Jeff Scott, a Parma native who went from working various jobs in his family’s construction business to holding key leadership roles in the banking, technology and manufacturing industries, is the first president and chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio.
Scott, a former vice president of strategy at KeyBank in Cleveland and most recently the general manager for Austin, Texas-based Q2 Marketplace, was chosen to lead BGCNEO, which was formed in July 2019 by the merger of Clubs in Cleveland, Akron, Lorain County and Sandusky. Scott, who was a Boys & Girls Club mentor for nearly four years while attending Huntington (Ind.) University, takes over a nonprofit with 39 locations and about 8,600 members in five counties. The sites have been closed since March 13 because of the pandemic; with no certain date for reopening the Clubs, the organization is now offering virtual programming for kids.
Scott, who lives in Brecksville, said he is grateful for the opportunity.
“Given the current state of the world and the difficult circumstances many of our communities and families are facing, it is humbling and an honor to join a great team committed to helping our youth succeed,” Scott said. “Our mission remains the same, but the stakes are even higher now. There is no more important work to be doing than this, and I’m confident in our collective ability to help our communities navigate this complex situation. Our newly combined entity only strengthens our ability to serve and make a difference.”
Ron Soeder, who has been serving as BGCNEO’s interim president and CEO while the organization conducted a nationwide search that led to Scott’s hiring, will stay on to help with the transition.
Scott grew up in Parma and graduated from Normandy High School. He first worked in his family’s construction business, M.L. Scott & Sons. After graduating from college, he returned to Cleveland to work for KeyBank. His experience also includes leadership roles at Q2, technology startups and an aerospace manufacturing firm. While pursuing his business career, Scott performed standup comedy for seven years.
Scott and his wife, Jessica, a Concord Township native and Riverside High School graduate who works for KeyBank, have two sons. They enjoy spending time in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and in the Cleveland Metroparks Brecksville Reservation.
Boys & Girls Clubs provide safe, fun places for kids ages 6-18 to go after school. The clubs focus on academic achievement, healthy lifestyles and character development. The clubs’ youth development professionals provide programming that includes arts, athletics and homework help.
