Tri-State YMCA Welcomes New Leader; Charts Path Forward
Statement from the Tri-State Family YMCA Board of Directors
The Tri-State Family YMCA is taking important steps to strengthen our organization and build a strong future for the Neosho and Grove communities.
For decades, our YMCA has brought people together through youth programs, childcare, sports, aquatics, wellness, and other services that strengthen children, families, and communities. That mission remains at the center of the decisions we are making today.
Like many community-serving organizations, the YMCA has experienced rising costs in recent years. Personnel, insurance, utilities, facility operations, and other expenses have grown faster than revenue. In response, the Board has approved a series of organizational changes to better align our resources with the needs of the YMCA and the communities we serve.
To initiate and lead this next phase of our Y, the Board brought in Matt Schneringer as Interim CEO of the Tri-State Family YMCA. Matt is a well-respected YMCA leader who currently serves as CEO of a multi-branch YMCA in Missouri. He was selected to provide experienced leadership, bring proven best practices and new ideas, and help guide the organization forward.
As part of the broader restructuring, the Board also made the difficult decision to reduce administrative staffing. We are deeply grateful to the valued employees affected by these decisions for the time, talent, and commitment they have given to the YMCA, and we sincerely wish them success in the future.
Together, the leadership and organizational changes now underway are intended to strengthen day-to-day operations, clarify responsibilities, and better support our members, staff, and communities.
These changes are part of a broader two-year effort focused on three priorities:
- Strengthening programs and the member experience through clear leadership, quality services, and continued responsiveness to the needs of our communities.
- Investing responsibly in our facilities and equipment through thoughtful planning and sustainable funding for ongoing upkeep and future needs.
- Building a stronger financial foundation by increasing revenue, carefully managing expenses, and creating sustainable positive cash flow.
The purpose of this work is not simply to reduce costs. It is to strengthen the YMCA’s ability to serve, grow, invest in our programs and facilities, and respond to the changing needs of our communities.
Even as the Y goes through these changes, we remain committed to providing mission-driven programs that make a difference in our communities. Some of these include Safety Around Water, Youth Sports, and our Summer Food Program, which currently operates Monday through Thursday in Anderson, Neosho, Seneca, and Pineville.
If you’re interested in giving back this summer, we’d love to have you join our team of volunteers. We are always looking for people to help distribute meals at our Summer Food Program sites. To learn more or sign up to volunteer, please contact Tina Ferguson at [email protected] or visit bit.ly/SWMOSummerFood.
We are grateful for the continued support of our members, donors, volunteers, community partners, and friends. Your participation and support make the YMCA’s mission possible, and we look forward to building a strong future together for the Tri-State Family YMCA.
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About Tri-State Family YMCA
The Tri-State Family YMCA began as a store front operation in 1996, operating out of a former library in Neosho, MO. In 2011, Tri-State Family YMCA organized as an association and has expanded to two facilities serving more than 10,000 members and community program participants.
The Tri-State Family YMCA includes two branches; the Neosho Freeman Family YMCA in Neosho, MO and the Grand Lake Family YMCA in Grove, OK. Our locations have a preschool and three afterschool sites. Tri-State Family YMCA’s corporate office is located at the Neosho Freeman Family YMCA branch.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Y provides crucial programs and services to more than 15,000 people every year. With the help of generous donors, the Y was able to provide more than $210,000 in financial assistance to our community members in 2025, ensuring everyone has a chance to succeed and belong at the Y.
