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6 Worcester Business Journal | June 10, 2019 | wbjournal.com e first person of color to lead the YMCA of Central Mass. wants to provide the same opportunities he was given Coming back Contact Tom Farley, Chief Commercial Banking Officer at 508-315-5344 or thomas.farley@middlesexbank.com EQUAL HOUSING LENDER MEMBER FDIC MEMBER DIF HELPING YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS. Middlesex Savings Bank's commercial bankers have the freedom to offer more creative approaches to meeting your business' financial and strategic objectives. That makes us a financial partner that's truly invested in your success. With more than $4 billion in assets, we handle everything from complex financing to everyday banking services. $18,362,500 CONSTRUCTION TO PERMANENT FINANCING Senior Living Facility Marlborough, MA $5,525,000 CONSTRUCTION TO PERMANENT FINANCING Office Building Hudson, MA $30,315,000 AQUISITION LOAN & COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE Food Distribution Waltham, MA $23,000,000 TERM LOAN Transportation / Logistics Southborough, MA A n immigrant from Barbados, David Connell found himself at age 15 in Worcester surrounded by a completely new world. e first safe place he found was the Worcester YMCA. Now he is its president and CEO. Once the beneficiary of the YMCA, Connell has come back to lead the YMCA's effort to help communi- ties in Central Mass. Aer a career in banking, Connell felt called to give to others the opportunities he was given, bringing private sector expertise to help forge partnerships with others in the nonprofit community. Connell fell in love with Worcester and its com- munity through the YMCA. He spent every Satur- day morning there, playing basketball and running around with other children from the area. e YMCA provided him with the opportunity for higher education. rough the YMCA's program for high-achieving black high school students, he attend- ed Lesley University in Cambridge. Following his heart Aer graduating, Connell went into banking in 1988. By 2003, he was the senior vice president of the $150-billion international bank RBS Citizens Group. Even though he had a busy career as a banker, BY DEVINA BHALLA Worcester Business Journal Intern David Connell President & CEO YMCA of Central Massachusetts, Worcester • Immigrated from Barbados when he was 15 • Graduated from Lesley University with a bachelor's degree in business management • Received his master's degree in divinity from Cambridge University • Graduated from Morehouse School of Medicine Community Health Leadership Program • Senior vice president of RBS Citizens Group from 2003-2007 David Connell (left) officially took over as president & CEO of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts on June 3.