Gary has worked with staff and volunteers at over 200 camps across 43 states; just in the last 8 years. Gary was a camp director for 25 years, but started out with degrees in Architecture and an MBA.

 

Gary is known nation-wide for eye-opening presentations at major conferences, and his series of “how and why” articles in Camp Business Magazine.  He says his unique background has kept him focused on problem solving and “solution connecting.”  Gary helps staff and volunteers find a mutual perspective.  Setting and fulfilling priorities are the difference between the “Great” camps and all those that struggle without finding success.  As an architectural designer of so many camp facilities, and a researcher into camp effectiveness and financial success, Gary wraps risk management, parent communication, and program design into his work.  He's built quite a network through his experience; bringing together camps with creative solutions with those committing to continuous improvement.  (The “Purple Cow” in the photo above refers to his favorite book on business success, by Seth Godin.)

 

Gary met his wife Meg while they both worked at Camp Tecumseh YMCA in Indiana, (yes, she was the camp nurse!)  Their two boys grew up in camping and now run their own business in Alaska (between climbing trips to Nepal and dive instructor training in Thailand).  Gary and Meg have called the Chicago are their base-camp since 2001.

 

John has over 36 years in not-for-profit management experience.  He founded a new Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) agency in Framingham, MA, joined the national staff in 1979, and in 1984 he moved back to the local level, joining the Boston agency.  In Boston, he held the position of CEO for over 25 years.

 

John has developed and demonstrated expertise in many areas of nonprofit management including child safety and sexual abuse prevention, along with strong risk management knowledge.  John developed a national protocol for screening volunteers in the late 1980s by studying all then-known incidences of child sexual assault.  Part of that protocol included a reporting system that allows for continuous learning from past experience that informs future training, thus leading to constant improvement and relevance of the screening process.  John is considered an international trainer and leading authority on child sexual abuse prevention.

 

John and his wife Susan have two daughters and one grandson.  He loves being on the ocean either sailing or in his off-shore fishing boat.  He and Susan are restoring his families’ 18th century homestead in Harpswell, Maine.  John is doing the finish carpentry on the home’s addition that now has the modern conveniences of indoor plumbing, heat, and electricity.

Bill has over 40 years of nonprofit leadership experience. He led organizations in Michigan and Arizona before moving to Las Vegas to become the President and CEO of the YMCA of Southern Nevada. Bill then served as a safety and risk consultant for YMCAs through the Y Services Corporation. Bill is now retired from full-time work but continues to work with organizations as a consultant and interim.

 

Bill brings significant resources and experience to Safe-Wise from facility development and construction to risk management consulting.  Additionally he has extensive experience in assisting troubled organizations in their turn-around efforts; helping them implement effective policies and procedures, solve risk management issues and incorporate efficient management solutions.

 

Bill enjoys golf, hiking and other outdoor pursuits. He currently resides in Las Vegas with his wife Heather. They enjoy time there and at their mountain retreat home.