The Gleason Family YMCA has a new Executive Director and, though Monday was her first day on the job, she’s already familiar with her surroundings.

After all, Debbie Fringuelli has lived in Wareham for the past 13 years.

She succeeds Laura Prisco, who left the Wareham Y at the end of last year to become chief operating officer at YMCA Cape Cod,

“It gives me the opportunity to work in the community that I live in, where my family and my friends are,” Fringuelli said from her office on her first day. “It will be helpful raising my family, as well. The Y they’ll be going to is right where their friends live and are going. Family is definitely a big reason.”

Fringuelli said she’s looking to build on the Y's specialty programs and she’s excited to meet the members and get to know the extended Y family.

“I’m just really happy to be part of the Y Southcoast,” she said. “Everyone’s been very welcoming. I'm excited to work with new people and get to meet new members and build relationships with those folks as well.”

Fringuelli is coming from the Old Colony YMCA in East Bridgewater, where she worked for 17 years, serving as the executive director for the past 10 years. Aside from getting to know the current members in Wareham, she’s looking to help grow  membership.

“I think with this position, it gives me the opportunity to look at the membership and build the membership base,” she said. “They do a lot here already. It’s really just me increasing what we do and touching more lives.”

“It’s a great facility,” she added. “I use it and have used it over the years, most of them thinking I was going to be here (eventually).”