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Josh Kraft, Nicholas President and CEO, has spent nearly 20 years serving youth at Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. Having spent nearly 18 of those years working directly with Club members and families, Josh brings his dedication to youth work to his leadership of the organization. As the Founding Executive Director of the Gerald and Darlene Jordan Club in Chelsea, Josh led the after-school and summer programs, and managed fundraising efforts and programming partnerships at the Club for 15 years. His first role at Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston was at the South Boston Club, where he led an outreach program for at-risk youth. After graduating from college, he worked as a teacher and coach at a local prep school. Josh serves on the Board of Directors for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, Boston After School & Beyond, and Julie’s Family Learning Program in South Boston, and is a volunteer soccer and basketball coach in Newton. He is a graduate of Williams College, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Education and Social Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Josh also manages community relations as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the New England Patriots Foundation. For Josh Kraft's full bio, click here.

 

Jerry Steimel, Executive Vice President, Operations, began working at BGCB in 1987 as Executive Director at the Charlestown Club and became Executive Vice President, Operations in 2000. His current responsibilities include supervision of Executive Directors and operations at our Clubs and YouthConnect program. He hails from Kentucky and has 40 years of experience in the youth development field. Prior to BGCB, he was Associate Director at Project Rap, a multi-service agency in Beverly, MA, and was Director of their emergency shelter for teens. He has also been Director of a youth center, a caseworker in the Chicago courts and a teacher in an alternative high school. He has an M. S.W. from the University of Chicago. jsteimel@bgcb.org

 

Patricia (Trish) Gannon, Executive Vice President, Finance & Planning, Chief Financial Officer, joined BGCB in 2006. Gannon provides strategic leadership for the organization and direct oversight of all financial functions, ensuring long-range sustainability as well as fiscal stability for the agency’s programs and Clubs. She manages a range of activities to support the financial, facility and technological functions of the agency, including relationships with auditors, vendors and insurance companies. Formerly, Trish served as VP for Fiscal Affairs and CFO of Merrimack College, where she provided strategic direction for a broad range of operations. She spent 10 years in senior leadership positions at the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, formerly Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency, and began her career as Assistant to the CFO at Boston’s Children’s Museum. Driven by a lifelong passion for the not-for-profit sector, Trish has served on boards and committees for several nonprofit organizations. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross and an M.P.A. from Suffolk University. pgannon@bgcb.org

 

Alexandra Fuchs, Chief Advancement Officer, joined BGCB in January 2010 after nearly eight years at the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), where she most recently served as the Director of Annual Funds and Donor Relations. In this role she managed a team of development professionals, oversaw in excess of $9 million in annual support from 12,000 individual donors for the BSO, Boston Pops and Tanglewood; and created and managed a variety of donor stewardship and solicitation initiatives. Before moving to Boston in 2002, Alexandra held a number of consumer product marketing positions at Unilever, including Director of Global Marketing for cosmetic brands and Brand Manager for several home and personal care products. She received a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. and M.A. from The Wharton School and the Lauder School at the University of Pennsylvania. afuchs@bgcb.org

For questions about Events: Jill Goldweitz

All media inquiries: Jan Goldstein

 

YouthConnect (formerly YSPN)

Andrea Perry, Executive Director of YouthConnect (formerly YSPN), has spent 11 years working for the program. Before being named Executive Director in 2010, Andrea served for two years as Director of Operations, and before that, as Assistant Clinical Director. In those positions, she shared responsibility for the overall programmatic, administrative and clinical aspects of the program. Previously, Andrea worked as a YSPN district social worker serving Mattapan and Dorchester, and counseled youth victims city-wide who were referred by local hospitals after being injured in community violence. As a victim specialist, Andrea also served as a resource to the Sexual Assault Unit, and supported sexually exploited teens as a liaison for a collaboration through the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office. Previously, Andrea worked as a VISTA volunteer creating youth mentoring programs in Boston Public Schools. She received her undergraduate degree at Smith College, and her MSW at Boston College Graduate School of Social Work. Andrea has also completed Boston University’s Non-Profit Management Certificate Program, and a Critical Incident Stress Management certification program through the Trauma Center. aperry@bgcb.org

