15+ Years of Fiber, Cloud, and WiFi Serving the YMCA of Greater Des Moines
From fragmented DSL connections at 6 locations to a unified fiber and cloud platform, Aureon has been the technology partner behind the YMCA's mission for over 15 years, including seamless operations through COVID-19 and support for the TYR Pro Swim Series.
Partnership Overview
Managing Technology Across Six Locations, Without the Right Partner
The YMCA of Greater Des Moines serves more than 50,000 members across six full-facility locations in Central Iowa, supported by over 200 employees and hundreds of volunteers. For years, the Y attempted to handle information technology internally, but as membership grew and member expectations evolved, the limitations became clear. WiFi at each location ran on a single DSL line, password changes required manual site-by-site visits, and there was no centralized cloud infrastructure to connect staff across branches.
Beyond infrastructure, the Y needed more than a vendor, they needed a partner that shared their values. "It is incredibly important for us to partner with like-minded companies that align with our mission," says Leisha Barcus, CEO. "The YMCA wants to partner with trustworthy, determined businesses that are also committed to serving their communities."
Fragmented WiFi Infrastructure
Each YMCA location relied on a single DSL line for WiFi. Simple administrative tasks like changing a password required manual visits to every individual site, a serious drain on staff time.
No Centralized Cloud Environment
Without a shared cloud platform, staff at different branches had difficulty accessing the same files and applications, limiting collaboration and operational efficiency across the organization.
Limited Event Connectivity
The Wellmark YMCA hosts world-class aquatic competitions including nationally broadcast events. Existing connectivity could not reliably support the high-bandwidth demands of live production and large-scale events.
Need for a Mission-Aligned Partner
The Y's values, caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, demanded a technology partner who was more than a service provider. Finding that cultural alignment was as important as finding the right technical solution.
Cloud, Centrally Managed WiFi, and Owned Fiber, All Working Together
Aureon built a comprehensive technology foundation for the YMCA of Greater Des Moines, one that grew and adapted alongside the organization over more than 15 years. The solution brought together three interconnected capabilities: the Aureon Cloud Suite for centralized computing, a centrally managed WiFi system hosted at the Aureon Data Center, and owned fiber infrastructure at the Wellmark YMCA's MidAmerican Energy Aquatic Center.
What sets this partnership apart is not just what Aureon built, it's how they continue to show up. "Aureon's Client Advisors are accessible, listen to our challenges and provide solutions for those challenges," says Leisha Barcus. "Over the last 15 years, business has changed and so have our needs. Aureon has remained flexible and attentive to our organization."
Aureon Cloud Suite
A centralized cloud computing environment gives all Y staff across all six locations access to the same files and applications, delivered securely over the internet from one shared pool of resources.
Centrally Managed WiFi
All six YMCA locations are managed through a single WiFi system hosted at the Aureon Data Center. Corporate and public access points are configured at every branch, and changes to any setting can be applied across the entire Y in seconds.
Owned Fiber at Wellmark Y
Aureon owns the fiber infrastructure at the MidAmerican Energy Aquatic Center, enabling high-capacity, on-demand bandwidth for national events, live broadcasts, and large-scale member gatherings at the world-class facility.
Flexible, Adaptive Support
As the Y's needs evolved over 15+ years, from WiFi expansion to pandemic remote work, Aureon's Client Advisors stayed responsive and accessible, delivering solutions tailored to each new challenge rather than retrofitting an old model.
A Technology Foundation That Serves the Mission, Every Day
More than 15 years into the partnership, Aureon's technology infrastructure has become an invisible backbone of YMCA operations, reliable enough that staff can focus entirely on serving their 50,000 members. From seamless pandemic-era remote work to broadcast-grade connectivity for the TYR Pro Swim Series on NBC Sports, the results reflect a partnership built on shared values and consistent execution.
Seamless COVID-19 Transition
"When we decided to move our workforce to a virtual format, it was seamless. We did not have to wait like other companies to make the switch," says Leisha Barcus. The existing cloud infrastructure made remote work an effortless flip of a switch.
All 6 Locations, One Dashboard
WiFi changes that once required visits to individual branches can now be applied across all six YMCA locations simultaneously, saving significant staff time and eliminating the operational fragmentation of the DSL era.
World-Class Event Connectivity
In February 2020, Aureon supported the TYR Pro Swim Series broadcast on NBC Sports with over 1,500 fans in attendance, temporarily boosting dedicated bandwidth to support USA Swimming, broadcast crews, and event operations without a hitch.
A Partnership Built on Shared Values
"Aureon and the Y share a desire to support and enrich our communities," says Steve Simpson, Client Advisor at Aureon. "This common thread unites us in many ways and further strengthens our partnership." That alignment is what turns a 15-year relationship into a foundation for the next 15.
Key Results
15+
Years of Partnership
More than 15 years of continuous collaboration, from the initial WiFi and cloud buildout to pandemic-era remote work and world-class event connectivity at the Wellmark Y.
