GREENFIELD — An organization that nearly tripled the number of children it is serving this summer gets a new leader this week.
Chantel Fowler officially starts as executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hancock County on Thursday. She’s the first female leader in the club’s 81-year history and has served as its director of operations for the past year and a half. Fowler succeeds Chad Hudson, who is leaving to take a position with an education nonprofit organization.
Fowler has been involved with Boys & Girls Clubs for nearly 10 years. She formerly served the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rush County, including as its interim CEO.
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As executive director, Fowler will maintain many of the duties of her current job as director of operations, which won’t be filled. Instead, the responsibilities are being split between her and Andre Davis, the club’s site director.
Fowler’s tasks as director of operations have included ensuring club policies are in place and interacting with parents while handling payments, discipline and human resources.
As she transitions to executive director, she’ll be taking on tasks such as fundraising, finances, marketing, being the public face of the organization and leading its 14 employees.
She’s looking forward to making more community partners with the club.
“I’m just hoping to get out, meet as many people as I can, make as many contacts and relationships as I can and start bringing the community into our building more and just building that sense of community not only in our facility, but in the whole county,” Fowler said.
Boys & Girls Clubs’ mission aligns with one that Fowler’s had most of her life.
“Ever since I’ve been a little girl, I’ve just wanted to be that person that made a difference in the world, and I think that everything I’ve done in life has just been a stepping stone for that,” she said.
Fowler said her past experience makes her a good fit for her new role.
“I understand what the movement of Boys & Girls Clubs is all about because I’ve been invested in it for so long,” she said.
The local agency’s board of directors agrees, president Ryan Reed said.
“She’s got an extensive background, and we felt the dynamic with her moving up was great,” he said.
The board approved Fowler’s appointment unanimously.
Serving as interim CEO in Rush County was a particularly beneficial preparation, Fowler said.
“You always think you know what that person does, but until you’re in that position, you really don’t know,” she said. “It gave me a really good perspective on some of the things I was uncertain about as far as the fundraising and that financial side of it.”
Fowler said she’s had a lot of good mentors throughout her career preparing her for the position, including Hudson.
“Chad was instrumental in getting me to where I am right now ever since I walked in the door here,” she said. “He’s always made sure I’ve had all the tools that I need to advance.”
Fowler’s love of motherhood has also driven her in her career with Boys & Girls Clubs. She raised her three children at home until they were old enough for school before studying human services at Ivy Tech Community College.
“I’m a mom at heart, so why not continue to fill that role in some capacity?” she said.
Fowler takes the helm at a time of growth for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hancock County. Last summer, daily attendance averaged 35. This summer, it rose to around 90.
She expects a similar rise this coming school year. Last year, attendance averaged about 110 kids a day.
“We’ve worked diligently to re-brand who we are,” Fowler said. “We were falling into that stigma of being child care, and that’s not who we are.”
The club provides programming for children after school, during breaks and over summers. Fowler said those programs target five main components: character, education, healthy lifestyles, arts and sports.
“We provide them with programs that help them become better citizens,” she said. “We equip them with being able to make the correct decisions… We like to consider ourselves an extension of the school and the home.”
Hudson, a former school teacher and principal, grew up in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hancock County when sports were run through the club. He had led it since May 2015. He has fond memories of working with board members and other local “heroes” to improve the organization’s finances.
“We’ve never been at the point where I’ve felt like the club is ready to be handed off, it’s someone else’s turn,” Hudson said. “I say that with a huge smile on my face… It’s a whole different world compared to four years ago.”
Hudson is leaving the club to take a position running operations for Indianapolis-based Certell, a global nonprofit organization that focuses on assisting teachers with free curriculum and supplemental materials. He said he’s excited to bring his experience in education and nonprofits to the role.
Hudson said he’s grateful to the community for supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hancock County and urged the community to continue doing so.
He’s confident he’s leaving the organization in capable hands, adding Fowler has always stepped up to challenges.
“She is ready,” Hudson said. “She is 100 percent ready to go.”
