Meet Twenty under 40! honoree Heidi Wilson: 'Be confident in who you are.'
Editor's note: Twenty under 40! is a collaborative effort between the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s ystark! and the Canton Repository. It recognizes young professionals in Stark County. This year’s honorees are being featured each weekday leading up to the awards celebration, which will be June 25 at The Quarry Golf Club & Venue in Canton.
Heidi Wilson serves as vice president of childcare and camping at the YMCA of Central Stark County.
The 39-year-old want to continue "to serve the Stark County community through the YMCA and seeking additional ways to serve in a volunteer capacity."
Twenty under 40! honorees: Meet Stark County's top young professionals as 2024 Twenty under 40! winners announced
Who nominated Heidi Wilson for the Twenty under 40! honor?
Wilson was nominated by seven of her YMCA colleagues.
"I have never seen someone so passionate about children and our community," said Crystal Collins, childcare coordinator at the Lake Community YMCA. "She goes out of her way to volunteer and participate in initiatives that have a positive impact on the community. She fights for youth development, early childhood education and curriculum development and still has time to be a wife and mother. True inspiration."
Jennifer Anderson, vice president of operations, praised Wilson's "blend of intelligence, strategic acumen, and a strong commitment to community welfare."
"Beyond local impact, she has positioned herself as a respected authority on nonprofit childcare at both local and state levels, leveraging her expertise to advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of children and families," she said. "Heidi's dedication and expertise not only enhance the lives of those she directly serves but also contribute to the broader advancement of childcare initiatives, making her an invaluable asset to her community and beyond."
She has won leadership award
Ohio Association of Child Care Providers board vice president
YMCA Professional Network Chapter 32 president
Plain Township Rotary member
Ohio Alliance of YMCA’s Outstanding Leader – Youth Development Award recipient 2020
Leadership Stark County Signature Program 37th Class
YMCA Organizational Leader Training Certification
She has a family
Married to husband, Seth, with two daughters Anna, 10, and Emma, 8.
She graduated from Kent State University
Green High School
Kent State University, with bachelor's degree in secondary education
What advice would you give the younger generation when it comes to advancing in their careers or strengthening Stark County?
Be confident in what you bring to the table.
Impact takes a true team effort and the team you choose to sit on needs your ideas, beliefs, expertise and skills.
Be confident in who you are and be sure to help others see the greatness in themselves also.
What motivates or inspires you to better the community?
I am lucky enough to work for an organization, the YMCA, that values youth development and social responsibility. Seeing the impact that my team makes on children and families in our communities each day is extremely motivating.
We are truly helping to build future leaders and being a part of that is something that continues to push me each day.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever been given?
I have had a lot of wonderful mentors and supervisors in my career but something that has stuck with me is to always “find the truth in the complaint” or challenge when working with team members and community.
I believe it is critically important to lead with empathy and with a solutions focus, and this simple quote helps me keep that front of mind.
What’s the most challenging part(s) of your job? How do you tackle these obstacles?
Every day I get to be a part of a team that helps youth in our community grow and thrive, which is a privilege and a sometimes a struggle.
The responsibility of that is often very heavy and can be challenging to keep in perspective. I feel very fortunate to work with a team of people who help me continually improve our services and put best practices in place in order to create quality relationships with our children and families, so that we can all balance the responsibility we feel with the joy of seeing success.
List some things people might not know about you.
I sang in show choirs and musicals all through high school and some of college, as well as sang the national anthem at several semi-professional sporting events. I am “retired” now.
I love to plan parties and events. I spent about 10 years of my early adult life working in the hospitality industry.
Why do you think Stark County is a great place to live and work?
I love the diversity of people and communities that Stark County holds. We have amazing access to arts and culture, medical services, non-profit organizations, community centered activities and anything else you could need or want.
I truly appreciate serving the Y in Stark County because the collaboration between community organizations is second to none. Everyone comes together to achieve a common goal of bettering our community and the people in it.
What are your favorite things to do in Stark County when not working?
Utilizing the amazing trails of Stark Parks for walking and biking.
Eating out at local restaurants with my family.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Meet Twenty under 40! honoree Heidi Wilson of YMCA of Central Stark
