Wilson Accepts Next Challenge as CEO at Boys & Girls Club of Central New Mexico
LAWRENCE, Kan. – When he arrived, Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence did not yet operate in every elementary school, the Center for Great Futures was not even a thought and the leadership staff was half the size. Colby Wilson announced Tuesday that the time has come for his next challenge, and he will leave Lawrence to become the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Central New Mexico.
Wilson began his tenure as the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence in 2012, after a 10-year stint with the Boys & Girls Club of Tacoma. He was so passionate about leading the Lawrence organization, Wilson moved his wife, Mandy, and two kids, Blake and Sidney, from Washington to the middle of the Midwest. The family took it in stride, supporting him as he led the charge to grow and strengthen the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence. Wilson readily admits that he loves the challenge of helping a Club reach new heights.
“This was a tough decision because we have enjoyed Lawrence so much, our kids consider this place home,” Wilson said. “In the end, the opportunity and challenge to have an impact in another community drove this decision. I am grateful to my family for their understanding and support.”
Wilson begins his new post at the Boys & Girls Club of Central New Mexico on July 29. Monica Dittmer, the Executive Director of the Center for Great Futures, will serve as the Interim CEO while the search for Wilson’s successor takes place.
“I have seen a lot of changes in my 17 years with this organization,” Dittmer said. “Colby has definitely taken Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence to new heights, but he also trusted his team to do what we do best. He always said, ‘Hire good people and get out of their way,’ and I truly believe that’s what we have here. No matter what our role is within the Club, we live by the same mission. We will make sure those kids have nothing but our best at all times.”
Since announcing his decision to the staff and the Board of Directors, Wilson has felt an outpouring of support and congratulatory messages. While the goodbyes will be bittersweet, it also gives Wilson time to reflect on the wide range of accomplishments that have happened during his tenure. Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence serves more than 1,300 youth per day. The national average daily attendance for Clubs Lawrence’s size is 709 kids. BGCLK opened its first Club inside a Lawrence Public Schools elementary facility (Cordley Elementary) back in 1999, but Wilson and his staff completed the goal of having a Club in every elementary location with Sunset Hill Elementary in 2016. Additionally, Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence has produced the Kansas Youth of the Year in five of the last eight years.
The biggest piece of Wilson’s vision, however, stands at the corner of 29th and Haskell. From day one, Wilson was determined to help the Club impact kids beyond fifth grade. Upon his arrival, the elementary program was serving thousands of kids, but only a tiny fraction of those kids could continue with the Club into middle school and high school. Wilson wanted to create the opportunity to serve many more teens in an appealing, state-of-the-art facility. That’s just what he did.
On September 6, 2018, Wilson and his team of donors, visionaries, staff and teens cut the ribbon on the Don & Beverly Gardner Center for Great Futures. Partnered with the Lawrence College & Career Center, the new teen center has the capacity to serve five times the amount of teens.
“I’m excited to see the long-term impact the Center for Great Futures will have on Lawrence,” Wilson said. “As more and more teens stay involved with the Club through high school, Lawrence will see more young people graduating, both career and life ready.”
The Lawrence Club’s Board of Directors, guided by the regional Director of Organizational Development from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, will establish a search committee to find the next CEO. Together, they are focused on finding the best fit, not the first fit. Dittmer will lead the organization until the new CEO is in place.
“On behalf of the board, I want to congratulate Colby on his new position. He was a terrific leader of this organization and will be missed.” said Board President, Matt Llewellyn. “We have full confidence that we will find the next great leader and will take our time to find the right person for the job. We are fortunate to have Monica as the Interim CEO as well as an exceptional staff behind her to keep the Boys & Girls Club running at full strength.”