By Riley Spencer
Get to know those who make YAG happen!
Lindsay Pullum (State Program Director)
Planning this event takes about a year, with a strong emphasis on mastering parliamentary
procedure while in the chambers. The focus is always on the student experience, ensuring safety
and keeping advisors happy. The ultimate goal for the end of YAG is for everyone to treat
others—and themselves—with more kindness, grace, flexibility, and joy than they did the day
before. Support comes from key collaborators, including Greg Lee, Amber McClure, and Kate
Gross, who help make the event successful.
Greg Lee (Media Advisor)
Each year after the event ends, we reflect on how to make the next conference even better. We
want people to recognize the hard work and leadership of our students, as well as the diversity of
delegates from across the state. With conference weekend moving quickly—especially for the
media team focused on real-time coverage—improving timing and pace is key. Above all, we
strive to ensure every media delegate has a meaningful, rewarding experience, made possible by
the dedicated YMCA staff who volunteer countless late hours in support.
Shelley Nichols (Youth Director of the Finley YMCA)
For Shelley Nichols, planning for YAG is a year-round commitment—the ideas and improvements
never stop. She emphasizes that student voices truly matter, encouraging delegates to speak up
with concerns or ideas to make the program better. While logistics and safety are critical, she
believes it’s just as important not to forget the fun. Her ultimate goal is for every teen to leave
with positive memories, new friendships, and a sense of having found a safe, welcoming space
they can’t wait to return to. Behind the scenes, she relies heavily on her fellow team directors,
leaning on their teamwork, shared laughter, late-night room checks, and constant support to
make it all possible.
Dr. Jamie West (YMCA Staff Member)
Planning for YAG is a year-long process, beginning each March or April, and it’s driven by the
belief that this conference is truly life-changing. Many of the leaders and supporters who were once
participants themselves were deeply impacted by the experience and committed to creating that same
transformation for others. Throughout the journey, we’ve learned to expect the unexpected and
stay flexible. My number one goal by the end of YAG is for every attendee to feel that their
presence mattered—that simply by showing up, they made a difference. None of this would be
possible without the incredible support of our alums, whose firsthand experiences and
dedication continue to guide and strengthen this work.
