Facility Tour

Board

Board of Directors

Craig Bradshaw
Joy Escen
Eric Hall
Jon Heibel
Mike Jeffryes
Krynn Larsen
Dr. Aaron Plas

Executive Committee

Brent Ogle: CVO
Adam Urkoski: Asst. CVO
Brian Christensen: Treasurer
Corey Briggs: CEO

Staff

Corey Briggs
CEO

Corey is the CEO of the Columbus Family YMCA. In this role, Corey leads a team providing the overall management and direction of the YMCA as a community organization. Before rejoining the YMCA in 2008, Corey worked for 7 years with Mission Nebraska leading the I CAN Camp Ministry across the state. This ministry served low-income, disadvantaged children in summer camps and after school settings. Corey started his professional career at the Columbus Family YMCA in 1993 after graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Corey was the Program and Camp Director at our YMCA for seven years. Corey is passionate about impacting the lives of children, youth and families. Working for the YMCA provides Corey with the opportunity to affect the spirit, mind and body of those who come in contact with YMCA programs and services. Corey is a Christ follower who seeks to honor God in all he does. Working for the YMCA is the perfect opportunity to do that every day.

Ryan Beringer
Director of Operations

Ryan is our Director of Operations and is in charge of Human Resources. Ryan began at the YMCA in Sept 2017 and has over 5 years of Human Resource experience. Ryan graduated from David City Aquinas high school in 1997, and then went to Central Community College in Columbus and received a Business/ Marketing Diploma. Ryan is very passionate about the growth of the YMCA and the great future that the Y has. Ryan is married to Heather and they have three children, Andon, Makara, and Brinley.

Jen Brownlow
Wellness Director

Jen Brownlow is our Wellness Director. She started as a full-time employee at the YMCA in October 2000. Her Fitness career did start at the YMCA in 1995 as a Step Instructor. She obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Jen is a ACE certified Personal Trainer and she is currently certified as a Les Mills BodyPump and BodyCombat instructor. Jen has taught dance aerobics, group cycling and silversneakers classes. She loves to motivate participants and help them find the type of exercise that fits into their lives. Outside of the YMCA, Jen enjoys sports, gardening, scrapbooking, volunteering at church, and attending her kids’ activities.

Kylee Bean
Sports Director

Kylee started at the YMCA in December of 2020 after retiring from teaching and coaching after 30+ years. Kylee graduated from Hastings College and was a member of the Women’s Basketball team. While a native of Nebraska, Kylee spent the last 30 years working in Arizona. During her 30 years in Arizona she taught history and coached a variety of sports, including 25 years as the head girls basketball coach, freshmen softball, JV volleyball, and assistant soccer coach. While most people retire and move to Arizona, Kylee is now a “backward snowbird” as she retired and moved back to Nebraska. It was time to be closer to her family as her parents, siblings, niece and nephews all live in Columbus. Kylee is excited to be close to family and plans on spending much of her free time sitting at a soccer field watching her nephew’s team and her brother’s team at CCC. She also enjoys reading, playing board games/cards, and traveling.

Stephanie Dicke
Aquatics Director

Stephanie has lived in Columbus since she was 7. She began coming to the Y a lot when her mother, Robin, started teaching swim lessons and helping with preschool. Her favorite was swimming on the Y’s swim team. She started working at the Y in 1992 at 15 as a swim lesson instructor and lifeguard. Shortly after her mother went from Assistant Aquatic Director to Aquatic Director and she learned the ins and out of what it takes to maintain an aquatic department. She went her own way after high school with a BS from UNL in Diversified Ag and an AS in Veterinary Technician. She began swimming at the Y again in 2017. She began working at the Y again as a lifeguard, swim lesson instructor, and assistant swim team coach in 2018. Steph is a Certified Pool Operator, Certified Lifeguard, Certified Lifeguard Instructor, and Certified YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor. Steph lives on a farm with her husband and four children. Besides swimming she enjoys her dogs, cats, horses, and goats.

Cari Franzen
Health Coach

Cari Franzen joined our YMCA Staff as a Health Coach in February 2020. She is originally from Hatton, North Dakota. She obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Mayville State University and her Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science from University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse. Cari is an ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist. She is passionate about the YMCA and the core values that the YMCA stands for. Cari enjoys working with people of all ages and helping them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Cari is married to David and they have two children Beau and Kinley. In her free time, she enjoys exercise, sports, spending time with friends and family and attending her kids activities.

Nicole Ripke
Youth Director

Nicole Ripke is the youth director, coordinating youth and family programming and camps. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2014 with a degree in Music Education and then got a master’s degree in Management and Leadership from Concordia-St. Paul in 2020. Before coming to the Y, Nicole worked in education and outdoor ministry in Tennessee and Idaho before coming home to Nebraska. She is excited to provide opportunities for families in the Columbus area to be active together! Nicole is married to Joel, and they have twins Miriam and Gideon. Outside of the Y, Nicole enjoys family walks, running, and board games.

Joss Webster
Community Advocate

I am newly engaged and just moved back to the area from Lincoln, but I’m originally from Silver Creek. I started teaching group fitness classes at the Y in October. Before becoming a part of the Y, I worked at Good Life Fitness in Lincoln for almost eight years. Over that time, I taught a wide variety of fitness classes, worked the front desk, including membership sales, and was responsible for promotional signage and media advertising for both gym locations. I graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a degree in Health & Fitness Studies in 2011. I am an avid runner and run several races with my girl’s team throughout the year. Some of my hobbies are spending time with family and friends, visiting local craft breweries and restaurants, traveling, and of course staying active, whether it’s fitness, sports, or spending time at the lake or in the mountains. I also love to cook and have a passion for nutrition as well. I’m so excited for this new journey and can’t wait to jump in as a leadership team member to make health and fitness fun for the entire Columbus community.