New CEO takes over at Greensburg YMCA; covid creates uncertainty over reopening

The Greensburg YMCA, closed since Sept. 30 because of the covid pandemic, might not reopen until May, June or later, the new chief executive said.

YMCA officials at this time can’t predict when the facility on South Maple Avenue will reopen because of the uncertainty surrounding the covid pandemic, said Suzanne Printz, who has been promoted from her interim role to permenant CEO.

Printz, a Penn Township resident, has served as the interim CEO since former director George O’Brien left the post in May.

“Suzanne has proven her effectiveness in her interim capacity … and has demonstrated her ability to lead through this time,” said Keith Biskup, president of the YMCA board of directors.

Printz officially took over as CEO on Dec. 14, at a time when all the exercise rooms, the gymnasium and the swimming pool were closed. Gov. Wolf’s order shuttered all gymnasiums until at least Jan. 4 in an attempt to reduce the spread of covid during the holidays. Only the YMCA’s child care center remains open during the current shutdown. The pool had been open to limited use while the gym and exercise rooms were closed on Sept. 30.

Predicting when the YMCA can fully reopen “is just such a wild card” because of the pandemic, Biskup said.

“We’re hoping as soon as possible,” said Printz, who was director of member and community relations before becoming interim CEO.

“I miss seeing people. Their health is suffering,” because they are unable to exercise, Printz added.

Printz, who has worked at the YMCA since 2014, said they have been working behind the scenes on creating and then implementing a strategic plan for when the YMCA reopens.

Biskup is hopeful that members who turned to other exercise facilities when the YMCA closed in late September, will return to the Y. The YMCA lost some members when the facility was closed from late March to June and then again since September, Biskup said.

“People were afraid,” of being infected with coronavirus and did not come back to the YMCA, making it hard to remain open, Biskup said. The YMCA saw a large drop in revenue this year from 2019 because of the closures and loss of members, Biskup said.

“Covid has been brutal,” Biskup said.