When Curt McReynolds took on the role of chief operating officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township in 2008, the then 27-year-old admittedly “had very little idea what I was signing up for.”
McReynolds did know, however, he could do the job.
“They took a chance on me and it was a perfect fit,” he said.
Nine years later, it has become the second largest Boys & Girls Club organization in the state, operating eight school-based locations, including seven in Community Unit School District 300 and one in Barrington 220 School District.
And McReynolds knows when he resigns from his post in May, he’ll be leaving it in good hands. This week, he announced he has accepted the chief operating officer position with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale.
That decision, McReynolds said, was not easy.
“(The organization in Arizona) is one of the largest Boys & Girls Clubs in the country. It’s really an incredible opportunity. At the same time, it is extremely hard to leave such a great Club here and so many amazing connections,” he said. “Definitely bittersweet for sure.”
That is the same sentiment others are using to describe his impending departure.
When Kelly McGuire, the unit director for Carpentersville’s Parkview Elementary School-based location, heard the news she immediately started crying.
“It’s so bittersweet because I’m so happy for him but I’m sad because we’re not only losing a great boss, but a part of our team. He’s truly the glue that holds the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township together. It’s going to be hard without him but I’m proud of him,” she said.
Tom Mammoser, executive director of the Dundee Township Park District and a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township board, announced the news at a recent park board meeting.
He said McReynolds’ departure will be “a major transition.”
“He’s done a terrific job of building up that club,” Mammoser said. “I’m sure they will open up the process for finding another executive director. We won’t get someone like Curt though. He’s a unique person we’ve had the opportunity of benefiting from. But we’ll get someone good.”
“I’m glad we’ve had him as long as we have,” said Jim Bonkoski, Dundee Township Park Board vice president.
He suggested tongue-in-cheek McReynolds could work for both organizations.
“Six months here, six months there,” Bonkoski said.
“We can argue about a lot of thing but we can’t argue with Scottsdale,” Mammoser said.
McReynolds is looking forward to swapping the unpredictable Illinois weather for the Arizona climate.
“I think we’ll be OK to get rid of our shovel,” he said.
His last day with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township is May 19.
McGuire said whoever takes over his role has some big shoes to fill.
“We know he’s going to do amazing things there. But we’re going to miss him,” she said.
McReynolds credits the success of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township to his staff, particularly Mike Berger, vice president of operations, and Amalia Woolf, vice president of program services, as well as past and present board of directors who he said “have coached, guided and nurtured my path over the years.”
In his letter to the board announcing his resignation, he thanked them for allowing him to lead the organization.
“I will never forget my time here and will treasure all the accomplishments and achievements that we experienced as a team,” he said.
Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
