GREENFIELD – After six years serving as CEO of Franklin County YMCA – a period of time in which the organization saw more than 50% growth in both membership and programming – Grady Vigneau will retire June 30.

Vigneau, in an interview Thursday, said he planned to spend his retirement working at his family business, The Round Hearth Cafe and Marketplace in Stowe, Vermont.

“My most proud moment is the team that we’ve assembled and built that keeps me out of trouble every day,” Vigneau said. “They’re the experts on running things day-to-day and they’ve given me the chance to do what I think I’m good at, which is get out in the community and build a culture of community outreach, encourage people to support our efforts and help us pursue our mission to love, serve and care.”

After taking the helm of the YMCA in 2019, Vigneau and his team guided the organization through the pandemic, exploring safe ways to continue programming while planning future infrastructure projects, such as its pool deck renovation and securing new exercise equipment and technology for the Y’s 451 Main St. location as well as Camp Apex in Shelburne.

Vigneau, maintaining that his team deserves credit for the YMCA’s recent successes, said he was pleased with the organization’s ability to take on significant expansion initiatives, including the acquisition of the Zion Korean Church property at 463 Main St. in order to expand child care services in Franklin County and YMCA child care programs to Northfield Mount Hermon’s Bolger Center in Gill.

In only three years, Vigneau said the YMCA saw a 54% growth in membership and a 52% growth in programming. He said he took pride in his team’s ability to secure more than $1 million in grant funding over the course of four years.

“From the low of COVID, we’ve tripled our size of our business, and it’s just really exciting to see,” Vigneau said. “That’s all because the communities embraced us and said, ‘We like what you’re doing and we want to be part of it.’”

According to YMCA Director of Development Maddy Oldenburg, the YMCA Board of Directors has launched a search for a new CEO to “build upon Vigneau’s vision.” An interim CEO will be appointed as the search for a permanent one is conducted.

Vigenau said that while the search for his replacement is not under his purview, he hopes that the role will be filled by someone who shares his vision for the organization. He added that he’s been in touch with Board of Directors President Dr. Joseph Viadero, who is involved in hiring a new CEO.

“I’m very invested in who comes in, because I want them to continue to carry on the great stuff. I want them to come in and continue to empower and believe in and create ownership for my colleagues who’ve done all of that under my leadership,” Vigneau said. “As far as looking to the future of our Y ... One of the big things that we recognize is that we’ve got to find space to grow and to really meet the community needs.”

Viadero, in a written statement, wished Vigneau well in his retirement, expressing gratitude for the CEO’s work to grow and enhance the county’s YMCA.

“Grady’s energy and commitment have been a driving force for our YMCA, inspiring growth and connection,” Viadero wrote. “We are deeply grateful for his transformative contributions and wish him every success in his next chapter.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.