Sheridan Woman Nominated as a Woman of Influence

Liz Cassiday, Executive Director at the Sheridan YMCA, is one of the nominees for the Wyoming Business Report 2022 Women of Influence in the non-profit category.

The Wyoming Business Report will announce the 2022 Women of Influence Honorees via a live event luncheon in Cheyenne, WY at the LCCC ANB Leadership Center, on Thursday, October 13.

According to The Wyoming Business Report, it has been honoring influential women across the state of Wyoming since 2013. There are 18 categories, including Education, Arts, Health Care, Hospitality, Media and Journalism, and Nonprofit, (In 2021 Jennie Gordon, First Lady of Wyoming was honored for her Wyoming Hunger Initiative.)

Before Cassiday became the Executive Director five years ago, she had worked at the Y for nearly 15 years. She was the Youth Program Director, about which is she said, “It is still near and dear to my heart,” adding that this Y is very youth centered.

Some the services offered at the YMCA include swimming, water aerobics, swim lessons, childcare, after school care, art classes and even a youth choir that is heading to Italy soon. They also have the traditional sports and camps. Cassiday added that the Sheridan Y:

She said the theme for the 2022 year is “Building belonging” among the youngsters in the community. “We are making sure that the Y is available to them,” Cassiday said. They may have financial or transportation issues, and the Y tries to help with those issues. She said there are many scholarships awarded for low-income people and families, and she was grateful for the donors that give to the Y to support those.

She added that they had over 1000 volunteers at the Y, and that helps to keep the costs down for the programs. “This is not a pay to play place, it is the result of a lot of people believing in the Y.”

Cassiday said that she is appreciative someone sees that their work is really in the trenches, the Y is helping the community in a really un-glamorous way. She said she didn’t know much about the award, but it made her think about influence. “I’ve always felt I influenced the youth,” she said.

In talking about the expansions of the Y, she said, “I love the fact that we have remodeled our facility so it can stay in the same place,” She added that the YMCA is close to the Junior High School, the library, and Kendrick Park. She said as director she wants to be flexible, and as the community goes through changes, the Y can change as well.

At the Y the infant care starts at 6 weeks old, and the Y has members that are over 100 as well, with many in their 90s. The Y has weight rooms, gyms, swimming pools, many exercise groups, camps, youth sports and after school activities.

Cassiday grew up on a ranch in Campbell County. She is passionate about the Sheridan YMCA, saying, “This is my ranch. If you want to tie yourself to a brand, this is the one.”

Cassiday added about the recent nomination:

According to the Wyoming Business Report, the Women of Influence are nominated on their leadership, creativity, ethical business practice, innovative thinking, and unquestionable character. Nominees must live and work in Wyoming and entries must include a bio of the person and their accomplishments, personal interests, & volunteerism.