CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — Nicole Kelley is the new member engagement director at the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA.

Nicole Kelley has assumed duties as the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA’s new member engagement director, and she’s eager to get to know the Y’s patrons.

Kelley has worked at the Y for more than a year, teaching Pilates, a role she’ll be able to continue, but on a once a week basis. With a passion for fitness and nutrition, she had approached Angie Paxson and Keisha Lockhart about starting a Pilates class at the Y.

“I’ve fallen in love with Pilates. I think it’s a great workout. It can be gentle on the body. It brings in flexibility and strength, and it kind of meets somebody where they’re at — so it’s all levels, somebody can jump in and do the class, get a good workout from it,” she said.

She and her family moved to Marshalltown around Halloween 2023. She was born and raised in Cleveland, while husband Milton “MJ” hails from Louisiana. The couple met through her brother when he and Milton were both stationed in the military in North Carolina.

“We kind of moved around from there,” she said.

Kelley went to school at the University of Pittsburgh, recalling being a Y member at the Johnstown location. She earned a degree in business with a minor in marketing.

“He was active duty military and did 22 years in the service, so we were all over the United States,” she said. “I’ve gotten to be a member of many YMCAs and kind of learn as a member what are some things that I really liked, some things that could work better, and some things that are just great for members to have.”

When she saw the member engagement director role come open, she decided to apply.

“I have a background working with individuals, children, families. I was a director with Mary Kay (cosmetics), and that is where I gained a lot of hands on leadership,” she noted. “It all just came together, and I put in a resume.”

Kelley said the job will have her working with staff in helping them engage with Y members, plus exploring what members are wanting to see offered or changed. She’d like to see classes for pregnancy workouts and aging.

“How we can feed ourselves the nutrition to support ourselves to have a long, healthy life, and letting people know we’re here at the Y. Lots of people are coming into Marshalltown and we want to be the place they see and be your second family,” she said.

CEO Kim Jass-Ramirez said the Y is pleased to have Kelley working full-time.

“In the role of member engagement director, Nicole will be leading efforts to foster strong relationships among staff, members and our community. Nicole was already a fitness instructor for the Y and has demonstrated her passion for the Y’s mission to strengthen spirit, mind and body for all,” she said.

Despite years traveling for her husband’s military service, Kelley said her family, which includes five children, has put down roots in Marshalltown. She said she’s especially impressed with this Y.

“It has something for everyone, no matter what your family looks like. I absolutely love that,” she said. “It represents the community well, from day camp and preschool to programs for Parkinson’s and diabetes, places to hang out for middle school and high schoolers, the new EGYM, it’s just all ages and different levels of fitness.”

She said she looks forward to getting to know staff and the public.

“I plan to have an open door, so people are more than welcome to pop in and say hello,” Kelley said.