Tristen Comegys says she can’t wait to continuously engage with the people within the city of Frankfort and Clinton County. Having taking over as the new chief executive officer for the Clinton County Family YMCA on November 19, she has working hard to achieve that goal.
“For the last five years, I’ve been in a more entrepreneurial style setting,” said Comegys. “With that comes smaller teams of people that you work with. Prior to that position, I actually worked with a larger non-profit and I really missed that team environment. When this opportunity presented itself, I said, ‘Why not, let’s give it a try’ and got offered the position.”
The 2014 graduate of Purdue University Northwest comes to Frankfort from the Chesterton and Valparaiso area. She said when she inquired about this job that she wanted to be around something like she was familiar with back home. Enter Nickel Plate Flats and the soon-to-be built Prairie Creek Park.
“When coming to Frankfort, I was looking for something similar because when you leave home you kind of want little pieces of home around you,” said Comegys. “I moved into Nickel Plate Flats and ironically our central park or Prairie Creek Park is going to be located right across the street. So, that was a definite attraction for me.”
Comegys said her goal is make to Frankfort a better place to work and live. She was asked what her impressions were of the Gem City.
“The city of Frankfort is probably one of the most warm and welcoming places that I’ve ever been associated with,” she said. “People don’t just say that they are wanting to welcome in new people to the community. They’re actually welcoming in new people to the community and they are ready to partner with those people to make sure they’re hear to stay.”
Comegys inherits a position that has basically been “vacant” since the departure of former director Bob Commings around two years ago. Lafayette Family YMCA CEO Paul Cramer has been the interim director for over the past year.
Comegys knows she will have to handle some problems that have been around for awhile, particularly the building.
“This is an older building,” she said. “It’s been here in this community for almost 30 years and there are things that the ‘Y’ is now in a position to focus on. We know where we’re headed as an organization and we can now work with community partners on improving this facility so we can grow our membership, grow our programs and really be a staple within the community.”
For more information about services and programs, contact the YMCA at 654-9622.