The Community YMCA Board of Directors recently announced the appointment of Rhonda M. Anderson as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, according to a release.

The move is effective Aug. 20.

According to the YMCA, Anderson has more than 20 years of leadership experience in both the nonprofit sector and at Fortune 500 companies. Anderson is a Somerset resident and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Catherdral International, a Perth Amboy-based church with multiple locations.

"It is an honor and a blessing for me to serve as the new CEO of The Community Y,” Anderson said in a statement. "I am grateful to join a mission-driven organization with a rich history of meeting community needs through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Our Board, team members and volunteers remain committed to building stronger communities and families through the Y’s varied programs and services."

Tim Watters, Chairman of the Board and Chief Volunteer Officer, said in a prepared statement that the Y conducted an extensive national search for a new leader and selected Anderson because of her strong leadership abilities in both the private and non-profit sectors and her “unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of all, especially the most vulnerable children and families in our community.

"Rhonda has the expertise, experience and values-focused leadership we need to strengthen our organization to ensure that we remain a vital resource to the communities that we serve."

From the Y's release:

Anderson earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from Penn State University and a Bachelors of Science degree from Cornell University. At Cornell, she had a distinguished career on the basketball team, achieving 17 individual records, earning a spot on the First Team All-Ivy League for two years and being named Athlete of the Year by The Cornell Sun, the first woman to achieve this honor. She was also inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame.

She is a recipient of the YMCA New Jersey Black Achiever’s Award in Business and has volunteered for many organizations, including for Habitat for Humanity, the Girl Scouts and the United States Olympic Committee.

As the head of the Community YMCA, Anderson will lead roughly 450 employees and more than 100 policy volunteers who serve 20,000 people in the greater Monmouth County area, including Red Bank, where the YMCA operates its largest area gym and fitness center.