Rooted in the Y: How Carly Dartez Turned a Childhood Legacy Into a Lifelong Calling

In December, Carly Dartez stepped into her newest role as the Executive Director of the Coppell Family YMCA. This position feels less like a job and more like destiny fulfilled. Her journey is a heartwarming tale of family legacy, community impact, and unexpected purpose, woven together by the timeless spirit of the YMCA.

A Legacy Rooted in the Y

For Carly, the YMCA isn’t just a workplace; it’s a part of her DNA. Her grandfather once served as CEO of major YMCA branches in Ohio, San Francisco, and Manhattan. Her parents met while working at the Y. When they met, her dad was a sports director in Oregon and her mom was a childcare director. And now, Carly continues that legacy, not out of obligation, but out of pride.

“I don’t feel pressure to carry on my family’s legacy,” Carly shares. “Instead, I feel pride and motivation. I’ve seen the impact my father and grandfather had in the communities they served, and I strive to leave that same everlasting impact.”

A Childhood Immersed in the YMCA Spirit

Carly’s YMCA story began as a sophomore in high school in Arizona. Inspired by her father's leadership, who at the time was the Executive Director in Tucson before becoming Vice President of Operations in Dallas, Carly picked up an application from her dad and started working at the local Y. What started as a part-time job turned into a passion that never left her.

“I always thought I would go a different direction,” Carly recalls. “But the Y always has its way to pull your heartstrings. Once I woke up from being a stubborn college kid, thinking I knew what was best for me, the Y was knocking at my door!”

After college, Carly moved to Dallas, where her father had relocated. She began working at the Plano Family YMCA in a membership role. When that branch transitioned to the Russell Creek Family YMCA, Carly transitioned as well, taking on a director-level role and staying for five years. Her journey continued through the Moody Family YMCA and eventually brought her to her current home: Coppell.

From Pizza Parties to Purpose

Some of Carly’s most vivid childhood memories are of attending the YMCA’s Annual Campaign celebrations. At the time, she didn’t quite understand their significance.

“I knew every year we got to go to ‘Round Table Pizza’ and have a pizza party with a bunch of people,” she laughs. “Little did I know that was their Annual Campaign celebration and they celebrated all the funds they raised to give back to those who need it most. Now I get to have ‘pizza parties!’”

Now as a leader herself, Carly channels those early memories to drive her passion for community impact. Her goal? To ensure every child and family has access to the same life-shaping experiences she once had.

A Life Intertwined with the Y

The YMCA has not only shaped Carly's career, it’s also shaped her life. She met her husband while working at the Plano Family YMCA, where he was a regular member. Today, their two daughters are following in Carly’s childhood footsteps.

“My girls are both involved with the Y, from playing soccer and doing Summer Camp to attending preschool at the Y,” Carly shares. “Any chance they get, they LOVE coming to work with me. My youngest, Henley (4 years old), says when she grows up, she wants to do exactly what mommy does at ‘My Y.’”

A Full-Circle Moment

For Carly Dartez, the role of Executive Director at the Coppell Family YMCA is more than a title. It’s the culmination of a lifetime of connection, influence, and love for a mission that has never let her go. From pizza parties as a little girl to leading community initiatives and programming that shape the lives of hundreds of families, Carly is living proof of how the Y doesn't just build careers, it builds legacies.

And as she leads the Coppell Family YMCA into the future, Carly holds close the values that have always been with her from her grandfather’s leadership, to her father’s dedication, to her daughter’s’ wide-eyed admiration.

Because for Carly Dartez, the YMCA isn't just where she works; it's where she’s always belonged.