YMCA Promotes Ervin to Senior Leadership Post
Ink Spot Staff Report
YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne has promoted Tabitha Ervin as a district executive director.
Ervin, an Ink Spot contributing editor, has been with the Fort Wayne Y for 14 years, 10 of which have been at the executive director level, first at Renaissance and now at the Jackson R. Lehman Family YMCA, where she is the founding director.
Along with managing operations at Jackson Lehman, Ervin will support the Caylor Nickel Family Foundation YMCA and the executive director of Healthy Living.
Ink Spot Publisher John Dortch was effusive in his praise of Ervin's latest accomplishment.
"It has been my honor to not just work with Tabitha, but to be a friend and occasional advisor," he said. "Obviously, the Y knows what kind of talented person they have in Tabitha. But Fort Wayne is blessed to have her as a citizen."
A native of Pontiac, Michigan, Ervin has earned numerous professional accolades including YMCA of the USA Organizational Leader and Global Leader Certifications, the Business Weekly 40 under 40 Award, and completing the Foellinger Foundation’s Leadership Lab. She is also
member of the YMCA of the USA's Diversity, Inclusion, and Global Leadership Council.
Away from the Y, Ervin serves on the boards of Vincent Village and Healthier Moms and Babies, co-chair of the Fort Wayne UNITED program sub-committee, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., was a Big Sister/College Mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, among other organizations.
Ervin holds a bachelor's and master's degrees in public administration from Central Michigan University, as well as a Master of Science degree from Capella University.
Before moving to Fort Wayne in 2007, Ervin was an educator at Pontiac Central High school, where she coached varsity girls track and the freshman/JV basketball teams.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my work at the YMCA," Ervin said in a 2019 Business Weekly interview. "As a servant leader, I am truly blessed to work for an organization where I get to operate in my life’s mission of serving community and youth on a daily basis through interactions, programs and volunteerism with a Christian mission at the forefront. I also love to coach and care for staff through mentorship, coaching and leadership development."