Lauren Koontz
CEO and President
As president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Lauren Koontz leads the organization’s efforts to ensure that all people — especially children — experience an equal opportunity to fully reach their potential. With a career spent in educational and health nonprofit development, she’s committed to the purpose of making the Y a thought-leader and best-in-class provider of education, wellness and youth development programs designed to strengthen Atlanta communities. Lauren joined the Y in 2012 and in 2019, she became the first woman president and CEO in the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s 165+ year history.
Functionally, she is responsible for the overall success of the Atlanta Association’s 20+ membership and program branches, 19 early learning centers, 50+ afterschool sites, five outdoor and summer resident camps (including Camp High Harbour at Lake Allatoona and at Lake Burton), the YMCA Leadership & Learning Center, and the employees and volunteers who bring these places and programs to life.
As a volunteer and board member, Lauren specializes in leadership, strategic planning, board training and advancement. Lauren serves on the Board of Directors of The Fox Theatre, the Board of Directors of YMCA of the USA, the Board of Trustees of the YMCA Retirement Fund, the Truist Atlanta Community Advisory Board, the Board of Advisors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Youth Advisory Council for the Atlanta Police Foundation, and the Advisory Board of PAACT, Promise All Atlanta Children Thrive. Lauren is an active member of Atlanta Rotary and of the Atlanta Chapter of the International Women’s Forum.
In 2025, Lauren was named to both Georgia Trend’s Georgia 500 and Atlanta Magazine’s Atlanta 500. In 2024, Lauren was selected and completed Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program. Also in 2024, Lauren was inducted into the YWCA of Greater Atlanta’s Academy of Women Achievers. In 2022, Lauren was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs. In 2020, Lauren was named one of Atlanta Magazine’s Women Making a Mark. Lauren is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2018 and is an active Leadership Atlanta alum and volunteer. In 2013, Lauren was named among the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40.” Lauren speaks frequently on panels and podcasts on nonprofit management and leadership.
A Georgia native, Lauren grew up on St. Simons Island. She received a BBA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Georgia State University. Lauren is married to Brad Koontz, a technology executive, with whom she has two children, Kate, 22, and Sam, 19.