“Never say never” is Mike Gilbert’s favorite quote and it sums up his approach to his role as Membership Assistant Manager at the Bangor Region YMCA where he handles a wide variety of duties, always expecting something new different or to happen. “I welcome members, help people sign up for Y memberships, give tours, have conversations with members, distribute all information pertaining to the YMCA, and spread the Y mission and core values at all times,” he says.
Mike loves the Bangor Region YMCA because of the people it serves and the opportunities it gives to everyone in the community. He believes his job has helped him excel in life too: “It has given me the chance to open up and really see what my true potential is. I chose the Bangor Region YMCA because there was a job opening and I applied. It was the best thing I could have ever done.”
Mike is from Dexter, a small town in Central Maine. He graduated from Dexter High School but says, half seriously, much of his education came from the “School of Hard Knocks”. Prior to the Y he worked at a call center for eight years.
A firm believer in the Y’s core value of Respect, Mike finds it difficult to identify just one person who has influenced him. “There are too many people to mention who have impacted my life personally and professionally since being employed at the Y,” he says.
When he is not working, he loves to spend time with family. Asked if there was anything people did not know about him, he laughs and says: “I don’t have any secrets!”