Joellen Chiodo Arenas was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Shenango ValleyYMCA on January 18th, 2006. Her responsibilities include budget, leadership and management of the association. She corresponds closely with the board of directors to help shape the short and long term vision of the organization. Joellen is committed to cultivating her qualified management team, and to providing them with necessary resources so that they can ensure quality program delivery. What Joellen finds most gratifying about working for the YMCA is that she can play an integral part in enhancing the lives of the people that the YMCA serves.

Joellen received her Bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University, where she majored in Corporate Communications and earned a double minor in Public Relations and Advertising. She is a nationally certified personal trainer through ACE and NETA, nationally certified aerobic instructor through NETA, YMCA certified group leader, and is certified in CPR and AED through the American Heart Association, and First Aid through the Red Cross. She completed the YMCA New CEO Institute Training in April of 2006.

Joellen’s experience spans over 20 years and includes business development, management, and growth. Some of the companies that she has worked for include The Creative Group as their Public Relations Manager, where she assisted in promotional campaigns, sold production and air time and appeared in local television commercials. She also worked for Barbizon and Pro-Model Management Agency as an Assistant Director where she managed staff, conducted talent searches and recruited students to the finishing school (she broke national sales records). Additionally, she performed promotional, print and runway modeling.

In 1994 she left the modeling and advertising industries and returned back to the Shenango Valley to pursue a career in wellness. She became cofounder of Fitness America. The partnership conducted weight loss clinics and personal training sessions. In 1996 she went solo with a spin off company Smile 4 Fitness where she expanded the business to include group weight lifting sessions (which she conducted at the YMCA), on-site corporate wellness programs, fitness seminars, wellness workshops and summer extreme fitness boot camps. She is a co-author of a weight loss, exercise and motivational manual. She also worked for a brief period of time at the YMCA teaching aerobic classes and assisting at the front desk.

Joellen joined the Sharon Regional Health System (SRHS) Personal Fitness Center team in 1997. She started out teaching aerobic classes, but over the years began to work closely with SHRS Nutritionists and Physical Therapists to develop and implement wellness programming. Many of these programs like Balance and Butts & Gutts are still being taught at the YMCA. Joellen advanced to Marketing Coordinator where she conducted public speaking events and organized various health and corporate fairs. She was a periodic guest speaker on WPIC talk radio, wrote featured articles in the Sharon Herald Newspapers Sunday Health Report and SRHS HealthPLACE Newsletter. In 2002 she was promoted to The Personal Fitness Center Coordinator, where she managed the budget and oversaw operations. In 2005 Sharon Regional Closed the fitness center doors and transferred all of its equipment and members to the newly remodeled and expanded Shenango Valley YMCA. Joellen was promoted to Wellness Director and became the liaison between Sharon Regional Health System and the Shenango Valley YMCA. Her primary goal was to develop collaborative wellness programming that would benefit both parties as well as the community, and to oversee the new 4,000 square foot fitness center.

Joellen is excited to be back in her hometown, and at the YMCA where she started so many years ago. She finds working with other non-profit organizations like The United Way of Mercer County extremely gratifying. Joellen enjoys being a part of the YMCA family, as well as being surrounded by her own large, Italian family. She loves taking long walks and working out with her husband, plus helping him with his business, Armarko Inc. She also finds time to spend with her cat, Rega.

Phyllis Mammarelli is the Wellness Coordinator at the Shenango Valley YMCA. Phyllis is a Nationally Certified Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer through the National Exercise Trainers Association. She has an Associate’s Degree as a Medical Secretary as well as certifications in Yoga Stretch, Exercise and Injury Rehabilitation, Silver Sneakers I & II, Senior Fitness Test Instructor, Posture Analysis & Exercise Development, Exercise for Total Knee and Hip Replacement, Exercise and Arthritis, CPR/AED, and First Aid.

