Bath Area Family YMCA Names Amy Vendt Permanent CEO After Interim Role

Amy Vendt, who brings more than 30 years of YMCA experience, has been named permanent chief executive officer of the Bath Area Family YMCA, the organization confirmed on Feb. 9, 2026. Vendt served as interim CEO since last summer after stepping up from a two-year stint as the Y’s chief operating officer, and her elevation ends a period of transitional leadership following the departure of former CEO Rob Gray last year.

Vendt’s appointment preserves internal succession: she will continue working alongside Chief Operating Officer Will Gunther, who stepped into his role in October last year after leadership positions with YMCAs in Georgia, Missouri and Florida. Vendt’s background includes serving as executive director of the Central Maryland YMCA, which had 9,000 members, and as Bath Y COO she focused on developing strategic community partnerships, leading capital projects, and strengthening organizational culture with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion.

The decision comes as the Bath Area Family YMCA marks its 170th year in 2026, with a planned celebration expected this summer. Vendt framed the anniversary as a chance to bring the community together. “We’re planning a big party to recognize the impact we’ve had on the community in the 170 years, celebrate some of our milestones, and how much this Y has meant to Bath but also the surrounding towns,” Vendt said. She also stressed continuity of mission. “The [Bath] Y has always been about meeting community needs, and I’m inspired by the opportunity to continue that work,” Vendt said.

Local stakeholders say leadership stability matters for programming and projects that touch Sagadahoc County households. Vendt’s two-year record as COO, and her long YMCA tenure, suggest an emphasis on sustaining afterschool programs, fitness and wellness offerings, and the capital projects she helped lead. Continued focus on diversity and inclusion may shape recruitment and membership outreach across Bath and neighboring towns.

Rob Gray left the Bath Y in 2025 to become CEO at the Heart of the Valley YMCA in Huntsville, Alabama. The internal promotion of Vendt, together with Gunther’s recent arrival as COO, signals an administrative team combining deep institutional knowledge with fresh external experience. That mix could influence decisions about facility upgrades, partnership agreements with local schools and nonprofits, and the scope of community programming in the year ahead.

For Bath residents, the immediate implications are stability and a predictable leadership schedule as anniversary events and ongoing projects move forward. Expect event announcements and program updates tied to the 170th celebration this summer, and look for the Bath Area Family YMCA to outline specific plans and timelines under Vendt’s permanent leadership.