Rice brings 20 years of experience in supporting the technology needs of elementary and secondary educational institutions

Chester County, PA – [July 22, 2024] – This month the YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW) welcomes Vice President of Information Technology, Keith Rice. After decades of serving elementary and secondary educational institutions Rice looks forward to supporting the Y and its mission.

Foundation in Youth Development
“I have a passion for serving youth in the community,” Rice shares. “Both throughout my career and as a father, I’ve had the opportunity to witness the growth and development of children – and it always motivates me. I look forward to supporting the growth of YGBW in our community.”

Most recently, Rice served as the Director of Technology for Girard College, a 175-year-old tuition-free boarding school serving 1-12th grade students from single-parent and guardian households. He began his career at Mastery Charter Schools, a network of charter schools serving Philadelphia and Camden, where he supported the organization’s growth from three to 15 locations.

Tech at the Y
YGBW is a leading nonprofit in Chester County supporting more than 80,000 members and more than 2,000 employees annually. In addition to well-known offerings like swim lessons and group exercise classes, the Y serves staff, members and program participants in ways that many might not realize.

“It might surprise folks to know how robust our tech stack is here at the Y,” continues Rice. “Technology may not be a core service that first comes to mind when folks think of the Y, but we heavily rely on technology to connect our community to the vital services that we provide. Without out our website, app and registration systems, members would not be able to find and register for programs, camps, fitness classes and more.”

“YGBW is not exclusively a tech company – but we need technology to serve our members and participants,” shares President and CEO, Bertram L. Lawson II. “Most modern companies rely heavily on technology these days. While most of our services are delivered in our gyms, pools and classrooms, they are enabled by technology. And, just like any tech company, we have to think about data security, user experience, digital transformation and more. Keith’s role is vital to our organization, and we’re excited to welcome him.”

Supporting YGBW’s Growth Plan
YGBW operates nine branches and program centers across Chester County with plans to grow services in and around the area, particularly in regard to Health Strategies. The organization plans to enable service delivery with the addition of a Fit Truk this fall – in addition to the recent rollout of new cardio equipment, the upcoming installation of EVOLT 360 body scanners and more.

“When you think of health and fitness, technology may not be the first word that pops into your head,” says Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, Heather W Wilson. “Fitness and technology are becoming increasingly intertwined.”

“Our YGBW App enables members to register for Group Ex classes and our YMCA360 App enables them to work out on the go with our library of classes that have been filmed in our virtual studio,” she continues. “The presence of technology goes beyond the digital experience and into our branches with recently installed touch-screen-enabled cardio equipment.”

“We are thrilled that Keith has joined our team to streamline IT efforts and support our continued growth and ability to serve members more efficiently.”

To learn more about the YMCA of Greater Brandywine: https://www.ymcagbw.org
Get the YGBW App: https://ymcagbw.org/mobileapp
About YMCA360 App: https://ymcagbw.org/ymca-360