Our Leadership

Todd Shuart 
President & CEO
tshuart@trymca.org

How long at Y:  29+ year in the Y, 11+years here in New Bern

Favorite thing about working with Y:  Interacting with my YMCA family

Greatest Accomplishment:  Seeing Staff grow into greater responsibility and positions in their careers.

Motto: Safety 1st, Quality 2nd

Favorite Activity/Hot Spot:  At the Y = Cardio; Away from Work = Camping

Favorite Movie: Doctor Zhivago

Cats or Dogs:  Dogs

Megan Benvenuto
Senior Director of Community Impact
mbenvenuto@trymca.org

How long at Y:  18 years  

Favorite thing about working with Y:  The people here!  The Y is my home away from home.

Greatest Accomplishment:  At work: Raising money for scholarships and helping people achieve their goals.  In life:  The family my husband and I have built together.

Motto: Do what you love, LOVE what you do!

Favorite Activity/Hot Spot:  Top off the Jeep anywhere with my family.

Favorite Movie: Field of Dreams

Dogs or Cats:  Dogs - I have three!  Daisy, Stubby & Jarvis

Charles Boehnke
Facilities Director
cbink@trymca.org

How long at Y:  8 Years

Favorite thing about working with Y: Something different every day!

Greatest Accomplishment:  Serving my Country

Motto: Why Plan when you can react!

Favorite Activity/Hot Spot: Dragons Tail

Favorite Movie:  Man from Snowy River

Cats or Dogs: Both

Iesha Crawford
Family Services Director
icrawford@trymca.org

How long at Y:  I've been employed at the YMCA since September 2014.

Favorite thing about working with Y:  That I get to spend most of my time around children, which keeps me constantly keeps me focused on our YMCA mission and values!

Greatest Accomplishment: Becoming a mom, because it's helps me grow as a person daily.

Motto: Pray Like it all depends on God, but work like it all depends on you!

Favorite Activity/Hot Spot: Cooking healthy, Vegan meals and bike riding. My daughter and I LOVE Flanner's Beach and hiking trails, and we go any chance we get!

Favorite Movie: Pitch Perfect, and anything with Jean-Claude Van Damme (The Quest)! 

Cats or Dogs: BOTH!!

Beth Hardee
Senior Director of Member Engagement
bhardee@trymca.org

How long at Y: 26 years

Favorite thing about working with Y: Working at the YMCA has been a rewarding experience. I love the family atmosphere and the amazing members we have at our Y. I feel lucky to have a job that I truly enjoy coming to every day!

Greatest Accomplishment: There have been many accomplishments in my life but my greatest is definitely being a mom to two awesome kids.

Motto: When You Can't Find the Sunshine, Be the Sunshine

Favorite Activity/Hot Spot: I enjoy hiking and being outdoors

Favorite Movie: Gone With the Wind

Cats or Dogs: Dog

Kira Parker
Director of Health & Wellness
kparker@trymca.org

How long at Y: 7 years

Favorite thing about working with Y: The family like feel of all the members and staff. I love my Y family! 

Greatest Accomplishment: Beginning my Y career as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, working my way up the Health and Wellness Coordinator, and eventually Health and Wellness Director. 

Motto: Find the good in every day

Favorite Activity/Hot Spot: Stand up paddle boarding on the river and going to the beach

Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans

Cats or Dogs: Dogs. We have a Plott hound mix named Lucy. 

Cindy Rice
Director of Financial Development
crice@trymca.org

How long at Y: Since January 2018

Favorite thing about working with Y: A strong culture of philanthropy

Greatest Accomplishment: Convincing the Town of Davidson to buy a church for the sole benefit of Davidson Community Players and overseeing its renovation to a theater.

Motto: If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. 

Favorite Activity/Hot Spot: Kayaking on The River

Favorite Movie: Family Man

Cats or Dogs: Cats: Mine are named Callie and Hobbes

Josh Turner
Aquatics Director
jturner@trymca.org

How long at Y: 2 months

Favorite thing about working with Y: Interacting with all of the great members and getting to have a positive impact on our local youth. 

Greatest Accomplishment: My family and 20 years in the Marine Corps

Motto: This is easy, no one is shooting at me. 

Favorite Activity/Hot Spot: swimming

Favorite Movie: Boondocks Saints

Cats or Dogs: dogs

Amy Walsh
Marketing Director
awalsh@trymca.org

How long at Y: 5 Years (Jan 2013)

Favorite thing about working with Y: I love meeting people who are passionate about bettering our community

Greatest Accomplishment: Learning to forgive

Motto: “A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.” — John A. Shedd

Favorite Activity/Hot Spot: Boating, Paddleboarding, Fishing - anything on the water!

Favorite Movie: "The Little Mermaid"

Cats or Dogs: Both! And chickens...