The YMCA has always been a part of Brian Haines’ life.
Haines, the vice president of operations for the YMCA of Greater Houston, has turned his passion for the organization into more than 40 years of involvement with YMCA programs and over 20 years as a YMCA employee.
The Houston native and University of Houston graduate said he developed an affection for the organization at a young age and it helped to form his career trajectory.
“[I] played basketball in high school, and of course dreamed that I would be able to move on and play basketball in college but had a couple of knee injuries,” Haines said. “And so it was during that time when I was rehabbing at the T.W. Davis YMCA as a member that I really grew to appreciate what the ‘Y’ does and [decided to] change my degree to sports management and marketing.”
Haines—who got involved with a variety of sports as a child—said the YMCA drew him in due to its sports programs.
However, he soon grew to appreciate the organization in a greater capacity, which led him to become more involved, he said.
“I think my dad taught me [the motivation to play sports year-round]. He was passionate about sports, and it was something that bonded us. And so the ‘Y’ was an opportunity initially to continue my love of sports,” Haines said. “I started off as a sport director, but it was after working for the ‘Y’ for a couple years that I realized the ‘Y’ is so much more and the impact that we have on the greater good of the community, and that’s what’s keeping me going.”
Haines’ home base is the Katy Family YMCA on Westheimer Parkway, however he also supervises several other locations along with a team of individuals that provides leadership and guidance to a variety of centers in the Greater Houston area.
Haines is a passionate leader, said Beth Strand, the community liaison for the Katy Family YMCA.
“He really cares about the community that he serves,” Strand said. “He really inspires staff to give back to the community and be the best that they can be.”
The largest project on Haines’ docket is the construction of a second YMCA in the Katy area—a $2.4 million, 42,000-square-foot facility that will be known as YMCA at Katy Main Street.
Haines said he is proud of how the YMCA served the needs of the Katy area. He also said building a second YMCA in Katy is the best strategy to continue to keep up with a booming Katy population.
“This has been one of the most successful ‘Ys’ in the Houston area in terms of growth, keeping up with the growth of the Katy area,” Haines said. “We’ve expanded twice, in 2005 and 2009. We were talking about expanding again, and it was that discussion that led us to believe that we really need a second ‘Y’ in the Katy area versus expanding again.”
Haines said the YMCA’s inclusive nature has taught him to embrace a particular part of the organization’s mission statement.
“Our mission is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all, and the part of that mission that I’m most passionate about is the last two words: ‘for all,’” Haines said. “And one of the ways that we do that is we provide financial assistance to those that have shown a need.”
He said this issue is expected to manifest itself at the new Katy facility.
“[The Main Street location] is going to allow us to serve a different segment of the population,” Haines said. “In addition to serving all the people that can afford a membership, there’s going to be a lot of people because of where that building’s built that will need the ‘Y’s’ services but won’t be able to afford the full rate. But we’re not going to turn them away.”
