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George Sorensen, YMCA Exec

Tribune photo by José Patiño Girona

George Sorensen is interim executive director of the Bob Gilbertson Central City Family Branch YMCA in Tampa Heights.

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

TAMPA HEIGHTS - It seems there's sometimes an additional event when George Sorensen celebrates a birthday. His family moved from Hudson, N.Y., to Jacksonville when he turned 8. Three years ago, he moved from Jacksonville to Tampa on his 37th birthday.

He came to Tampa to take a senior program director position with the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA's Interbay-Glover Branch and to be closer to his now-wife, Ashley, associate executive director at the Bob Sierra YMCA. In his job, he oversaw membership services.

Sorensen was promoted to associate executive director at Interbay-Glover, and in June he was named interim executive director of the Bob Gilbertson Central City Family YMCA, 110 E. Palm Ave.

Q. What's it like working with the YMCA?

A. What I like about the Y is what the Y does for the community. It is more than just a swim and gym facility. It is a place where everyone can go and participate. We don't turn anybody away for an inability to pay. We have a sliding-scale scholarship that people can qualify for depending on household income.

Q. How did you get started at the YMCA?

A. I was doing an internship in college for Street Ball Partners, a special events company. I was working an event in Tampa - Hoop It Up 3 on 3 Basketball. I met Trigg Wilkes. He was the executive director of the downtown YMCA in Jacksonville. We got to talking. I was finishing up college at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. He asked me to submit my resume. The position was for membership coordination. That was 1995.

Q. How many employees do you manage?

A. Six directors and six coordinators and another 40 part-time staff - camp counselors, lifeguards, welcome center staff, wellness attendants.

Q. How many members does the Central City YMCA have?

A. The membership is closer to 6,000 people.

Q. What is your role?

A. What I like is the opportunity to work with staff. I enjoy being able to help them in their role so we can be successful. I like to believe I manage by giving people that voice and an opportunity to try new things.

Q. What motivates you about your work?

A. We are changing lives. There are 20 to 30 stories daily in this Y about how we are affecting lives. From the family who is putting their kids in camp who wouldn't have been able to afford that, to the person who needs our wellness center to get healthy.

Q. What do you do outside work?

A. My wife and I started playing golf again. I am a big sports fan. I am a big Yankees and Miami Dolphins fan. I like to run. I have had thoughts of doing a marathon. Now that I turned 40, I might put it on my agenda.

Q. Any thoughts on "YMCA" by the Village People?

A. It is neat to see the reaction people have to the song. I like the reaction. It helps the Y be more recognizable. There are not many organizations out there ... that have a song that is identifiable to their organization.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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