The Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor has announced the naming of a new CEO as current head Brian Saxton prepares to retire. The new CEO will be Mackenzie Kastl. The Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor has released the following:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor announced today that the Board of Directors has unanimously named Mackenzie Kastl as the next Chief Executive Officer effective December 1.
BGCBH CEO Brian Saxton is planning to retire from his position at the Club at the end of 2020. Brian has served as the Club’s Chief Executive Officer for the past eight years. Over that time, he has worked to improve the quality of Club programming and the impact the Club has on members, creating a nationally recognized Boys & Girls Club that serves youth and teens in our community.
BGCBH conducted its national search for the local Club’s next leader with the assistance of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s CEO Search Team.
Mackenzie is a mission-driven nonprofit leader with demonstrated experience in corporate and nonprofit sectors. In her latest role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region, Mackenzie saw the Club through a transitional time. Her leadership pushed forward new organizational processes and continuous quality program adaptation. She led community teams in fundraising and brand awareness efforts, championing nonprofits working together to serve the people of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties.
Mackenzie grew the Boys & Girls Clubs of the GLBR in membership and in brand reputation in the communities where the six Club sites reside. Her efforts grew the organizations’ overall fundraising budget in the first year and added additional site locations to serve more youth. Her leadership saw the organization through the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and kept numerous Club sites open and serving families throughout the uncertainty. She is an advocate for all youth, working closely with public school districts, charters and other educational entities to establish program continuity and adherence to priority outcomes of academic success, healthy lifestyles and good character and citizenship.
Before joining the Boys & Girls Club Movement, Mackenzie worked in higher education, serving both public and private institutions in a variety of communications and public relations roles. Early in her career, Mackenzie supported the Dow Chemical Company’s Olympic hospitality programs, aiding in the development of the marketing campaign for the London 2012 Olympic Games and managing logistical communication efforts and special event planning around the globe.
Born and raised in Mid-Michigan, Mackenzie has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Michigan State University and has completed graduate work at Central Michigan University.
For Mackenzie, the BGCBH role is an exciting opportunity:
“Taking this role at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor is an incredible honor for me, and I am so excited to get to work for the youth of southwest Michigan. I believe our Clubs have never been more important than they are right now, and I look forward to the opportunity to get to know the communities, families and stakeholders who support this incredible organization.”
As CEO, Mackenzie’s responsibilities include leading the organization’s strategic direction, oversight of organizational operations, financials, programming, brand reputation, talent recruitment, resource development, and stakeholder relationships. The CEO also serves as the organization’s primary ambassador and lead communicator. Mackenzie, in partnership with her team, will oversee both of the organization’s club sites. The CEO reports to BGCBH Board Chair, Michael Todman.
