Greg Youell is leaving the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency after more than 18 years with the company.

Youell has been employed by MAPA since 2002 and has served as executive director since December 2012.

Youell announced last Wednesday that he is leaving to be the Operations Director for Spirit Catholic Radio Network based in Omaha. Youell will remain with MAPA through July. In the meantime, the board will conduct a search for Youell’s successor.

“Greg has been an excellent leader for MAPA. Under his leadership, MAPA expanded its services and assistance to communities in the six-county region it serves in southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa and increased revenues,” La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig, chair of MAPA’s Board of Directors, said in a statement. “Greg has helped build MAPA into a recognized leader in regional collaboration through Heartland 2050, disaster recovery and resilience assistance, transportation planning and community and economic development.”

Youell began his employment with MAPA as a transportation planner, before being promoted to Transportation and Data Manager in 2008.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work at MAPA and to assist our member communities. MAPA is on very solid ground to continue its work in helping move the region forward,” Youell said in a statement. “My faith is an important part of my life, and I am leaving for a new adventure which provides me an opportunity to work in support of it.”