The board of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine recently announced the appointment of Bertram L. Lawson II as president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine. Lawson will take office on Monday, July 10.

Lawson is a 24-year YMCA professional who most recently served as the president and CEO of the YMCA of Central New York, which has nine branches and more than 30 program sites in central New York. Lawson previously served as the chief operating officer for Mastery Charter Schools Network and senior vice president of operations at the YMCA in Central Maryland.

Lawson is a Philadelphia native who began his Y career at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA, where he held numerous roles, including vice president of operations. He also established the orginization's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) department.

Lawson is an active volunteer, serving on various boards. He is a member of the board of trustees for Lincoln University, a member of the YMCA of the USA's National Membership Standards Advisory Committee, the immediate past chair for the YMCA of the USA's African American Employee Relations Network (AARN) and a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

Lawson succeeds Denise Day, the organization's president and CEO for more than 13 years, who retired in June.