6
Locations Unified
Six full-facility YMCA locations in Central Iowa connected through a single cloud environment and centrally managed WiFi, replacing fragmented DSL infrastructure at every branch.
50K+
Members Served
More than 50,000 YMCA members benefit daily from the reliable network foundation Aureon built, consistent WiFi access, stable cloud apps, and an organization that can focus on its mission.
Seamless
COVID Transition
"When we decided to move our workforce to a virtual format, it was seamless. We did not have to wait like other companies to make the switch.", Leisha Barcus, CEO.
NBC
Event-Grade Connectivity
Aureon supported the TYR Pro Swim Series broadcast on NBC Sports, with on-demand fiber bandwidth at the Wellmark Y's MidAmerican Energy Aquatic Center for over 1,500 attendees.
Values
Aligned Partnership
"The YMCA wants to partner with trustworthy, determined businesses that are also committed to serving their communities.", Leisha Barcus, CEO. A mission match that makes 15 years feel like the beginning.
It is incredibly important for us to partner with like-minded companies that align with our mission. The YMCA wants to partner with trustworthy, determined businesses that are also committed to serving their communities.
More Than 15 Years of Partnership, and Growing Stronger
The YMCA of Greater Des Moines exists to strengthen community. Caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility are the foundation for all that the YMCA does, for its 50,000 members across six full-facility YMCAs, supported by more than 200 employees and hundreds of volunteers throughout Central Iowa. Technology has to work, not just adequately, but reliably and flexibly, for the Y to fulfill that mission every day.
What began more than 15 years ago as a decision to outsource IT to a capable partner has evolved into something much more meaningful. "Aureon and the Y share a desire to support and enrich our communities," says Steve Simpson, Client Advisor at Aureon. "This common thread unites us in many ways and further strengthens our partnership."
Over those 15 years, Aureon has helped the Y centralize WiFi management across all locations, transition from DSL to fiber at key facilities, and build a cloud environment that kept the entire organization running, even through the disruptions of a global pandemic. When COVID-19 required the Y to shift its workforce to remote work, the existing Aureon Cloud Suite infrastructure meant the transition was seamless, with no delays or scrambling that other organizations experienced.
"Aureon's Client Advisors are accessible, listen to our challenges and provide solutions for those challenges," says Leisha Barcus, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines. "Over the last 15 years, business has changed and so have our needs. Aureon has remained flexible and attentive to our organization." That responsiveness, grounded in a shared commitment to community, is what makes this partnership built to last.
Frequently Asked Questions
After years of attempting to handle information technology functions internally, the Y decided to outsource its technology needs to a partner that could support all branches of the Greater Des Moines YMCA. Now, more than 15 years into working with Aureon, the partnership is still going strong. "It is incredibly important for us to partner with like-minded companies that align with our mission," says Leisha Barcus, CEO. "The YMCA wants to partner with trustworthy, determined businesses that are also committed to serving their communities."
WiFi was originally connected via a single DSL line at each YMCA location, making even simple tasks like changing passwords a time-consuming, site-by-site process. Aureon helped the Y transition to a centrally managed WiFi system at the Aureon Data Center. "Each access point delivers all the Y's IDs, with options for coming in as a corporate or public user. It's all managed centrally by Aureon," says Steve Simpson, Client Advisor at Aureon. "This is a big time saver. If we need to change a corporate password, we can change the entire Y system, all six locations, at one time."
In February 2020, the Wellmark YMCA hosted the world's top swimmers in the TYR Pro Swim Series, broadcast on NBC Sports with over 1,500 fans in attendance. Aureon owns the fiber installed at the MidAmerican Energy Aquatic Center at the Wellmark Y, which enabled them to temporarily increase dedicated bandwidth and support broadcast production, USA Swimming, and event operations. "Our advanced planning and boots on the ground helped lead to a successful event," says Simpson. Leisha Barcus added: "We have a world-class facility and needed world-class technology to showcase that."
Because the YMCA had been on the Aureon Cloud Suite for more than 10 years, the transition to remote work was seamless when COVID-19 required it. "When we decided to move our workforce to a virtual format, it was seamless. We did not have to wait like other companies to make the switch," says Barcus. "This allowed us to evaluate our work from home policy without any other IT worries." The centralized cloud environment meant staff could access files and applications from home just as they would from any Y location.
"Aureon's Client Advisors are accessible, listen to our challenges and provide solutions for those challenges," says Leisha Barcus. "Over the last 15 years, business has changed and so have our needs. Aureon has remained flexible and attentive to our organization." For the YMCA, having a technology partner that shares their commitment to community, and adapts as that community's needs evolve, is what transforms a vendor relationship into a lasting partnership. "Aureon and the Y share a desire to support and enrich our communities," says Steve Simpson. "This common thread unites us in many ways and further strengthens our partnership."
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