Submitted Article
The YMCA of South Hampton Roads announced last week it has named Anthony Walters as its new president and chief executive officer, effective Dec. 2, 2019. Selected by the Y’s board of directors, following a three-month search, Walters will succeed Billy George, who will enter retirement after more than 44 years at the Y. In his new role, Walters will be responsible for continuing to position the Y as a nonprofit leader committed to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
“I am very excited that Anthony will be our next CEO and look forward to working with him in his new role,” said Terrie Edwards, chair of the board of directors for the YMCA of South Hampton Roads. “His passion for the Y, his commitment to partnering with the communities that we serve, and his skill in leading and developing strong teams, will enable him to build upon the solid foundation that Billy George has laid over the past seven years. Anthony is a strategic thinker who listens well and leads with conviction. He has the full support of our board of directors, and we look forward to working with him as our next CEO.”
“Growing up in Wilmington, Del., the Y was a daily refuge for me. I played basketball there frequently with my friends, developed my confidence, sharpened my athletic skill set, and gained an understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. And now, after nearly a 20-year career with the Y movement, I have been given the opportunity to lead an organization with which I am deeply connected. I am blessed,” said Walters.
Walters currently serves as the chief strategy officer at the YMCA of South Hampton Roads. In his current role, he has led hundreds of volunteers to over 250,000 hours of volunteerism to benefit causes of community outside of the walls of local YMCAs. Walters also notes that one of his more gratifying accomplishments in his current role is the growth and expansion efforts for the YMCA of South Hampton Roads through mergers with the YMCA of Portsmouth and the YMCA of South Boston/Halifax County. Prior to his time with the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, Walters worked for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, and spent time as a high school English teacher with Durham Public Schools. Walters holds a bachelor’s degree from Norfolk State University, is a TowneBank Leadership Alliance Board Member, a member of Norfolk State University’s Foundation Board, and a member of Virginia Wesleyan University’s President’s Council.
