Daily Reporter Staff Writer
GREENFIELD — The search is on for a new director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hancock County, with a possible announcement about three weeks away.
A selection committee is narrowing 29 résumés to call in five people for a job interview. From there, the top two candidates will go before the full nonprofit board April 10, and the new leader could be announced as early as April 13.
“We are looking for somebody who’s out there for the community, can build great community partnerships, be able to do some fundraising, and be active with the board and obviously the employees,” said Andrea Mallory, who is on the selection committee.
The new director will replace Darren Turner, who ran the center 10 years before resigning in late January.
Mallory said she was pleased with the number of applicants, many of whom are highly qualified candidates.
“I’d say 80 percent of them are really good applicants,” said Steve Menser, president of the board of directors. “So that’s why the process is kind of slow in seeing who’s going to be the best fit.”
The job was advertised through local outlets, including social media and a regional nonprofit job board. Menser said the four-member selection committee is circulating and ranking the résumés and narrowing the choices.
“Our committee is getting together again March 31 to whittle our list down to a final five, and then we’ll bring five people in for interviews,” he said.
Menser said the national nonprofit organization has given the local chapter direction on characteristics to look for: “kid-driven, program-driven, strategic planning, somebody that is familiar with fundraising on larger levels, somebody that has the accounting skills to make sure we keep a balanced budget,” Menser said.
When the full board interviews the top two candidates April 10, a job offer likely will be extended to one of them April 13. Menser said he hopes the new director can be on the job about May 1.
Meanwhile, the club is running smoothly, said Candace Sexton, interim executive director.
“Services have not been affected,” she said. “As far as the kids know, it’s just a normal day at the club.”
Sexton is director of the Jim Andrews Unit in Greenfield and said staff members are working together to see that children are being served.
“I’m doing two jobs at this point, and the rest of the part-time staff have been awesome and stepped up, and we’re working together like a well-oiled machine,” Sexton said.
