeting people. She attended the Wyatt Academy’s summer celebration.
ost passionate about, we do really well,” said Bolden. “The work that we do on chronic disease prevention through evidence-based health intervention programs is remarkable.”
Bolden also touts the YMCA of Metro Denver’s “Power Scholars Academy,” a program she started in Las Vegas. It is an academic intervention program for kids that might be falling behind in their grade level. It also includes a social and emotional component. “It also has a family engagement component,” said Bolden. “It really gets the parents involved in the kids’ education and their success.”
Another goal for Bolden as she continues her tenure as President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Denver is to heighten awareness and make sure the Y is a destination for donors to consider and contribute to financial sustainability. “Donors, corporations, foundations, and individuals should feel confident in making a gift to the Y knowing that it is impacting young people, seniors, military, and those that could really benefit most,” said Bolden. “I am spending a lot of time meeting with several past donors and future donors and welcome the opportunity to get to know this community and hopefully this article will open up some doors and I can meet with some new folks.”
So far, Bolden has enjoyed living in Denver, indicating it is beautiful and that the people are incredible. Bolden holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and an MBA in nonprofit management from Springfield College, as well as an Advanced Human Resource Certification from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She is a proud mother of three, grandmother of two, and football aficionado.