Big Brothers Big Sisters

2000 to Present

In 2000 a Regional Board of Directors Executive Committee was formed with the following officers:
 
Stephen Koch, President
Chris Whaley, Vice President
John Eagle, Treasurer
Ken Williams, Secretary.
 
It was agreed that the Regional Executive Committee would meet quarterly. Recruitment efforts increased with billboards going up in Hillsborough County and planning for implementing an agency website. Sponsorships monies for BFKS reached an all-time high. The agency goal of reaching 2,000 matches by the end of 2000 was met. A policy allowing staff members to volunteer for the site-based program was approved. Office technology was improved with the donation of monies from Park Foundation and the Children’s Board and equipment from IBM. MATS (Mentor Automated Tracking System) was implemented county-wide on a WAN. In May, a Strategic Planning Conference was held. A Regional Conference was hosted by our agency. Fundraising success was experienced by the agency with the Smoker, Carrabba’s Celebrity Luncheon, art auction, annual auction in Polk, and pep rally in Manatee. Regionally, Bowl for Kids’ Sake was also successful.
 
The following officers were elected for 2001:
 
Hillsborough County:
Stephen Koch, President
Ron Broadrick, Vice President
Yvonne Laplante, Treasurer
Kristi Allred, Secretary
Jane Siling, VP Program & Assessment
Aaron Eddings, VP Resource & Development
Kim Faulk, VP Board Development
 
Manatee County:
Curtis Hunt, President
Jim Vett, Vice President
Don Walther, Treasurer
Scott Duncan, Secretary
Karen Kohn, VP Resource & Development
Kris Kenney, VP Board Development
Brian Adams, VP Program & Assessment
Mark Matter & Ben Prescott, VP Media
 
Pasco County:
Paul Holden, President
John Eagle, Treasurer
 
Polk County:
Ken Williams, President
Janet Fansler, Vice President
Louse Spivey, Secretary
Michael Carter, Treasurer
Todd Chaney, VP Program & Assessment
Eric Bayne, VP Resource & Development
 
In 2001 the Polk staff moved locations from the house on Palmola to a new office space on Kentucky in Lakeland. The Tampa office was given a complete overhaul with walls being knocked down and cubicles installed in the “landscape” area. Manatee County left the agency to merge with the Sarasota agency. Geographically, this move made more sense. Jim Goode resigned from his position as CEO due to ongoing health issues. A search for a new CEO was postponed until the beginning of 2002. Staff was streamlined with the County Directors position being eliminated and new staffing chart was implemented. Discussion began to merge all Boards to one.
 
In early 2002 the three county Boards of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk Counties merged to form one Board, with the following leadership:
 
Ron Broadrick, President
Todd Chaney, President-Elect
Suzy Willard, Vice President
Stephen Koch, Immediate Past President
Jane Siling, VP Program & Assessment
Wrede Kirkpatrick, VP Board Development
Karen Greenhalgh, VP Resource & Development
 
In March 2002 a new CEO was hired. Staff was completely restructured with a new “team approach” to matching children and maintaining the match. A goal of 2000 matches by year’s end was implemented and a goal of 8,000 matches by 2008 was set. The Brand New Thinking model from National was adapted locally. In June, the CEO resigned for personal reasons. On August 1, 2002 former Board President and local attorney Stephen A. Koch was retained as the new CEO, and remains in this role today.
 
In 2003 the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors included the following community leaders: 
 
            Todd Chaney, President
            Linda Allen, Chair Elect
            Ron Broadrick, Immediate Past Chair
 
In 2004 the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors included the following community leaders: 
 
            Linda Allen, President
            Greg Hearing, Chair-Elect
            Todd Chaney, Immediate Past-Chair
 
In 2005 the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors included the following community leaders:
           
            Greg Hearing, Board Chair
            Bill Nipper, Chair-Elect
 
In 2006 the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors included the following community leaders:
 
            Bill Nipper, Board Chair
            RJ Haughey, Chair-Elect
            Greg Hearing, Immediate Past Chair
            Dr. Tracy McPhail, Secretary
            John Eagle, Treasurer
            Katherine Young and Irv Cohen, Vice Presidents of Board Development
 
In 2006 Bill Nipper was elected to the National Leadership Council for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
 
In 2007 the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors included the following community leaders:
 
            Bill Nipper, Board Chair
            RJ Haughey, Chair-Elect
            Kim O’Brien, Treasurer
            Dr. Tracy McPhail, Secretary
            Beth Bennett, Resource Development
            Katherine Young, Board Development
 
In addition, Amy Martinez-Monfort continued to lead the Hillsborough County Leadership Council, and Isaac Hartman chaired the Polk County Leadership County. The Pasco County Leadership Council was re-formed in 2007, and put on the first annual Clays for Kids Fundraiser at Deer Creek in central Pasco County.
 
At its August Board of Directors meeting both Brian Auld, Senior Vice President of Business Operations for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Travis Goodwin, Attorney with Ruden Mclosky and long-term member of our Hillsborough County Leadership Council, were both elected to our Board of Directors.
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay ended 2007 with 2311 cumulative matches, which was a 5% increase over the prior year.  In Polk County we achieved a 15% increase in our number of matches serving 475 children with a Big Brother or a Big Sister. Excluding revenue used for fund development,   total revenue in 2007 was $2,555,254, which was an 18.33% increase over the prior year. (Total 2007 revenue including that used for fund development was $2,703,115.) Our average cost per match in 2007 was $1103.
 
In 2008 the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors includes the following community leaders:
 
            RJ Haughey, Board Chair
            Dr. Tracy McPhail, Chair-Elect
            Bill Nipper, Immediate Past Chair
            Lynn Woods, Treasurer
            Drew Jenkins, Secretary
            Gordon Hill, Vice President of Board Development
            Beth Bennett, Vice President of Resource Development
 
Amy Martinez-Monfort continues to chair the Hillsborough County Leadership Council in 2008, and Christina Moore took over the leadership of the Polk County Leadership Council, which will now be known as the Big Brothers Big Sisters Community Resource Board for Polk County. The Pasco County Leadership Council is still developing and growing, will elect a chair later in 2008. 
 
At its board retreat in January, Melissa Wikle, a CPA and an executive with MetLife Insurance, and local attorney JC Dominquez, owner of Tropical Surveillance and Investigations, were both elected to our board of directors. 
  
           
Last Updated February 10, 2008