Employers spend billions each year replacing entry-level staff in retail, customer service, and retail roles, according to the Harvard Business Review. Especially after the pandemic’s headline-grabbing Great Resignation trend, the message expressed was employers that depend on part-time staff are struggling to maintain employees. 

As the YMCA of San Benito County prepares for Healthy Kids Day this spring and a busy summer season, a strong employee base representative of the community ranks as one key to their continued success.

Mayra Zendejas serves as the Executive Director of the YMCA of San Benito County. Her Y story began 16 years ago, working four hours a week at the membership desk. For nearly Zendejas’ entire tenure, she has worked alongside Senior Youth Development Director Crystal Canchola. Canchola joined the Y in 2009 as a counselor during after school programs and summer camp.

This dynamic duo rose through the ranks at the YMCA of San Benito County to lead this branch of the Central Coast YMCA into its bright future. Today this YMCA serves more than 2,000 kids each year and provides more than $80,000 annually for community members who can’t afford membership or program fees.

For Zendejas and Canchola, empathy is the key to their leadership style.

“We cannot control the environments children come from, but we can control the environment they come into,” said Canchola. “My job is to make sure the people I hire are caring and respectful role models.”

 “(This mentality) sets kids up for having good self esteem and feeling loved no matter where they go,” Zendejas said. “This is their home and they know it.”

 Choosing someone respectful and caring ranks highly for this leadership team, but another key characteristic also rose to the top.

“Back when we started, the people we served and the people who worked here didn’t represent all our community’s demographics,” said Zendejas. “It has taken time to change that mentality. Today we look like the community we serve. The vision and feel of the Y have changed over the years. Today, the Y is seen as an organization for everyone, regardless of income or background. It’s for everybody.”

JJ Gonzalez started working as a youth sports coach for the YMCA of San Benito County when he was 16. Nine years later, Gonzalez maintains a strong connection with the Y.

“I wanted to give back to little kids because I enjoyed playing sports,” said Gonzalez, who chose the four- and five-year-olds as his favorite age to coach. “It fit perfectly. I got to do something I liked and was able to show little kids how to play them.”

Gonzalez graduated high school and developed a career as a physical therapy technician while continuing to work at the Y. Along the way he shared his goals with Zendejas and Canchola, who hired him after he achieved his personal training certificate.

“They were the first ones to jump on and offer support,” Gonzalez said. “They have always worked hard to stay connected with us and be involved in how we’re doing outside of the Y. It feels like home when I'm there.”

Alma Cadena began working at the after school program and youth sports at the YMCA of San Benito County six years ago. Cadena, an alumnus of California State University–Monterey Bay alongside her co-worker Gonzalez, continues to work at the front desk a few times each month in addition to her full-time employment as a physical therapist aide. 

Cadena began working at the Y right after graduating from high school and credits an unexpected position at the front desk with helping her build confidence.

“When I first started working here, I was very shy and didn’t talk much. Working at the front desk  was never something I had planned. In fact, the first few weeks I was very nervous to be at the front desk and I never wanted the phone to ring,” Cadena said. “But after those few weeks I got more comfortable and I wasn’t as nervous or afraid to talk to members or answer the phone.”

Cadena also volunteers frequently with the YMCA, including shopping with kids for Hollister’s Small Steps and distributing meals to senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think it’s so incredible what the Y offers and brings to the community,” Cadena said. “I enjoy volunteering and knowing that I can help in some way. It is an amazing experience to be a part of the Y.”

Currently, Zendejas’ employee list includes a dozen people who have maintained a long-term connection to the Y. Canchola employs eight staff who were former “Y Kids.”

“We wouldn’t have it any other way. We are a reflection of our staff and our staff is a reflection of us. It’s not all success stories, but we did it with good intentions and I know that if someday someone asks (a former employee) if they have a Y story, they will have a positive story,” Zendejas said. “It’s a proud parent moment for us both.”