Published: 02/23/2026 - 9:00 AM
For Heidi Quinonez, the Y isn’t just a job. It’s woven into the fabric of her life.
With 15 years across multiple Y locations, including 10 of them at our Mount Laurel branch, Heidi has climbed from high school lifeguard to Operations Administrator. She has taught swim lessons, managed membership, coordinated programs, and now supports everything from grant administration to hiring to special events. But when you ask her what’s made the difference, she’ll point to something bigger than job titles.
“It really starts with your leadership team—who believes in you and can provide you with the opportunity to help you grow,” she explains. Through professional development programs and supportive leaders who saw potential she didn’t always see in herself, Heidi discovered capabilities that surprised her. “There’s been a lot of things that I thought I couldn’t do that I did.”
That support couldn’t have been more vital. As a single mother of two who simultaneously cared for her mother through cancer, Heidi needed more than a paycheck. She needed flexibility and a supportive culture. During the toughest stretches, the Y’s employee discounts and financial assistance programs kept her afloat. “The job has helped me take care of appointments (for my mom),” she shared, emotion catching in her voice.
The Y didn’t just enable Heidi to work. It enabled her to be present in every area of her life— for her mom, for her kids, and for our members.
Today, that impact extends to her children, Seth (10) and Meadow (3). “My daughter wakes up every day and looks at my shirt and says, ‘that’s the Y. I go there,’” Heidi smiles. Both attend childcare at Mount Laurel. Seth recently had his 10th birthday bash at the branch—a full-circle moment that brought together friends, family, and the community that’s supported them all along.
What keeps Heidi excited about the Y?
“I’m learning something new every day. I love knowing that I can make a difference or help out somebody else.” With her sights set on becoming an executive director, Heidi is proof that the Y doesn’t just employ people. It transforms lives. It builds futures. And it creates possibilities.