YMCA Southcoast Welcomes New Leadership After National Search
Ortiz, who brings over two decades of experience across legal, government, and nonprofit sectors, will assume her new role on June 2, 2025.
YMCA Southcoast has announced a significant leadership change with the appointment of Lucria Ortiz as their new President & CEO, according to a press release issued on May 8, 2025. Ortiz, who brings over two decades of experience across legal, government, and nonprofit sectors, will assume her new role on June 2, 2025.
The organization's Board of Directors and a Search Committee conducted an extensive national search, supported by YMCA of the USA, before selecting Ortiz to succeed Interim CEO Debbie Fringuelli. Board Chair Arthur DeAscentis highlighted Ortiz's alignment with the organization's key objectives, stating in the press release that "her experience strongly supports our goals around philanthropy, creating safe supportive spaces for youth and teens, broadening the reach of our food insecurity efforts within the Full Plate Project and Sharing the Harvest Community Farm, and providing access to healthy living resources for all community members."
Ortiz's impressive background includes recent leadership roles as President and CEO of The Opportunity Network and the Yonkers Family YMCA. During her tenure at Yonkers, she demonstrated innovative thinking by launching the nation's first Peacemobile - a mobile unit dedicated to violence prevention and youth programming outreach.
Her track record in fundraising is particularly noteworthy, having secured millions in funding for various initiatives focusing on youth development, food insecurity, violence prevention, and capital projects. Search Committee Chair David Tatelbaum expressed confidence in the appointment, noting in the release that "with Ortiz's proven multi-sector experience, we are confident that YMCA Southcoast will thrive under her leadership for years to come."
The incoming CEO, who holds a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University, expressed enthusiasm about her new role. "I'm humbled and honored to join this incredible community and lead an organization with such a strong history of service," Ortiz stated in the press release. She emphasized her commitment to collaborative leadership, adding that she looks forward to "working alongside dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners." After spending a decade serving YMCA communities in New York and New Jersey, Ortiz's return to New England marks a new chapter for both her career and YMCA Southcoast's future.
For the most up-to-date information, visit YMCA Southcoast's website at https://ymcasouthcoast.org/.