After an extensive nationwide search, the board of directors of the Central Lincoln County YMCA has hired Meagan Hamblett as its new CEO.

Hamblett has worked with the Boothbay Region Y for the past eight years, serving as its membership and marketing director.

Prior to that she owned her own consulting business, worked as development director at St. Andrews Hospital, was campaign director at the United Way of the Greater Seacoast in Portsmouth; and served as director of childcare, marketing and membership at the former Cumberland County YMCA, now the YMCA of Southern Maine in Portland.

“Meagan has a strong set of core YMCA values that enable her to demonstrate and articulate the causes of our mission,” Board Chairman Dennis Anderson said. “She has helped build strong communities wherever she has been, through relationship building and collaboration. She has proven her passion for the Y mission with her track record of fundraising efforts and results.

“Meagan has demonstrated leadership that has led to the expansion of capital funding, annual giving, programming and membership with our sister organization in Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor. We expect more of the same in our community. She has the ambition, strategic vision and experience to bring our organization to the next level of excellence. We are fortunate to have her as our new leader at this critical time in our development.”

Search committee member and vice chairman of the board Charlie Richardson concurred.

“We are very excited to welcome Meagan Hamblett as the next CEO of our YMCA,” Richardson said. “She is someone who embodies the YMCA mission of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”

Hamblett said that she is humbled and honored to be chosen as the new CEO.

“This leadership position is an incredible opportunity for the next chapter of my Y career,” she said. “I am thrilled to share my expertise in the areas of fundraising, membership and program development, strategic planning, facility building and community outreach. The YMCA is much more than a job to me. It's a way of life, which I embrace wholeheartedly."

The search committee consisted of the following board members: Dru Sandford, Ann Poole, Charlotte Davenhill, Brian Thompson, Lurie Palino, Charlie Richardson and Dennis Anderson.

Hamblett will begin her responsibilities as the CEO starting Nov. 17. Please stop in and welcome her.