MEET THE WOMEN LEADING YMCA OF METROPOLITAN OF DALLAS
As we honor Women’s History Month, we want to highlight the work of women leading the YMCA Metropolitan of Dallas. It’s through their determination and desire to create a better environment for our youth and their families, that YMCA Dallas continues to thrive and serve.
Get to know today’s leaders who are carving new paths and inspiring a generation for tomorrow.
Jennifer Federici, Vice President of Marketing
How long have you been with the Y?
In 2014, I found this incredible role at the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. As someone who comes from an underserved community myself, I was excited at the idea of working for a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide equitable access to so many who wouldn’t otherwise be engaged. Eight years have passed, and that passion is still ignited in me. Every day, I get the incredible privilege to see not only the work our staff does but the heart-warming care and compassion our community members and volunteers have for each other and this incredible place we live.
What is the impact of "being the first" have on you and how you approach your work?
I believe I’m the first Latina Vice President of Marketing at the Dallas Y, but what is so exciting to see is how much more progressive our organization has become in just the eight years I’ve been here. We, like many organizations, have more work to do but have committed ourselves to staff development, recognizing and celebrating our different backgrounds and experiences through our Employee Resource Groups, events, and staff training. So, while I may be the first, I will most certainly not be the last.
I’m a firm believer that representation matters. While we can try to make considerations for all people in our marketing and programming, those considerations tend to happen best when people of diverse backgrounds and experiences are at the table making decisions about our offerings, messaging, and who we are as an organization.
Share an accomplishment you’re proud of.
I am very proud to serve on the Board of Directors of Girls on the Run DFW. Girls on the Run is an incredible nonprofit focused on instilling confidence in young girls at an age at which they need it the most. They strategically integrate running into a curriculum that empowers, uplifts, and shows girls they have limitless potential. And these are the girls we’ll be celebrating during Women’s History Month for decades to come!
Rodrigua Ross, Vice President, Diversity Equity Inclusion
Describe your career path.
I began with the YMCA as a teen director, I worked with young people in Oak Cliff as soon as I moved to Texas from New York. In working with these young people and their families, I quickly realized my entire lived experience was being mirrored in their current realities. I immediately knew I was drawn to serving marginalized communities.
I became the program director at Lakewest YMCA. During my time, then-President George W. Bush visited, and I had the opportunity to showcase programs I created and led.
Later, I held the role of Citizens Schools director in Worcester, MA, helping their multi-site afterschool program for under-resourced and marginalized teens. I also served as the Dallas Y’s regional achievers director, operations director, executive director of Park South, district executive leading DEI for the Dallas association, and eventually, moved into the role of Vice President of DEI for the Dallas association.
How do you feel about "being the first" and how does that connect to your work?
I have been so incredibly blessed to experience a few firsts at the Y. I was the first program director at the Lakewest YMCA and the only program director in the association to have a sitting president visit their programs. I also helped re-energize a program that had gone dormant for almost 15 years as the regional Achievers director.
I was the first executive director at Park South to increase the facility footprint by acquiring and opening a free-standing preschool annex, the only free-standing early childhood learning facility in the immediate area. I'm the first Vice President of DEI in the Dallas Y’s history.
Share an accomplishment you’re proud of.
For me, it's really humbling to be trusted with this level of responsibility and understand that so many people believe in the value your skillset brings to a space so much that they are willing to follow as you forge the way. It’s an amazing honor.
I’m also the co-host of Causenetic, the Y’s first-ever podcast. What started as a way to stay connected to the community during the pandemic has really grown into “a thing”! Thanks to Keith Vinson for his vision, and David Frederick and La Shae Leonard for making the dream work.
Rebecca Lee, Vice President of Membership & Wellness
Tell us about your career journey.
Believe it or not, I was an English major and my first job out of college was to help edit and create certification exams with certifying boards. I decided I wanted to be a personal trainer, so I left my job in Kansas and moved to Chicago to start my fitness career. I worked in the for-profit fitness industry and started at the front desk, became a personal trainer, then a fitness manager, a club manager, and then ran 16 locations as a district manager. Later, I was promoted to regional manager of personal training. Now, eight years later, I’m proud to be the VP of Membership & Wellness.
Share an accomplishment you’re proud of.
I am the first chair of Women Empowered, one of the first of two Employee Resource Groups at our Association (we now have five)! With YUSA, I'm on the steering committee for the Women's Leadership Resource Network. Also, I'm on the board of directors for the Women in Fitness Association, an inclusive leadership initiative dedicated to empowering women-identifying entrepreneurs and self-starters. I have had some incredible mentors, both women, and men. I credit them for where I am today and hopefully, I have been that person for others. If I have helped others grow personally and/or professionally, that would be my biggest accomplishment.
What is the impact of "being the first" have on you and how you approach your work?
I grew up one of four girls in a very rural area in Missouri and was the first one in my family to graduate from college. When I became a personal trainer, there were very few women in the industry, so I took the title of being “the first” at times. When I transitioned into the district manager position, I learned I was the only woman in our region who held that role.
When you are growing in your career, you do not realize you are first or one of few until others bring it to your attention. It was never my goal. But I think you keep pushing when you hear, “You can't do this or that.” I’ve heard, “I don't want to work with a girl personal trainer, how do you think you can be a manager, you're so young?” or “How are you going to have a baby and do your job?”
However, when you get there, you realize others want to get there too and should be at the proverbial table. I have always promised myself I would be my own advocate, continually develop others, and advocate for those that aren't in the room yet. Lead with transparency and authenticity. If I am unable to do that then I am not in the right place.