Sean C. Morgan
Mollie Kerins brings a set of business skills and passion for children to her new job as the senior director of the Sweet Home Branch of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Santiam.
She started work on Aug. 5. Andi Casteel, the previous program director, has moved to Springfield with her husband and no longer works for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Santiam, which serves Sweet Home, Lebanon and Lacomb.
Shari Smith remains as athletic director, and Sarah Gray remains office manager. Shalene Gill is program director.
Kerins will work under Kris Latimer, who is executive director for the organization.
As part of the leadership team, Kerins will provide support focused on delivery of programs that are of greatest benefit to area children, outreach to the Sweet Home community and organizational fund-raising efforts to assist the club in accomplishing its vision to help create an economically vibrant and prosperous community where all children thrive and grow to realize their potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens, Kerins said.
Kerins brings more than 25 years of corporate management experience to the position, with a background in insurance and finance, product development, business analysis, contract negotiations, marketing and training.
She was an assistant vice president with U.S. Bank and president of an employee benefits business specializing in IRS Section 125 administration. She also has years of experience in her last position as deputy director for Willamette Valley Rehabilitation Center.
Kerins has a long a history of involvement in her community, including Oregon Mentors, Start Making a Reader Today, Build Lebanon Trails, Cheadle Lake Recreation Core Planning Team and Meals on Wheels. She is a member of the Willamette Manor Board of Directors, Lebanon Chamber Tourism Committee and the Visit Linn Coalition.
Her volunteer work with children led her to apply with the club, she said. “All of my volunteer work has brought me back to children. I believe strongly our youth is underserved. I wanted to make a difference. They’re our future. They hold the key. The more we can do to help them and prepare them to take over, the better we’re going to be. I also feel our seniors are underserved.”
And the connection between the Boys and Girls Club and Senior Center, which are both housed in the Jim Riggs Community Center, is an opportunity that excites her.
Her work with the first cohort in Ford Leadership training in east Linn County connected her to Sweet Home.
When she learned of the opening, she applied.
As a native Oregonian, she has always been aware of Sweet Home, and then when she moved to Lebanon, she and her family spent their summers camping and swimming in the area. She plans to relocate to Sweet Home.
“I love it,” Kerins said. “I am so excited. Once I find my perfect place, it’ll happen. I love driving into this town.”
Sweet Home is clean and beautiful, Kerins said. “It shows people care. It’s a really great little community.”
It’s as if her entire career has prepared her for her new position, she said. She has the business management experience along with a passion for children, she said.
Kerins lives in Lebanon with Rob Carter and their dog Whiskey. The couple has five adult children and two granddaughters. They enjoy traveling, golfing, gardening, fishing and camping.
The Sweet Home branch of the club has about 900 members, with 170 attending daily. The entire club has about 2,400 members with an average daily attendance of 370. During the 2012-13 school year, the club served more than 50,000 nutritious meals and 3,500 healthy snacks.
“I really would like everyone to know there is room for many more children,” Kerins said. The annual cost is $20, but if a family cannot afford it, the club will help find a way. Some 60 percent of the membership is covered through scholarships. Membership is free to teens.
The club is open to children kindergarten through the 12th grade.
It provides a safe and fun place to hang out after school, Kerins said. All of its programs are structured and well-supervised to make sure everyone has a great time and makes smart decisions.
Coming up, Aug. 25 is the “Be Great Blue Out” 5K run. Sept. 5 is Family Night Out and the Back to School Bash. Nov. 8 is “Touch Down for Kids Fall Auction.”
Programs include Power Hour, homework help for members to achieve academic success. Other programs include Club Tech, which covers Internet safety, cyber-bullying lessons, Lego robotics and claymation; CATCH Kids Club, a physical activity and nutrition education program designed for children; Career Launch, Diplomas 2 Degrees, Money Matters and Anti-Bullying for teen members; and many other programs.
Fall sports registration is over. Coaches will call teams by the end of the month.
Coaching positions are still available for those who are interested. Athletic sponsorship packages are also availble.
Registration for first- through fourth-grade basketball will be Oct. 4, and fifth- and sixth-grade basketball registration is Nov. 1.