Our leaders are at the forefront of the YMCA of Silicon Valley delivering on its mission. They foster an environment of inclusiveness within our organization and throughout the community through our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Here are the men and women who are leading the South Valley Family YMCA into the future:
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Rick Valdez
Rick Valdez is Executive Director of South Valley Family YMCA. He has served in that role since 2004.
Rick Valdez is Executive Director of South Valley Family YMCA in San Jose. He has served in that role since 2004. Prior to his current position, he was the Operations Director at East Valley Family YMCA and the Health and Wellness Director at Central YMCA. Valdez has been the driving force behind South Valley YMCA’s annual Teeing Off for Teens Golf Classic, raising thousands of dollars each year to benefit programming for teens in the south San Jose community. |
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Julie Dougan
Julie Dougan is an Associate Executive Director at South Valley Family YMCA, overseeing membership, aquatics, health and wellness, and facilities. She has held a variety of positions in membership and health and wellness at three branches of YMCA of Silicon Valley over the past several years. |
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Julie Griswold
Julie Griswold is Administrative Director for South Valley Family. She began her YMCA career as a camp leader and swim instructor and has served in a variety of roles at three branches of YMCA of Silicon Valley over the years, including Aquatics Director, Sr. Director for Child Care and Teens, and Membership Director. |
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Monica Sendejas
Monica Sendejas is Aquatics and Wellness Director for South Valley Family YMCA. She directs activities in adult and youth group exercise classes, the Wellness Center, aquatics programs, and health and wellness family events. Sendejas began her YMCA career in 2001, serving in a variety of roles at YMCA of Silicon Valley and Central Coast YMCA. She received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Occidental College. |
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Suzanne Epstein
Suzanne Epstein is Child Care Program Director for South Valley Family YMCA. She began her YMCA career in 1992 as Center Director for YMCA child care at Los Paseos Elementary School and has worked at many other branch child care sites. Since assuming her current role in 2002, Epstein has led the department as it has grown to serve more than 500 children each day. She received a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and child development from San Jose State University. |
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Jesus Raygoza
Jesus Raygoza is Youth and Sports Program Director for South Valley Family YMCA. He directs activities in youth sports, physical education, ballet, karate, and summer day camp. Before starting his YMCA career, he supervised an after-school program at Horace Mann Elementary School for children who resided in San Jose’s downtown community. Raygoza received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a concentration in sports management from San Jose University. |
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Liz Gonzalez
Liz Gonzalez is the Youth and Family Program Director at South Valley Family YMCA. She directs activities in after-school programs, child care, camp, and Family Fun Club. Prior to starting her YMCA career in 2006, she worked for Upward Bound and the Educational Talent Search program, where she served children predominantly from low-income households and first generation, college-bound students residing in eastern communities of San Jose. Gonzalez received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in recreation management from San Jose State University. |
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Bryan Cook
Bryan Cook is Youth and Teen Program Director for South Valley Family YMCA. He directs activities in the branch’s Youth and Government program, Adventure Guides, and summer day camp. He began his YMCA career in 1993 as a Camp Counselor at the Ridgewood YMCA resident camp, YMCA Camp Bernie, in Port Murray, New Jersey. Over the next 12 years, he served on the camp’s summer staff in a variety of roles, including Senior Counselor and Program Director. In 2006 he transferred to Southwest YMCA in Saratoga, California, as Child Care Site Director for Discovery Charter School in western San Jose. He assumed his current position in 2008. Cook received a master’s degree from San Jose State University. |
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Joan Khooshabeh
Joan Khooshabeh is Child Care Director at South Valley Family YMCA’s child care site at Allen at Steinbeck School. Prior to starting her YMCA career in 2000, she was a preschool director for several years. |
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Ninveh Bodaghi
Ninveh Bodaghi is Child Care Director at South Valley Family YMCA’s child care site at Sakamoto Elementary School. Prior to starting her YMCA career in 2005, she worked for several child care centers as a teacher and director. Bodaghi received a bachelor’s degree in child and adolescent development and a master’s degree in psychology. |
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Rachelle Placencia
Rachelle Placencia is Child Care Director at South Valley Family YMCA’s child care site at Schallenberger Elementary School. She assumed her current position in 2007. |
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Lori Brooner
Lori Brooner is Child Care Director at South Valley Family YMCA’s child care site at Oak Ridge Elementary School. She started her YMCA career in 2006 as a preschool teacher at the branch’s child care site at Sakamoto Elementary School and assumed her current role later that year. |
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Sherrie Lima
Sherrie Lima is the Wellness Center Coordinator for South Valley Family YMCA. She began her YMCA career in 1993 as a Kids Corner attendant engaging members’ children while their parents exercised. She has held a variety of positions over the years, including Group Exercise Instructor, Fitness Coach, and Personal Trainer. She assumed her current position in 2005. |
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Debi Vargo
Debi Vargo is the Group Exercise Coordinator for South Valley Family YMCA. She began her YMCA career in 1997 as the branch’s Health and Fitness Director, overseeing group exercise and Kid's Korner. In 2005, she assumed additional responsibility for the Wellness Center. Vargo has been teaching group exercise since 1985. She is a nationally certified instructor and personal trainer. |
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Maureen Werner
Maureen Werner is the Kids Corner Coordinator for South Valley Family YMCA. She began her YMCA involvement as a volunteer in 1993. At the time, she was a stay-at-home mom and wanted to meet other parents with children near her own kids’ ages. She enjoyed volunteering so much that she soon became a part-time employee. As her children grew older, Werner eventually began working more hours. |
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Rebecca Boylan
Jessica Kravin
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