Membership Forum - January 2023

Join us for the January Membership Forum Luncheon

Bio
Chris Reese is the current Chief Executive Officer of the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA.  He is a retired Colonel from the United States Army, where his primary military occupation was flying helicopters.  He served 23 years of active duty and deployed several times overseas.  Chris spent time in more than 30 countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, and Korea.  He was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for combat actions in Afghanistan immediately following the attacks of 9/11.  He flew in the very first missions into Afghanistan and delivered highly trained Navy Seals, Delta Force operators, and 3^rd Ranger Battalion soldiers on multiple targets. These missions were flown from the USS Kittyhawk (aircraft carrier) and traversed over 1600 miles of ocean, mountains, and desert terrain.  All missions required aerial refueling at extreme low levels of altitude. 
 
After retiring from the U.S. Army, Chris attended the police academy and served 8 months with the Linn County Sheriff’s Department.  At 46, he made the call that policing was a young person's occupation and decided to apply at the YMCA, as the CEO, where he currently serves today. Chris has coached several sports in our community for over 16 years, to include football, baseball, basketball, and soccer.  He is currently the West Albany High School varsity running back coach in football and the JV assistant basketball coach.  He also runs a 7^th grade travelling basketball team.
 
Chris owns two restaurants in Albany called Southpaws Pizza and Shortstops Hamburgers. He is married to Lori Reese (27 years) and they have three sons (Zachary 20, Noah 17, and Elijah 12).