SPEAKERS

August 18, 2025

A 30-year YMCA professional, Matt Mitchell is the President and CEO of the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA. Matt guides the advancement of the Y’s mission and cause throughout Tampa Bay, where he is responsible for the overall health and impact of the Y Movement. He ensures the organization has the financial resources and capacity build a stronger community through its 13 Membership Facilities, in addition to a 65-acre Outdoor Adventure Camp, 2 Youth and Family Program Centers, a Community Learning Center and 30 Afterschool Program sites. Matt works with Y staff and a volunteer Governance Board to implement the Y's Strategic Plan (Building Community) and strengthen current Y operations and campaigns.

With a commitment to strengthen the Tampa Bay community, Matt and his team of staff and volunteers impacted over 280,000 children, teens, adults, senior citizens, cancer survivors, chronically ill community members, at-risk youth, infants and toddlers through Y programs and community outreach events in 2024. Among those, over 125,000 individuals were served at little or no cost thanks to the charitable contributions and volunteer efforts of Y members, donors, community partners and foundation support. With Matt at the helm, last year the Tampa Y invested $13.3 million back into the immediate community through financial assistance and subsidized programming to ensure every child and family, regardless of their capacity to pay, could benefit from life-changing YMCA programs. One such program, Safety Around Water, taught nearly 15,000 kids life-saving skills at more than 30 YMCA pools across Tampa Bay over the past year. Another high-impact initiative flourishing under Matt’s leadership is the Y’s Veggie Van – A Mobile Market Place, providing fresh produce annually to 32,465 kids, seniors and families living in foods deserts. Another 714,826 healthy meals and nutritious snacks were provided to kids as part of the Tampa Y’s out-of-school meal programs.

Currently, Matt is leading the $850 million redevelopment of the Y’s properties in Tampa Heights… a project that will help sustain the YMCA’s valuable impact throughout our community for generations to come. As well, he is leading the capital development of over $42 million in community investments in Wesley Chapel and Riverview. All projects that will greatly enhance the Y’s capacity to positively impact the lives of tens of thousands of new kids and families each and every year.

Matt came to the Tampa YMCA in October 2017 from the YMCA of Greater San Antonio where, as Executive Vice-President and COO from 2012 to 2017, he was entrusted with the management of the association’s operational portfolio that included 1,500 staff, 11 Membership Centers, 3 Early Learning Centers, 1 Resident Camp, a Y Living Center and 55+ School Age program sites located in 8 school districts. He orchestrated and strengthened community collaborations and partnerships, significantly increased annual charitable contributions, grew member retention by 16 percent and attained 65 percent growth in family memberships and 40 percent growth in overall memberships.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.