YCon Story: Kristy Purlee

When I was growing up, the YMCA didn’t exist in Washington County. My first experience with the Y actually happened states away, during summers in Virginia with my dad. That’s where I discovered what the YMCA really was.

I went to camp, spent long days outside, and was surrounded by counselors who poured into us in ways that stuck. We played games, swam, learned teamwork, and built friendships that felt like family. Every summer, leaving was hard. My heart would ache saying goodbye to people who had become such an important part of my life.

So when I was in college and learned that my younger siblings were playing in a YMCA soccer league and that a YMCA was being built back home, I’ll be honest… I was a little jealous. I wished I had that growing up.

At the time, I never imagined I would return to Washington County after graduating from Salem High School. But life has a way of unfolding differently than we expect. I came back to start my family and begin a new chapter, one that only God could have written.

I’ve always had a deep love for people, and I quickly found myself plugged into the community through Big Brothers Big Sisters and Bible studies. I was working in the Community Learning Center when Jon Hill approached me about teaching the spin class I had been attending.

That season was so much fun. I loved creating playlists, building routines, and challenging people in the room. But after a difficult pregnancy, I stepped away from instructing and focused on my family.

A couple of years later, when my son was two, Scott Johnson asked me to interview for the Membership Director position. I remember feeling a strong pull toward the YMCA. It felt like an opportunity to give back to a community that had shaped me, and to create spaces where others could feel seen, supported, and loved.

Membership was a perfect fit. I spent four years learning, growing, and connecting with people. Then came a moment I didn’t see coming. The board asked me to step into the Interim CEO role.

I was hesitant. The weight of that title felt heavy, especially as a wife and a mom. But through prayer and conversations with my family, I felt called to say yes.

In 2016, I officially stepped into the role of CEO.

What I’ve learned since then has completely transformed my understanding of what the YMCA truly is. It is so much more than a place to work out. It is a place where people find rest. Where they find friendship. Where they find support. And where they find God.

Today, a large part of my time is spent working alongside our Board of Directors, helping bring to life a vision that will serve families for generations. Together, we are building toward an expanded YMCA with a community recreation space and a childcare center that will meet the growing needs of Washington County.

I’ve become an advocate for this mission in ways I never expected. Fundraising, writing grants, sharing our story, and making sure we stay aligned with what our community truly needs. It’s not always easy. There are moments that feel heavy, where the responsibility seems bigger than what I can carry.

But I’ve never carried it alone.

I’ll never forget the volunteers who poured encouragement into me when I needed it most. Leaders like Wes Jones, Rusty Hudson, Lynn Reed, and Cindy Winkler reminded me to keep going, even in seasons when I felt like I couldn’t keep up.

They showed me what servant leadership looks like in action.

Leadership here has reshaped me. I’ve learned that it isn’t about being in charge. It’s about serving. It’s about walking alongside people, encouraging them to grow, and understanding that sometimes the best outcomes take time. Not every problem needs a quick fix. Some journeys are meant to shape us along the way.

I still love stepping into group exercise classes, feeling that shared energy and camaraderie. And I feel incredibly blessed to spend my days surrounded by servant leaders, volunteers, and a community that believes in something bigger than themselves.

Because at the end of the day, there truly is no place like this place.