Staff

Paula VanTyle-Smith, Executive Director

I moved to Washington nine years ago, but my hometown is Lawrenceburg, Indiana. I have lived in various places in Indiana, Ohio and Chile. I have two adult children that live in the Midwest and I enjoy spending as much time with them as possible. I have worked with the Daviess County Family YMCA since 2016 in numerous positions. I enjoy swimming and teaching classes. I am a Certified Personal Trainer as well. I love animals, I like to travel as often as possible, and I have a heart for non-profit organizations. I look forward to continuing to serve my community and my YMCA, who are like family to me.

Brandy Washler, Finance Director

Hi, my name is Brandy Washler. I am a lifelong Hoosier originally from Connersville, IN, and my family and I relocated to Bedford, IN in early 2021. I graduated from IU with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics and received my MBA from USI in 2020. I have worked in Finance and HR for over 15 years, and specifically for YMCA associations since 2012. The mission of the Y and the value the organization brings to the community continues to be a strong passion of mine.

Jessika Henning, Aquatics Director

My love for the water started at a young age as my parents enrolled me in swim lessons at the YMCA in Evansville, IN where I was born and raised. After that, I participated in various other swim lessons and have been a swim instructor and lifeguard through the YMCA since I was 16 years old. Teaching children how to swim is one of my passions along with outreach, missions and music. I love playing and singing guitar in my spare time as well as spending time with my husband, TJ, son, and two dogs and cat. We enjoy escape rooms, roller coasters, going to the movies, to name just a few. I love working at the YMCA and serving this community!

Tim Fox, Aquatics Coordinator

Swimming and aquatic activity has been a part of my family for as long as I can remember – our family had the only house on the block that had a genuine Esther Williams swimming pool! – so it’s only natural that I’d find a home at the Daviess County YMCA. I walked in three years ago looking for a place to work out, and Lisa Pott’s greeting made me instantly feel welcome. Since then, I’ve found out that this Y has a lot to offer – not just in terms of programs and classes for physical and spiritual growth, but also for our growing community. It’s great to work in a place where care for body, mind, and spirit goes hand in hand with cultivating caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility for our staff, volunteers, and members. I’m excited for the new role I’ll be taking on as part of the Y team, and I look forward to being able to serve you to get the best out of your Y experience!

Emily Clinton, Youth Coordinator

My name is Emily Clinton, I have been a part of the Daviess County YMCA Youth Staff since 2022, working with After School Child Care, Summer Camp, and Sports. I am excited to step into the role of Youth Coordinator and can’t wait to continue making an impact in our youth community.

Darion Oakman, Youth Program Assistant

Hi! My name is Darion Oakman, and I’ve been working with the YMCA since 2024. I’ve had the opportunity to work at two YMCA locations, and one of my favorite parts of the job is getting to work with kids and build positive relationships with the people in our community. I have a degree in Audio Recording from Vincennes University, and music has always been a big part of my life. Outside of the YMCA, I enjoy singing and playing guitar.

Lisa Taber-Potts, Membership Experience Director

My name is Lisa Taber-Potts. I am originally from the Massachusetts coast. I moved to Washington in 1991. I attained an Associate Degree in Business Finance from Vincennes University. My family includes my husband, Michael, 5 daughters and 7 grandchildren. I enjoy painting, drawing, sewing and reading, as well as traveling. I look forward to meeting new people and serving our facility and community.

Kimberli Palmer, Membership Coordinator

Greetings and Salutations! I came to work at the YMCA because I wanted to give more of myself, but I found I get SO much more than I could imagine from our fantastic family of members and guests. The only thing to say about myself is I love people, dogs, plants, and books. I’m strange and because of that, some people find me amusing. And that’s a wrap!

Board of Directors

Chad Warden, Board Secretary

My name is Chad Warden. I am the Sr. Plant Manager at Perdue Foods, LLC in Washington, and I serve as the Secretary for the Board of Directors for the Daviess County YMCA. I am the husband to Amber Warden, and I am the father to two wonderful children, Amelia and Jack. Just this year, I was fortunate enough to be blessed with a new daughter, Viviana, who is an exchange student from Italy! In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family playing sports, going to our parks, and traveling. I have also assisted the coaching staff for the WHS and Youth football teams over the last few years.

My family was members of the YMCA in Gibson County, TN during my teenage years, so the YMCA has been a cornerstone for my active lifestyle for most of my life. I have always enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and welcoming staff as a teen, and now, as a parent, I appreciate the Y in so many more ways. Our local YMCA has so much to offer for my family, so we have been coming back for years. My daughter learned to swim in our pool during our one-on-one training sessions. She also attends summer camp here at the Y, and my son participates in the summer Tiny Tot T-ball program. In addition, our children love to attend the open pool sessions to splash after school. Our lives can get chaotic, so for my wife and I, we utilize the 24/7 access to the wellness center.

My love for the YMCA is rooted in family centric atmosphere it brings to our community. A space for everyone to enjoy their time together to fellowship and be active. That is why I decided to join the board to help propel our community and to foster a better future for all of our children.

