Armstrong comes home to help lead Central YMCA of Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN — Shawn Armstrong returned to the Mahoning Valley and took over as executive director of the Central YMCA of Youngstown, 17 N. Champion St., on Feb. 6.

Armstrong grew up at the YMCA of Youngstown, "a safe place," he said, where he played his first pick-up basketball game. "The Y was instrumental in developing my confidence and social abilities."

After graduating from Chaney High School in 1999, Armstrong left Youngstown to pursue higher education and launch a career in radiology technology and health care administration. He said dreamed of one day coming home and "giving back" to the community, according to a news release.

Armstrong previously was the regional administrator of the University of North Carolina Physicians Network, overseeing seven primary care and specialty physician practices in the western region of the Research Triangle.

"Being a Youngstown native, I always held a desire to one day return to the city that helped raise me," Armstrong said in the release. "The YMCA of Youngstown is an anchor in the community, and I saw this position as an incredible opportunity to give back and make a difference."

"What impressed me most about Shawn is that he is a success story from our community — someone who grew up on the East Side of Youngstown, graduated from Chaney High School and achieved a successful career in the health care industry in Raleigh, N.C.," said Tom Gacse, CEO of the YMCA of Youngstown.

Armstrong graduated in 2008 from the Beaumont Hospital School of Radiologic Technology in Royal Oak, Mich. He earned a bachelor of applied science degree in radiologic science/health care management from Sienna Heights University in Adrian, Mich., in 2010, and his master of health care administration degree from Siena Heights University in 2013.

Armstrong was a radiologic technologist at Beaumont Hospital for six years before being promoted to supervisor of radiology. He was recruited by Detroit Medical Center, where he was manager of radiology. In 2016 he relocated to Raleigh, N.C., where he was manager of imaging services for WakeMed North Campus, then had the same position at WakeMed Cary Hospital in Cary, N.C.

In 2018, he was named regional administrator of UNC Physicians Network.

"Shawn's experience leading teams, both large and small, in for-profit and nonprofit organizations, along with improving the well-being of others with his experience in health care, translates perfectly into his new role at the Central YMCA," Gacse said.

"We are so blessed to have Shawn as part of our senior leadership team."

This story was originally published February 19, 2020 at 1:55 PM with the headline "Armstrong comes home to help lead Central YMCA of Youngstown."