Rod Martin, YMCA supporter to the core, leads board into next decade
When asked to describe the core values that have led to his professional and personal success, Rod Martin lists them one by one: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Sound familiar? They’re the same core values that the YMCA incorporates into its programs, which makes it easy to understand why Martin identifies so closely with the organization he oversees as chairman of the board.
Martin is the vice president and director of development at Majestic Realty Co., which has developed and owns more than 5.2 million square feet of industrial space in Las Vegas. Long before he held that title, Martin was known as an Indian Guide and sports lover at the Southern California YMCA he frequented as a child. It wasn’t until Martin rediscovered the YMCA as an adult that he connected with the organization on a values level. It hit him when he visited the Y to see Majestic Realty Foundation’s generous donations at work in a holiday camp.
“I watched the campers interact and was so impressed with the caliber of the counselors that I got absolutely hooked,” said Martin, who became a YMCA board member shortly thereafter. “Hearing the kids laugh and enjoy themselves warmed my heart, and it became evident to me that the way I’ve chosen to model my life is closely aligned with the way the YMCA promotes character development through the four core values.”
Not only is the YMCA a natural fit for Martin, it’s a source of inspiration for him. Each time he visits one of the branches, he’s reminded of the profound impact the organization has on the community. Though much of the YMCA’s success in recent years is owed to Martin and his work on the board’s resource development and executive committees, he’s quick to credit Larry Seedig, immediate past board chair, and President & CEO Mike Lubbe.
“I’ve never encountered anyone else in the nonprofit world that I have more respect for than I do for Mike. His level of energy and professionalism is reflected at every branch, in every employee,” Martin said. “I also give tremendous credit to Larry Seedig, who did a remarkable job of leading the board and the organization. It was valuable for me to watch Larry in action, and I’m a better leader today because of that opportunity.”
As Martin looks toward the future, he acknowledges that the region’s current economic challenges both heighten the need for YMCA programs and increase requests for financial assistance. But Martin looks at the situation as an opportunity to concentrate efforts on the Y’s core business functions. He said the YMCA already runs an extremely effective and efficient operation, and is well situated to maintain its strong position in the marketplace while serving the community’s growing needs.
The visionary in Martin is also driven to expand the YMCA’s coverage in the Valley through new branches and public-private partnerships. He intends to move the board in the direction of solidifying important relationships and establishing growth plans for target areas so the Y can pursue a wider coverage area when the time is right.
“It’s important to have short- and long-term goals, and the Y has both,” Martin said. “The organization’s impressive service reputation, strong donor base and tremendous slate of health and wellness offerings put us in a wonderful position to attract even more members and donors who find meaning in the core values and want to participate in the YMCA experience.”