 

Free-Standing Clubs

Gregory (Greg) Jackson, Executive Director of the Charlestown Boys & Girls Club, joined BGCB in this role in January 2010. Jackson, who grew up in Charlestown and was a Club member for much of his youth, brings six years of experience in the Boys & Girls Club movement to his new role. Before joining BGCB, he served as Executive Director/Chief Professional Officer at the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield, where he applied his business experience, creativity and interpersonal skills to establish a Club that was recognized for excellence by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. At the Marshfield Club, he increased Club membership from 120 to more than 1,300 members, expanded and improved programming, raised more than $3.5 million in operating dollars and $2 million for a Capital Campaign, and built effective relationships with community and business leaders. Jackson began his career in the private sector, spending 12 years in management at Filene’s Department Store. He attended Stonehill College, where he studied Business Administration and Computer Science. gjackson@bgcb.org

 

Harold (Harry) Duvall, Executive Director of the South Boston Boys & Girls Club, came to BGCB in late 2004 with six years of experience in the Boys & Girls Club Movement. Most recently, Harry served as Unit Director at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County, Temecula, California, where he designed youth development strategies, implemented core programs, recruited and trained staff, managed budgets, served as a liaison to parents, and supervised facility maintenance. Previously, he was the co-founder/director of Partners in Compassion ART, a formal partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad, San Dieguito and Oceanside, California, where he oversaw daily operations of an award-winning art education/youth development program. He spent eight years on staff at Mount Ida College in Newton, Massachusetts, where he was Dean of Enrollment Management, Director of Admissions and Assistant to the Dean of Admissions. In addition, he has several years of hockey coaching experience, and has worked with youth as a volunteer mentor and coach. hduvall@bgcb.org

 

Scott McLellan, Executive Director of the Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club, joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston in Dorchester in October 2007.   Scott has more than seven years of Boys & Girls Club experience, most recently as Branch Director at Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket.  Previously, he worked in two residential settings for high-risk youth.  He has a degree in Social Work from Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Illinois, and has completed the Middle Managers Track through the Academy of Boys & Girls Cubs of America.  smclellan@bgcb.org

 

 

Michelle Perez, Executive Director of the Gerald and Darlene Jordan Boys & Girls Club, in Chelsea, was named to the position in June 2008. Michelle joined the Club staff as a social worker in 1999, and most recently served as Director of Operations. Previously, Michelle worked as a clinical social worker in a variety of settings, serving both youth and families.  Michelle has a B.A. in Psychology/Elementary Education from Curry College and a Masters in Social Work from New York University. mperez@bgcb.org

 

 

Andrea Swain, Executive Director of the Yawkey Club of Roxbury, joined BGCB as the Roxbury Boys & Girls Club Executive Director in March 2001, and oversaw the 2006 expansion and renovation of the Club. When it reopened as a state-of-the-art facility in fall 2006, it was renamed the Yawkey Club. Andrea came to BGCB from Peabody Properties, where she had been a Property Manager. Previously, she spent 10 years with the Boston Housing Authority in a variety of roles related to providing services to families and children within the Mission Main and Orchard Estates Housing Developments. She also previously worked part-time in the Roxbury Club in the Teen-Time Program. Andrea received the 2009 Executive of the Year Award from the Yankee Chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs Professional Association, in recognition of her outstanding leadership at the Club during the past eight years, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2009 Northeast Region “Contribution to the Profession” award, for her significant contribution towards the advancement of the Boys & Girls Club Movement during the course of her career. aswain@bgcb.org

 

Shared-Space Clubs

Josh Davis was appointed Director of the Dearborn Club at the Dearborn Middle School in August of 2008. Prior to this position, Josh served for seven years as Education Director and Assistant Summer Camp Director at the South Boston Boys & Girls Club.  Josh also oversaw the education department at Camp Harbor View during the summer of 2008. Josh is a recipient of the Myra Hiatt Kraft Professional Development Award, which he is using to take Spanish courses at the Boston Language Institute in order to better serve bi-lingual Club members. He holds a Bachelor's degree in sociology from Tulane University. jdavis@bgcb.org

