2-15-18 boys and girls club selects first statewide director

 The Wisconsin Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs has hired Andy Gussert as their inaugural statewide director, with a goal of organizing, mobilizing and building capacity statewide. Boys & Girls Clubs serve more than 154,000 youth across Wisconsin, at 88 sites located in 45 cities.   “As we partner with Wisconsin government to increase academic standards, prevent opioid abuse, reduce juvenile arrests, and develop smart workforce skills for tomorrow, Andy is the right choice to lead the team,” said Alliance President Dan Hebel, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club in Fond du Lac. “Wisconsin has some real challenges ahead, and our clubs are part of the solution. Andy will lead us as an articulate advocate for children.”    “Gussert has hit the ground running,” said Michael Johnson, Vice President of the Statewide Alliance, and CEO of Dane County Boys and Girls Club. “Andy will be responsible for our state-wide fundraising, advocacy, government relations and mobilization. Because of his substantial background in government and non-profit work, he’s a great choice as our first director.”   “Nobody succeeds alone,” said Andy Gussert, the first statewide director of the Alliance. “I’m here because others invested in me, starting as kid, and every step along the way. That’s what we will continue to do for our club kids across the state.” Gussert, a native of Wisconsin, was born in Milwaukee, raised in Clintonville, and received scholarships to attend Lawrence University in Appleton.  Like many of the youth currently served by clubs across the state, Gussert is the first generation in his family to attend college.