Merger Brings Strength and Unity to Lake Superior YMCA
After a two-year management agreement and working with an integrated task force, the formal merger of the Duluth YMCA and the Superior branch was finalized in January of this year.
The newly named Lake Superior YMCA (LSYMCA), also includes facilities in Hermantown, Cook County (Grand Marais, Minnesota), the Iron Range (Virginia, Minnesota), and the two Y camps, Camp Miller (Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota) and Tall Pines (Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin).
“As the unified Lake Superior YMCA, the organization will be able to provide services for a bigger area and promises to be here for the community moving forward. For more than 100 years for the Duluth chapter and 150 years for the Superior, the YMCA has been a vibrant community partner in both cities,” said Matt Baumgartner, President of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce.
He added, “The YMCA is a foundational pillar of any community committed to healthy living, youth development and social responsibility. It is often where a child learns to swim, a senior maintains independence, a young leader develops confidence or a family finds belonging. Beyond fitness, it builds social capital — and strong communities are built on strong relationships.”
Baumgartner explained that by bringing Duluth and Superior under one unified structure it allows both to operate with greater scale, shared services and coordinated leadership. He sees it as reducing duplication, strengthening financial sustainability and ultimately enhancing the ability to serve families, youth, seniors and community members across the Twin Ports region.
Sara Cole, CEO of the former Duluth YMCA, also served as acting CEO for Superior’s chapter for two years during the interim, has now taken the position of CEO for the new Lake Superior YMCA.
Cole became President and CEO of the Duluth Area Family YMCA in November 2017. She is the first woman to hold the CEO position in the history of the Duluth Area Family YMCA, which began in 1870.
“We have been good neighbors for many years with the Superior branch,” Cole said. “We brought together board members and community members to discuss how this merger could benefit both Duluth and Superior. Working with Will Robinson, Superior’s Executive Director, and the branch advisory councils has been critical to the smooth integration of the merger.”
Cole works now with one corporate board and one foundation board on the Y’s initiatives of healthy living, social responsibility and youth development, as well as a variety of community programs on both sides of the bridge.
“With the second largest service area in the United States, the goals of making membership access at all locations easier and more streamlined were also top priorities for the Lake Superior YMCA,” Cole noted.
“We wanted to share the legacies and histories of both branches. We want to reflect the individual personalities of each place we serve and to preserve the shared values of all communities,” she explained.
Cole said that people will still see the same faces and facilities they were used to before and will now enjoy enhanced services for members. She added that while the programs may not be identical in each place, having a variety of programs means more options for Y members who can access all of the offerings at each.
Baumgartner has been impressed with Cole’s leadership throughout the process. “Sara has continued to distinguish herself as a transformational leader whose decisions consistently strengthen the organization — operationally, financially and mission-wise. Her willingness to embrace change when it improves performance, culture or community impact has become a defining characteristic of her leadership.”
He noted that the new Y helped design and implement a Shared Services model for Y-USA and now serves as the lead of what has become the largest Regional Hub. He is proud of how Cole continues to strengthen cross-sector relationships through board involvement and collaboration, consistently looking for ways to align missions and expand impact.
Catherine Carter Huber, chair of the board for the Lake Superior YMCA, was a member of the joint task force. “The merger process was thoughtful and careful. Each Y facility still maintains its own identity and is unique to their own communities,” she stated.
“We’re the stronger for this merger,” she added. “Sara Cole’s leadership has been invaluable throughout the transition, making sure the two-year process allowed the time for everyone to be heard, combining the best ideas from both Ys. The organization has been so important to the communities and now offers more stability of all our community services.”
Taylor Pedersen, President and CEO of the Superior Chamber of Commerce, noted, “The merger was healthy for both organizations. Duluth’s Y has a long and strong tradition, as does Superior. Taking the time to successfully blend both organizations was so important and it brought out the best in both.”
Will Robinson, the new Superior Branch Executive Director, has been here for just three months, so he was not in on much of the work of the task force. “I was drawn here because of the wonderful community. And the staff here at the Y is great! The merger gives members more access to more programs, opening up additional resources that the Y has to offer.”
He added, “Sara has been so supportive. She wants everyone to feel included and part of the Y family. And everyone is very conscious of saving the identity of the Superior chapter while being part of the larger team.”
Jeff Cushman, formerly Vice Chair of the Volunteer Office in Superior and now a LSYMCA board member, said, “Some people were concerned that the merger meant that more of the money and resources would go to Duluth. That has not been the case at all. Donors can designate specific programs and sites where they want their money to go.”
“We are very happy with how seamless this transition has been. We did not let go of our identity but were able to protect it with this merger,” said Steve Glonchak, former Superior Vice Chief Volunteer Officer, who is now on the LSY board of directors and also worked on the task force.
Baumgartner stated, “There are natural synergies and financial efficiencies that benefit both communities. But beyond that, this merger recognizes how interconnected our region already is. Families live in one city and work in another. Kids play sports across state lines. Employers recruit regionally.”
“This has been a thoughtful, multi-year process grounded in mission alignment, financial stewardship and long-term community impact. I have been a member of the Y since birth and am honored to have followed my father onto the YMCA Corporate Board and Board of Trustees. For me, this isn’t just governance — it’s generational stewardship,” he added.
“We are proud to honor the history and legacy of both chapters,” added Cole. “We are definitely stronger together.”
Sheryl Jensen is a Duluth-based freelance writer, editor and reviewer.
