Anthem Executive Seeking CEO for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson
November 12, 2025 – Executive recruitment firm Anthem Executive was recently retained by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson (BGCT) to lead in its search for a new CEO. Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy are leading the assignment. The non-profit seeks a transformational and decisive CEO to lead the organization through a critical period of change and renewal.
Reporting directly to the board of directors, the CEO will act as both a strategic visionary and hands-on operator, while laying the foundation for growth. This leader will build on current momentum to scale impact for youth, strengthen partnerships, and deliver measurable outcomes aligned to BGCT’s mission. They must be capable of making decisions with integrity, rallying stakeholders, and inspiring confidence in the organization’s mission. The CEO ensures that BGCT delivers high-quality, impactful youth development programs; secures sustainable resources; fosters strong partnerships; and maintains the highest ethical and professional standards. Experience in leading multi-site youth development organizations is preferred.
Anthem Executive is looking for candidates with a bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field preferred. Those applying should have a minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience, with at least three years in a senior executive or CEO role in a non-profit, education, or youth-serving organization, preferably in a turnaround, restructuring, or high-change environment. Equivalent experience in other related organizations may be considered.
Courageous and decisive leadership with the ability to make tough, timely decisions is essential as well as proven change management skills and the ability to advance a board-approved financial stability plan. Strong financial acumen, including turnaround budgeting, cash flow management, and fiscal discipline are also desired.
Related: Anthem Executive Assists Texas A&M International University with President Search
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for young people, particularly those from underserved communities. Established in 1957, it serves thousands of youth each year across multiple clubhouses in the Tucson area. The organization focuses on fostering academic success, healthy lifestyles, and strong character development through after-school programs, mentorship, sports, arts, and leadership opportunities.
Proven Search Consultants
Anthem Executive, headquartered in Houston, TX, serves clients across a range of business sectors, including higher education, health sciences, corporate and non-profit institutions, global software and technology, private equity, insurance, service and manufacturing, oil and gas, and others. Its consultants bring a combined 80 years’ experience in the search industry. The firm’s higher education practice spans the entire leadership spectrum. In other sectors, Anthem Executive covers all roles from CEO and other C-suite leaders, board directors, vice president, and directors, among others.
Mr. Ballew, a registered Native American and member of the Echota Cherokee Tribe, serves as the firm’s chief diversity, inclusion, equity, and compliance officer, as well as search committee facilitator. He joined the executive search industry 14 years ago following a 20-plus year career in senior-level management with expertise in recruiting, counseling, training, operations, strategic planning, facilitation, project management, and workplace diversity.
Mr. Watson has been in the executive search industry for over 30 years. In addition to higher education institutions, he has served hospital and health systems, global software and technology companies, private equity enterprises, MCOs, insurance companies, service and manufacturing organizations with global footprints, and others.
Mr. Wheless, a veteran of more than two decades in the search industry, has served a broad portfolio of clients across many industry lines on behalf of organizations ranging from small operations to Fortune $100 billion plus enterprises – including working with and recruiting some of the nation’s most influential leadership. Mr. Wheless has served institutions and organizations across a broad range of geographies and sectors in higher education, technology, healthcare, energy, financial services, law, insurance, hospitality and food services, retail, CPG, EPC, manufacturing, aerospace, mining, construction, and real estate.
Ms. Stawowy, who has been in executive search for over 20 years, is a core member of the higher education and academic health practice. Over the last two decades, she has developed deep expertise in senior‐level search, having been charged with numerous executive leadership transitions with a particular emphasis on higher education and academic health search.
Related: Anthem Executive Assists Midwestern State University with President Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
