Our Team
Jeff Summers
Branch Executive Director
“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.”
We like to say Jeff “came with the building!”. He began as the Program Director for the MSCC, before the building’s construction was even complete. Jeff took on the Branch Executive Director role in 2015. He is originally from Jacksonville, IL and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Administration from Eastern Illinois University. Before coming to Brown County, Jeff was the Executive Director at Western Illinois Youth Camp. He is a husband and father of two kids.
Jeff loves that our mission is to improve people’s lives and give back to our community. He has a sense of pride that we are able to give back and help others. He also has a very deep appreciation for what our community does to support us. He is inspired and feels proud when people tell him that the Y had a positive impact on their life and made a real difference for them. Jeff especially likes it when we make a difference for children or make our community a better place to live or visit.
When he’s not crunching numbers, you can find Jeff duck hunting, entertaining his kids, watching his favorite sports team, exercising and cooking. The values of loyalty, honesty, gratitude, family, success, competition and giving back drive him both personally and professionally. When Jeff was five, he was pretty sure he would be an athlete or scientist and, in another life, he’s pretty sure he would be a coach, business owner or working in finance. If he was a pasta shape, he would be linguine: not too thin but not too big, either. He classifies himself as a ravioli pasta shape, although he would prefer to be more spaghetti!
His piece of advice for a candidate joining our team of superstars is to love people, be enthusiastic and want to make a difference. Oh, and have fun!
Alex Geisler
Director of Membership and Marketing
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."
-Mother Teresa
Originally from Astoria, IL, Alex has a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Master of Science in Education, both from Western Illinois University. Prior to coming to the MSCC YMCA in August 2019, Alex served as the Assistant to the Dean of the Centennial Honors College at WIU and President of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce. Alex loves that she is part of creating a space where people feel accepted, welcomed and empowered. Every person that walks through the doors is greeted like an old friend and every child in our programs is a part of our family. The relationships formed within the walls of our building are authentic and long lasting, and Alex loves that she gets to witness that firsthand on a daily basis. She is inspired by seeing the impact the Y has in the community, across all populations. The Y doesn’t just serve children, older adults, health seekers; we are intentional about serving and providing for all. It is inspiring to see how one organization can unite a community, while simultaneously creating sub communities of like-minded individuals. She feels great pride in working for and being an advocate for the MSCC YMCA.
When not designing graphics or communicating with members, you can find Alex running, crafting, playing outside with her kids, doing DIY home projects, gardening, off on a weekend getaway with her husband, organizing, spending time with her family, finding creative outlets or having living room dance parties with her kids and husband. She is driven by the values of faith, family, fun, success, honesty, authenticity, philanthropy and competition. When Alex was five, she was pretty sure she would be a doctor and, in another life, she’s pretty sure she would be a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or creator of excel spreadsheets. If she was a pasta shape, she would be angel hair pasta: traditional but with a little bit of flare!
Her piece of advice for a candidate joining our team of superstars is to be flexible and creative. We are not the type of organization that wants to sit on our past or current successes. We are always striving to do more! Be willing to go above and beyond, not just within your department. Every department is interwoven and dependent on one another. We’re a small but mighty team because no one boxes themselves within their own job description.
Courtney Sargeant-Freeman
Director of Youth and Family Development
"We can do hard things."
-Glennon Doyle
Courtney comes to the Y team from Galesburg, Illinois. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Monmouth College (#RollScots). Prior to stepping into the Director of Youth and Family Development role, Courtney was a middle school teacher at Griggsville-Perry School District, as well as a part time nursery attendant at the Y. She also serves as the middle school volleyball coach at Griggsville-Perry. Courtney loves the positive atmosphere at the Y, as well as the supportive leadership, friendly members and employees and most importantly, the kids. She is inspired by working with kids and having a positive impact on them, as they truly are our future. It’s important to her to show them what a difference they can make.
When she’s not corralling kids at the Y, Courtney enjoys spending time with her husband and their families, playing with their pets, hanging out with friends, buying plants and watching Gilmore Girls. Courtney is driven most by the values of family, integrity and commitment, all values that she gets to experience within her Y work. When she was five, Courtney thought she would be a teacher. She always knew she would be a teacher and hopes to add professor to that someday. In another life, Courtney is pretty sure she was a pumpkin because she is obsessed with all things fall and Halloween. If she was a pasta, she would be macaroni and cheese because she is reliable and also a good time.
For anyone looking to join the Y team, Courtney would advise them to “go for it!”. It will be one of the best decisions you make. Be yourself, be excited and make a positive impact.
Zebulan (Zeb) Zillion
Director of Healthy Living
“…and they lived happily ever after”
Zebulan (also known as Zeb), who is originally from Beardstown, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies minoring in Economics and Marketing, and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Quantitative Economics at WIU. Most recently, he was a substitute teacher at Brown County Elementary School and the Personal Trainer here at the YMCA. Additionally, he has delivered mail here in Mt. Sterling and worked for a supplement manufacturing company. Zeb was in the Marine Corps from 2010-2015.
Zeb loves working at the Y because it makes a positive impact on everyone, creates core memories for children, and provides a fun environment where anyone can find new friends. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, watching motorsports, thrift shopping, reading sci-fi/fantasy novels, playing with his kids, being outside and working out.
He is driven by, hands down, commitment. His dad told him at a young age to pour everything into what he was doing. The commitment to the things he loves is single-handedly the most important thing that he can do. It drives Zeb to take that extra step, to be better than he was yesterday, and to face the toughest tasks even when he feels like giving up.
When he was five, he has a vague memory of wanting to be a garbage man or professional athlete, but in a different life, he now thinks an engineer of some sort would be a better fit. If Zeb was a pasta shape, he would be a bowtie pasta because it's the fanciest of pastas!
His advice to anyone wanting to join the Y team is to start in any way you can. He began as a personal trainer and loved it! The team here is so supportive and wants you to succeed in your endeavors. The positive environment is unmatched and the drive to be a better version of yourself is growing everyday.