RHINELANDER –The YMCA of the Northwoods board of directors has hired a Rhinelander native as interim CEO. Fred Hauser is the successor to Ryan Zietlow, who recently left to assume the CEO position for the Stevens Point YMCA.

Chief Volunteer Office Jake Weinand said the job Hauser has taken on is not a typical maintain-the-status-quo type of interim CEO.

“We’re asking Fred to manage the construction of the new addition to the YMCA facility in Rhinelander, help lead the Park Falls initiative, meet the requests for growth in outlying areas and lead the operations in Rhinelander,” Weinand said.

Announced in late July, a 14,000-square foot, multi-million-dollar addition to the Rhinelander facility is now underway. Simultaneously, the YMCA of the Northwoods is in the process of planning and building a new branch in Park Falls.

Hauser served most recently as a consultant and Interim CEO for YMCAs in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Hauser’s professional career spans more than 40 years, primarily with the YMCA, but includes a five-year period (2013-2018) as a health care administrator for an orthopedic surgery center in Appleton, and a hospital in Oshkosh.

His YMCA career includes serving as the V.P. for small to mid-size YMCAs and certifications and membership standards director for the YMCA of the USA in Chicago. In these roles, Hauser represented the interests of 750 U.S. YMCAs with annual operating budgets less than $8 million and served as the compliance officer for all YMCAs in the U.S.  His local Y experience includes the CEO of the YMCA of the Fox Cities in the Appleton area, CEO of the St. Joseph, Mo.,YMCA and program director at the La Crosse Area YMCA.   

Hauser grew up in Rhinelander, graduating from Rhinelander High School in 1971. While working in the YMCA of the Fox Cities, Hauser assisted in starting the YMCA in Rhinelander in the late 1990s. Hauser and his family have a year-round cottage in Rhinelander and have been users of the Y in Rhinelander since it opened. 

 “We’re fortunate to have a person with Fred’s experience in the YMCA and knowledge of the community to lead the Y through this critical period,” Weinand said.  

 “I’ve watched the YMCA of the Northwoods grow and thrive and am pleased to be able to assist and give back to the community that means so much to my family and me,” Hauser said upon taking the role. “The commitment and dedication of the staff, volunteers, and donors to the Y is inspiring and I’m glad to be part of the team.” 

 The Board will consider its options to fill the permanent CEO vacancy. Hauser is expected to serve in the interim role for 6-9 months. Hauser and his wife currently reside in Chicago.