Benny Westcott
The role of Sweet Home clubhouse director for the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Santiam hasn’t existed for a few years, but new Executive Director Casey Humphrey, who started this summer, decided to reinstate the position.
“When I got here, I really felt like we needed somebody in Sweet Home permanently that could have the connections and relationships that we need,” he said.
So Humphrey chose Michelle Knight, who most recently worked as the registrar at Sweet Home High School, for the role.
“She checks all the boxes,” Humphrey said of Knight. “She’s been in Sweet Home for a long, long time, so there’s a lot of people that she knows and that she’s built relationships with. And she’s open and easy to talk to, and obviously a really hard worker.”
Knight used the same phrasing as Humphrey when describing why she thinks she’s a good fit for the role.
“For me, it just checks all of the boxes,” she said. “It’s kind of a marriage of all the jobs that I’ve had. It works with kids, I get to be involved with sports, I get to mentor young people. So it’s all the things that I love.
“I think I’m a people person,” she continued. “I’m outgoing. I love to problem solve and be involved in the community. And I love sports and helping build youth programs.”
Knight will try to hit the ground running at the club. “My first goal is to just meet with the team that’s been here and see what’s working and what’s not, and how I can support what they’re already doing and just strengthen that,” she said. “I think that what’s been missing is just a community tie and having somebody that, if there’s some big concerns, people can come to somebody in Sweet Home and talk to them. I’m excited to talk with those people.”
Humphrey said that Knight will be the “face of that clubhouse, and obviously will be ready and available at any time, being over there five days a week.”
He said “We need to continue good relationships with the school district and our donors, supporters and volunteers, and I think she knows a lot of those people. This job and person will kind of have the pulse on Sweet Home. Michelle will be kind of the point person to go out there and be able to talk with people, and address concerns, questions and comments.”
Humphrey said that Knight will help out a bit with athletics because of her background in coaching. She has been involved in coaching at the Boys & Girls Club before. She joined the coaching staff of the SHHS girls basketball program in 2008, and also served as the junior varsity coach for volleyball and softball. Knight additionally coached a traveling team for girls basketball at the junior high level.
Humphrey also mentioned that event planning is in Knight’s background, which will prove helpful for auctions and ladies night out.
Knight started working at Sweet Home High School in 2014, at the career center, helping with high-risk students and trying to decrease chronic absenteeism.
Of leaving the school district, she said “It was very bittersweet. I’ve been there a long time and have great relationships with those people. But this job will still be working really closely with the school district, so I think it’s just going to kind of build those relationships in a different way.”
Knight lived in Sweet Home from the third grade through junior high school, when she moved to Lebanon. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1989, and attended Linn-Benton Community College.
She moved back to Sweet Home about 25 years ago. Upon moving back she worked part-time at a variety of jobs, including The New Era and State Farm, while raising her three children, Spencer, Josie, and Caden, with her husband, Don Knight.
Now she prepares to embark on this next career, with her first day on Sept. 5.
“If you bring somebody new into an organization, there’s a different dynamic, but you’re always hoping on change going in the right direction,” Humphrey said. “And I think that’s going to be absolutely what Michelle will bring.”