YMCA Of Greater Cleveland Appoints Two To Senior Leadership

Press release from YMCA of Greater Cleveland:

Dec. 1, 2021

The YMCA of Greater Cleveland has appointed Natisha Bowling as Executive Director of Childcare and Ben Altemus as Branch Executive Director, West Shore Family YMCA.

Bowling will lead childcare programs at the Y, which serves nearly 2,000 children Greater Cleveland. Prior to joining the Y, Bowling was the Associate Director of Fatima Family Center in the Hough Community. There she directed all youth educational programming, including the Afterschool Program, Teen Leadership Program, Kids Club and a large summer camp.

Bowling is a veteran of the Council of Economic Opportunity of Greater Cleveland’s Head Start Program. She worked with diverse families, children and staff as the Director of the Carl B. Stokes Head Start. There she supervised a team of over 50 staff in a building with 274 children.

She also created a partnership with Shaw High School’s Early Childhood Career Technical Program that provides Child Development Associate Instruction, hands on training and work-study experience to high school students who desire to pursue a career in early childhood education.

Bowling holds undergraduate degrees in Early Childhood Education and Business Administration and a master’s degree in Adult Education and Organizational Leadership. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Early Childhood Education at Cuyahoga Community College.

Altemus will lead the staff at the West Shore Family YMCA in Westlake. He previously served as the Membership Director at the French Creek Family YMCA in Avon.

Prior to joining the Y in 2017, he served the At-Risk Youth Program at Goodwill Industries in Lake County. In this capacity, Altemus served 20 clients and managed a staff of three. He and his team worked with at-risk youth to find subsidized employment and minimize barriers to employment. He partnered with the Adult Basic and Literacy Education program to help the children achieve their GED. He also assisted people in registering to colleges or trade schools and researching possible career choices they wish to pursue.

During Altemus’ tenure at the French Creek Family YMCA, he created administrative efficiencies that improved member communications. He also helped introduce innovations like virtual gaming for people of all ages. Members value his dedication to the Y’s mission and its core values.

This press release was produced by YMCA of Greater Cleveland. The views expressed here are the author's own.