a Place to LEARN,
a Place to Grow

Y Staff

CORPORATE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

JOHN M. LASS – President/CEO
John’s entire professional career has been spent in the non-profit sector. A native New Yorker, he graduated from Siena College in Loudonville, NY in 1975. After completing his Master of Divinity degree at the Washington Theological Union in 1981, John was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood where he spent the next eleven (11) years in a variety of pastoral assignments in Apopka, FL; Fall River, MA; Bronx, NY; Tampa, FL, and Silver Spring, MD. John's last pastoral assignment was as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the Washington Theological Union. John relocated to Martin County and took up the position of YMCA Director of Development in 1992. In 1995, John was appointed Executive Director of the newly formed YMCA of Martin County Foundation. Then in April, 1998, John was appointed to his present position of President/CEO of our YMCA. John and his wife Kathy live in Palm City.

CHRISTINE L. COLLER, CPA – Chief Operating Officer
Chris joined the YMCA of Martin County in June 1998. She is a Certified Public Account who earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1989 and her Master’s degree in 1990 with both degrees in Accounting from the University of Florida. Chris began her career as a staff accountant at Price Waterhouse, an international public account firm in their West Palm Beach, FL office. In 1996, she joined the public accounting firm of Proctor, Crook & Crowder in Stuart, FL as an audit manager. While at Proctor, Crook & Crowder, Chris developed an area of specialty in accounting and auditing non-profit organizations. She served on the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accounts’ Non-Profit Organizations Committee for two (2) years.

CORPORATE STAFF DIRECTORS

Rachel Selph – Director of Communications

Rachel Selph joined the YMCA of the Treasure Coast in September 1999. She is a native Floridian and attended Indian River State College. Before working at the YMCA, she was employed in the Cardiology field as an EKG/ Stress Technician. Deciding to make a career change, she was drawn to the YMCA because of the Y's focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. She began in the Membership Department as a Welcome Center Staff member and has held various positions involving YMCA Operations including Director of Member Services and Mission Services Director. Her current position, Director of Communications, involves marketing, communications and risk management. Rachel has three beautiful children. She enjoys spending time with her family, writing and music.

Jenni Groth– Finance Director
Jenni joined the Finance Department with the YMCA of the Treasure Coast in April 2007. Her professional career has been built up over many years in the accounting/financial field. She has earned titles such as Financial Analyst, Office Manager and Accounting Specialist. Jenni was drawn to the YMCA through her children, who participate in the excellent programs that are offered.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Robin Kae Sutherland – Easter House Fundraising Project, Independent Contractor

Robin joined the YMCA of the Treasure Coast in March, 1999, as Development Administrative Assistant. Her move to the YMCA was prompted by a desire to have a fun, safe environment for her children to grow while she was working. She has eleven (11) years of fundraising experience and prior to coming to the YMCA; she worked as District Manager for South Florida Blood Banks. She grew up as a “Y” kid in Burlington, Vermont where she learned how to play tennis during the summers and how to swim in their indoor pool during the winters. Now her six children – Erin, Sean-Michael, Zachary, Matthew, Cole and Kaeden are equally as active in their YMCA of the Treasure Coast.