The YMCA of Lincoln thrives because of its remarkable people. We are immensely grateful for our dedicated staff, who make the Y an exceptional place to serve our community each and every day. Continue reading to meet one of our incredible team members:
Emmalie Wilcox, Fallbrook YMCA Executive Director
How long have you been with the YMCA of Lincoln, and what other roles/position have you held? How did your journey with the Y get started, and what initially drew you to the organization?
I started working for the Y when I was 17 years old when I was hired to be a Summer Day Camp Counselor. From there, I continued my part-time Y career working in the Youth, Teen & Family Department at the Cooper YMCA as a Site Supervisor for the after school program, a Preschool Teacher and a Caregiver in Child Watch. As an Elementary Education major I was drawn to the Y so that I could gain more experience working with children and families. While I intended to pursue a career in teaching, when the Lincoln Y made plans to open the Fallbrook Y, a brand new facility attached to a middle school, I felt pulled to work there and in June 2009 I was hired as the Youth, Teen & Family Program Director. In the summer of 2021 I was promoted to the Associate Executive Director, and in January of 2022 became the Executive Director.
What makes the YMCA of Lincoln different than other places you’ve worked?
On my first day as a full-time program director, we put on hard hats and walked on the dirt ground as the walls of the Fallbrook Y were being built. As odd as this may sound, it felt like home the moment I got there. It is not just the building that makes it feel that way - it is the people and programs I get to work with day in and day out. The people really are what makes the YMCA of Lincoln different than other places, and that includes our members, staff, and program participants. We get to serve people from ALL walks of life, at all different ages and stages in life. The Y brings the people of Lincoln together. People choose the Y because we offer something for everyone…and because of our financial assistance program, anyone, regardless of their financial situation, can be a part of the Y.
Over the years I have had the privilege of being mentored by many great leaders. I’ve also personally had the honor of mentoring hundreds of staff who have gone on to do great things in the world and I could not be more proud to have been a part of their journey.
What has been your proudest career moment and why?
One of my proudest career moments was just this past November during our $5K the Hard Way event on Giving Tuesday when our members and staff came together to support the Y’s Annual Fundraising Campaign. In an span of 12 hours we had over 160 individuals make a donation to our organization so that more families could experience the Y. It was amazing to see the support, energy and enthusiasm for such an important cause!
What’s the best thing about your job?
One of the best parts of my job is getting to organize our family events with the awesome team here at Fallbrook so that kids and families from all walks of life can come together for a fun, special experience and make memories that will last a lifetime. What makes it even more special for me is having my own family be a part of it along with our friends who come out to enjoy these events with us.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Something that most people might not know about me is that I love karaoke and I even won the Cornhusker State Games Gold Medal Talent Show for singing back in the day when that was an event!
Thank you, Emmalie, for an incredible 15 years at the YMCA of Lincoln! Your hard work and commitment have been invaluable, and we look forward to seeing the wonderful things you will achieve in the future.