She was an employee with Sharon Regional Health System (SRHS) for seven years. She worked at the Personal Fitness Center were she held many titles ranging from Senior Wellness Instructor, Personal Trainer, and Cardiac Rehab Specialist. She designed workout programs for clients, trained cardiac rehab clients, and taught aerobic, balance and aquatics classes.

Phyllis is now the Wellness Coordinator and Highmark Silver Sneaker Advisor at the Shenango Valley YMCA. She instructs and oversees all of our 55 + crowd and Silver Sneakers members. She coordinates our Rehab Plus and Cardiac Rehab Program, teaches Beginners Aquatics, aerobic classes and various Highmark Programs such as Eat Well for Life, Clear the Air and Discover Relaxation. She manages wellness health fairs, lectures and social events. She also collaborates with the SRHS Diabetic Advisory Committee, the Mercer County Housing Authority and the Mercer County Area on Aging.

She is more committed than ever to deepening her understanding and to fulfilling the YMCA’s mission, values and goals. She is a very energetic and passionate person who has built lasting relationships with our members and community. If you are over 55 or need to rebuild your body after therapy, Phyllis is committed to helping you achieve your wellness goals. When she is not instructing, Phyllis enjoys helping others and being actively involved in her children’s lives. She helps out at their sporting events and participates in booster clubs. In her free time she enjoys walking in Buhl Farm Park and being outdoors.

Robert States, Fitness Center Coordinator, is originally from the Shenango Valley, graduating from Hickory High School in 2001. While at Hickory, Robert earned an academic scholarship and athletic scholarship to Gannon University in Erie, PA. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Legal Studies in the spring of 2005. In addition to his degree, Robert is a nationally certified Personal Trainer (NETA), and is certified in CPR and AED through the American Heart Association, and First Aid through the Red Cross.

Robert has been a part of the YMCA staff since 2005. He became Fitness Center Manager and then rapidly progressed to Coordinator in 2006. As Coordinator, Robert is responsible for the supervision of all Fitness Center, Aerobic and Childwatch staff, volunteers, and members. Robert makes sure that from the time you enter the YMCA to the time you leave that all of your wellness needs and goals are met through quality services and programming. He ensures that our staff is qualified, nationally certified, and that they create a welcoming, fun and safe environment to give our members the ultimate wellness experience! Robert is passionate about making you feel like part of our YMCA family. He is always accessible to the community and has developed a strong rapport among our members who know that they can bring suggestions to him which will enhance their YMCA experience, and help us fulfill our mission. Additionally Robert supervises the YMCA volunteer program which historically has been a staple of YMCA tradition. The YMCA provides many unique volunteer opportunities for individuals of all ages. Robert is working on a new aspect of the YMCA volunteer program called the Ambassador program which encourages members to get involved in our mission and be more invested in "their YMCA". In Roberts’s downtime you will find him managing daily facility operations including working in the fitness center, interacting with members and assisting his Personal Training clients. Robert has trained as clients a wide array of different types of people, but he primarily focuses on training young athletes. He has trained athletes in many different sports including: baseball, softball, football, basketball, soccer, golf, and hockey. So if you are looking for a sports program, talk to him.

Robert developed his professional skills through his previous employment and course studies. Upon graduation from college, Robert worked as a Legal Assistant for McEwen & Nesbit Law Firm in Grove City, PA. Additionally, He served as an intern for State Representative Matthew Good in Erie, PA. This experience prepared Robert for a career in a management position with the Shenango Valley YMCA.

Robert also enjoys being a visible part of the community surrounding the Shenango Valley YMCA. Robert played collegiate baseball for 4 years at Gannon University and now enjoys being a part of the coaching staff for the Hickory High School Baseball Team which was the 2007 PIAA District 10 champions. He also enjoys volunteering his time for community organizations and special events some of which include YMCA special events, The United Way of Mercer County, the Senior Olympics, Hermitage Little League, and The City of Hermitage Arts Festival.