Growing up in Flint, Michigan, Brandon Boles’ family took advantage of the local YMCA for before- and after-school care.
“I found out early on about all the benefits of being a YMCA member,” Boles said. “The physical activities, the social interaction, all played a role in helping shape me into the man that I am today.”
Boles, now 40, was recently named the new CEO of the Rappahannock Area YMCA, overseeing branches in Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Caroline counties.
Boles will begin what he hopes will be a lengthy tenure on Aug. 25. He replaces Barney Riley, who retired late last year after serving as CEO for 31 years.
Riley has known Boles for more than a decade, since he is a member of the Rappahannock YMCA Board of Directors and a regular at the Massad branch in Stafford.
“What I learned about Brandon is that he is a very compassionate individual, especially for those people who are less fortunate,” Riley said. “When the job came open and I knew he had expressed interest, I just thought he would be a perfect candidate because of his history and his compassion for others.”
The board of directors hired a firm to conduct a nationwide search for the next CEO. The firm began with 150 candidates and eventually narrowed it down to 28, according to Board of Directors President Buddy Fredette.
The board then further culled the list before zeroing in on Boles, who had just completed his sixth year as the principal of Potomac High School in Prince William County. Boles was previously a math teacher at James Monroe High School and an assistant principal at Gar-Field and Patriot high schools in Prince William.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan and a master’s in organizational leadership from Columbia University in New York.
“No. 1, Brandon is absolutely qualified for the position,” Fredette said. “No. 2, he is local to our community. He understands our community. He knows the relationship-building aspect of dealing with people in our community … We were always hoping that we could find a local candidate that met the qualifications. We found that guy in Brandon, and we’re thrilled that we have him as our new CEO.”
As the CEO, Boles will be responsible for all four YMCAs in the region. Fredette said Boles’ experience with the Y allowed him to demonstrate a clear understanding of his role and the roles of the branch executive directors.
“He understands the intricacies of the Y operation,” Fredette said. “It’s just a natural fit and a wonderful fit for us.”
Boles moved to Fredericksburg in 2006. He and his wife left the area for Atlanta briefly before returning in 2018. He’s lived in Fredericksburg a total of 15 years, during which time he said he’s witnessed significant growth and change.
“This is not just a cool job opportunity for me,” said Boles, a member of Strong Tower Church in Stafford. “This is my community. I worship in this community, and live in the community and still see students of mine in the community. So, I’m really vested in continuing the work of making our community stronger.”
Boles said the position was attractive to him in part because of the overlap between the job and being an educator. He noted that the YMCA’s mission talks about youth development, healthy lifestyle choices and social responsibility, all topics he addressed as a principal.
“It’s an opportunity to apply my skills in a new way, and it’s an organization that’s near and dear to my heart,” Boles said.
Boles said he wants to build on what Riley accomplished during his tenure. He said Riley made an impact, not just on the Y, but on the region as a whole. He said moving forward, he plans to assess each branch separately to see the areas the Y needs to evolve to address current needs.
“That’s the beauty of the organization,” Boles said. “By having the four branches, we can make sure each branch reflects the needs of their community. Spotsylvania’s needs are different than Caroline’s needs and King George’s needs are going to be different than the Stafford branch … I love the fact that we’re not doing a one-size-fits-all model, but we’re really making it fit the different communities.”
While Boles said his background as an educator will help him play a role in addressing the needs of the area’s youth, he stressed that it will take a team effort involving parents and community leaders.
He said the Y can be an asset to the future generations by giving them a positive outlet where caring adults “really rally around our youth to make sure they’re positioned for success.”
“He has an unbridled passion for the Y and he exudes that in his demeanor,” Fredette said. “He cares about the community and the Y’s place in the community. We’re thrilled from top to bottom, and we can’t wait for him to get started.”
