CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story.
In a move aimed at drastically accelerating its growth, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio has announced a shift in the non-profit's leadership.
Effective immediately, BGCNEO CEO Jeff Scott will take over as the nonprofit's Chief Strategy Officer. In his new role, Scott will oversee the organization’s growth plan, which calls for the nonprofit to double the number of kids served to 20,000 by 2025.
Meanwhile, BGCNEO Chief Programs Officer Allen Smith will take over as CEO. Smith is a 30-year BGCNEO staffer and former Club kid.
In a statement, BGCNEO Board Chair Leslie Murray said that it was Scott who suggested the move and called the transition a "win-win" for the non-profit.
“Allen is a tremendous leader,” she said. “He was a Club kid. He truly understands the lived experiences and heartbeat of our kids and teams. Jeff has demonstrated top-notch strategic planning skills in the private and nonprofit sectors and can now devote his full attention to our growth plan.”
Having formed in 2019 via a merger of Clubs in Cleveland, Akron, Lorain County and Sandusky, BGCNEO aims to provide "safe, fun places for kids ages 6-18 to go after school with a focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles and character development." The organization is now looking for the best way to fund its expansion, which was adopted by the BFCNEO board earlier this year.
More information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio can be found here.