The Illinois Valley YMCA elected Bob Suarez as board president from 2020 to 2022.

Suarez has previously served on the board for the past 18 years while holding positions such as vice president and several community leadership positions.

CEO of Illinois Valley YMCA David P. Potthoff said he looks forward to seeing what the future holds for Suarez.

“We are thankful to have the leadership of Bob Suarez as our next board president,” Potthoff said in a press release. “Bob holds the values and the traditions of past presidents' excellence of service to the local Y.”

Suarez, who is the community president of the Peru branch for First State Bank, graduated from La Salle-Peru High School in 1988 and holds economics degrees from Illinois Valley Community College and Illinois State University. Suarez also is an Illinois Valley Area Chamber ambassador who previously was a member of CSO and the Rotary.

Suarez said plans to help the YMCA reopen more programs while maintaining the safety for all those involved.

“My goals for the YMCA first off will be to help lead the board through these difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Suarez said in a press release. “Making sound financial decisions during this time without compromising on member safety or rushing into opening areas too quickly is a strategy we have already adopted and I will continue to see through.”