Glen Gunderson is a community wellbeing advocate, social innovator, and president and CEO of YMCA of the North, one of the largest YMCA associations in North America and among the largest in the world. YMCA of the North serves hundreds of thousands of people each year through youth development, healthy living, social responsibility, camps, early childhood education and community impact initiatives across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
For more than three decades, Glen has worked at the intersection of health, human development, organizational leadership and social impact. Prior to joining the YMCA, he served as chief business officer for RedBrick Health and held senior executive roles at Life Time Fitness, helping both organizations navigate significant growth, innovation and market expansion.
Under Glen's leadership, YMCA of the North has reimagined its role as a catalyst for whole-person and whole-community wellbeing. The organization has launched nationally recognized initiatives focused on leadership development, youth voice, belonging, social impact, digital transformation and community wellbeing; led a historic $231 million comprehensive campaign; expanded camp and nature programming; and helped establish innovative community assets including the George Wellbeing Center, the Leadership Innovation Center and the Center for Social Impact.
Glen helps lead the growing Community Wellbeing Network, a coalition of YMCA associations and community partners advancing community wellbeing as the defining framework for the future of the YMCA movement. Through this work, he convenes leaders across healthcare, education, philanthropy, government, business and the nonprofit sector to explore how trusted institutions can strengthen social connection, improve wellbeing and create healthier and more resilient communities.
Committed to advancing leadership and social impact beyond any single organization, Glen serves on the boards of Daxko, HealthPartners Institute and Kaleidoscope Group. He previously served for more than a decade on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities and has been recognized for his business and community leadership throughout his career. He is also the author of the forthcoming book “Leaders for Good,” which explores lessons from influential leaders working to strengthen communities and unlock human potential.
Glen holds a degree from St. Olaf College, is a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business LEAD program and is a 2027 Fellow of the University of Chicago Leadership & Society Initiative, where he is exploring the future of leadership, institutions and social impact.
Why the Y?
“Before joining the YMCA, I largely viewed it through the lens of fitness, swimming and recreation. What I discovered was something far more profound. The YMCA is one of the few institutions with the ability to bring people together across generations, backgrounds and perspectives. Every day, I see people building confidence, improving their health, developing leadership skills and finding a deeper sense of belonging. In a time when isolation and division are increasingly common, that work has never been more important.
What inspires me most is the Y’s ability to strengthen both individual lives and entire communities. At YMCA of the North, we have reimagined our role as a catalyst for whole-person and whole-community wellbeing, helping people thrive socially, emotionally, physically and civically. Whether it’s a child discovering their potential, a teen finding their voice, a family building healthier habits or an older adult finding connection, the Y helps create the conditions for people to flourish.
I am especially motivated by our commitment to young people. Through leadership development opportunities and initiatives like the Center for Youth Voice, I have seen young leaders challenge assumptions, advocate for change and help shape a more hopeful future.
Ultimately, the YMCA is a place of possibility. It is an honor to work alongside dedicated team members, volunteers, donors and community partners who help people become healthier, more connected and more engaged in their communities every day.”