Jeremy Adams

As a child the YMCA played a crucial role in helping me develop athletically, personally, as well as in faith. I am honored to be able to serve on the Daviess County YMCA Board of Directors and have the opportunity to now help afford those same things to young people today. The YMCA is such a pillar of our community and offers many things that otherwise may not be available.

Amanda Ashworth

Amanda Ashworth is an Explosives Safety Specialist with ten years of experience in the safety field. She has built her career around risk assessment, training, and creating safer environments for both organizations and communities. After moving to Washington two years ago, she quickly became connected to the area through her children’s participation in YMCA swim lessons, an experience that highlighted the Y’s positive impact on local families. As a mother of young children, she brings a firsthand understanding of what busy parents need from community programs and resources. She is passionate about helping create opportunities that allow children to grow, stay active, and build confidence.

Laura McElravy

Laura has been in lending for seven years and is currently a Mortgage Loan Originator at Liberty Federal Credit Union in Washington, Indiana. She moved back home to Daviess County after being away for 18 years and is looking forward to serving the community where she lives and works. She is a graduate of North Daviess High School and Oakland City University. Faith comes first in Laura’s life, and she strives to serve others with integrity, empathy, and dedication. Laura is a proud wife to Christian, mom of two amazing young adult sons (Chase & Peyton), a dog lover, and a lifelong enthusiast of theater and the performing arts, who does her best to bring heart, hustle, and authenticity to everything she does.

Kevin Frank

Kevin Frank is in his third year as superintendent of Washington Community Schools. He came to WCS in 2015 as the assistant superintendent before replacing Dr. Roach who retired in 2022. Prior to that, Kevin spent 18 years with Eastern Greene Schools as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal. Kevin’s wife, Amy, is a junior high science teacher at Washington Junior High School. Kevin’s son, Xavier, is a 2024 graduate of WHS and is a freshman at Princeton University and Kevin’s daughter, Aubrey, will graduate from WHS this year and attend Franklin University in the fall.

Emilee Beard

I am a lifelong resident of Knox County, where I was born and raised, and I have worked in Washington for the past two years. I earned my bachelor’s degree in business marketing from Indiana University Southeast. I currently work at Hastings & Allen Land Title Agency as a Licensed Title Producer and Closing Agent. In my free time, I enjoy going on walks, spending time with my husband and our two hunting dogs, and attending Bible studies with friends, which keep me active and connected to my faith and community. I look forward to building meaningful relationships and serving our community through the Daviess County YMCA.

Beth Gabhart

I grew up in Washington before leaving to attend IU for college. I married Nathan in 1998 and have raised 4 kids with one teen left in the nest. We moved back to the area 20 years ago when my husband’s job location changed. Our family became YMCA members shortly after. I soon started teaching a bootcamp class there and was a personal trainer. All of my kids have been lifeguards and swim instructors, so we all have been involved in different aspects. I learned to swim there as well as getting my start in triathlons there. A few years later, I became involved with the board and have been a board member for nearly 15 years. I have enjoyed getting to know staff, watching the YMCA grow and evolve with the community needs. I have been humbled to serve with many board members that have brought different talents that have kept the YMCA an integral part of Daviess County. I want to continue to make us part of what helps the community live out its potential, holistic wellness in mind, body & spirit.

Bill Dobson

President of Bill Dobson Ford of Washington Inc. – where a Dobson deal is a better deal!

Hometown: Medaryville, Indiana
High School: West Central High School, Francesville, Indiana
College: Nashville Automotive Diesel College, Nashville, TN

Bill moved to Southern Indiana in 1988 and opened Bill Dobson Ford. He was instrumental in getting pickleball started in Daviess County and is President of Daviess County Pickleball. He was honored by the Daviess County Chamber of Commerce as the recipient of the 2024 Hagel Award. He loves collecting cars and playing pickleball.

“My Lord is good all the time! My goal is to help grow our community.”

Sara Welsh

Sara Welsh is a born & raised Daviess County resident, living in Washington with her husband Billy and their Brady Bunch of kids. She is currently an Area HR Manager at Perdue Farms, where she has worked since 2016. When she isn’t busy with kids’ activities, she volunteers on the praise team and in kids ministry at New Hope Christian Church. Having been a member of the YMCA since she was a child, Sara has been a familiar face prior to joining the board.

“The YMCA has been incredibly impactful for me personally. All of my children and I learned how to swim at the Y, and we’ve participated in many different programs & summer camp. The YMCA isn’t just a gym; it’s so much more than that. I cannot think of another facility or place in our area that reaches multiple generations, crosses cultural borders, and creates a valuable experience for each & every member.”

Cory Parsons

My name is Cory Parsons. I grew up in Elnora and lived most of my life in Northern Daviess County. Currently, I live in Washington with my wife, Tara, and our 7 kids. I have worked at North Daviess Elementary as the Assistant Principal for over 9 years. I have served on several different boards and community groups throughout the years. Most importantly, I enjoy sports and following our kids in all the many activities they do. My family and I enjoy the YMCA and use it several times a week, specifically the fitness area and the gymnasium. In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors with the kids.