 

Tanya Gould is the Director of the Franklin Hill Club at the Franklin Hill Housing Development. The Club opened its doors on November 2, 2009 as BGCB's 10th Club. For the previous two years, Tanya was Director at the Sumner Club, which received the 2009 Navigation Award for Extraordinary Improvement in Program Quality from the Triumph Collaborative of Boston Public Schools under her leadership. Previously, she served for three years as the Education Director at the Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club in Dorchester. Tanya became interested in serving youth while working with 14- to 17-year-olds as a poetry teacher for Gear-Up. She lives in Dorchester, holds a B.S. in English from Northeastern University, and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Human Services at Northeastern University. Tanya was a 2008 recipient of BGCB's Myra Hiatt Kraft Professional Development Award. tgould@bgcb.org

 

Adetunji Onamade became Director of the Sumner Club at the Charles Sumner Elementary School in fall 2009. He previously served for seven years as the Technology Director at the Gerald and Darlene Jordan Club in Chelsea. Before joining Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Adetunji worked as a Program Coordinator with the Museum of Science, Boston, leveraging partnerships with the MIT Media Lab to coordinate Computer Clubhouse programming for Boston youth to increase their interest in science and technology. Shortly after graduating from college, he worked with the International Cultural Youth Exchange in Lagos, Nigeria and at the organization's headquarters in Berlin, Germany. Adetunji holds a B.S. from the University of Calabar in Nigeria, and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education at Cambridge College. In 2008, he received BGCB’s Myra Kraft Professional Development Award, which he used to pursue his Master’s degree. Adetunji has served as a volunteer with My Brother’s Table, and as secretary for the Boston Host Lions Club. aonamade@bgcb.org.

 

Jessica Rubecindo, Director of the Condon Club at the James F. Condon Elementary School in South Boston, was named to this position when the the Club opened in 2007. In this role, she manages a staff of five and oversees after-school programming for approximately 75 members. Her career began 11 years ago at the Jordan Boys & Girls Club as a Junior Staff member. Over the years she took on several roles at the Jordan Club, including education assistant, school-age coordinator and ultimately education director. She earned a B.S. in psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a Master’s in child psychology from Regis College. jrubecindo@bgcb.org

 

Donna Young, Director of the Mattahunt Club at the Mattahunt Elementary School in Mattapan, leads a team of five staff members to provide quality after-school programming to 75 children. Donna was named to the position in 2007, after serving as the Director of BGCB’s Community Learning Center at the Bates Elementary School in Roslindale. She became interested in the youth service field while working at the YMCA of Greater Boston-Roxbury, after which she received training through Achieve-Boston’s School-Age & Youth Development (SAYD) program, an important credential for out-of-school-time staff. She also previously worked as a legislative aid to State House Rep. Marie St. Fleur. Donna lives in Boston and has three children. She holds a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. dyoung@bgcb.org

Camp Harbor View

Cara Gould is the Director of Camp Harbor View, a summer day camp located on Long Island in Boston Harbor that was created by the Camp Harbor View Foundation, Inc. and serves at-risk youth ages 11-14. Cara has 14 years experience working with high-risk adolescents in both Boston and Los Angeles. Her work in Boston includes four years at the Justic Resource Center in Boston where she worked as a Clinician and Assistant Unit Director. Her work in Los Angeles was with Homeboy Industries where she supervised community service workers in a job readiness program as the Community Outreach Coordinator. Later as the Operations Director at Homeboy she oversaw day-to-day operations of Jobs For A Future, a gang rehab program which provided job training and placement for former gang members. Cara has a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Loyola Marymount University and a Bachelors in Psychology from Boston College. cgould@bgcb.org

Photography by Randy H. Goodman, Sean Hennessy, and Kristin Ede (BGCB staff).

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