The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri has a new executive director who brings more than two decades of club experience to his home state.
It was announced last week Gary Beckman has been hired to lead the organization, which has club sites in all Sedalia elementary schools, a downtown Sedalia teen site, and sites in Cole Camp, Green Ridge, La Monte, Leeton and Smithton. Beckman has worked for the Boys & Girls Club for about 22 years, most recently working for 16 years as the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Livingston County in Pontiac, Illinois.
“We’re proud to have Gary leading our organization,” BGCWCM Board President Matt Melville said in a news release. “He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in providing a safe, stable, fun and educational place for kids to go when school is not in session. We look forward to introducing him to the communities we serve.”
Beckman said his first BGC director position was with a club moving its site from its own building to a school gym, which increased club member enrollment. His second position was with a club that hosted an annual campaign to expand their own building, so he’s had experience in both settings.
“Ultimately we all have the same goals for our kids which is to set them up for success and allow them to explore, experiment with educational options and career choices,” Beckman. “Find ways to enhance their learning process and things they can learn through volunteerism, integrated into various STEAM and STEM programs. More hands-on rather than just reading it out of a book.”
Beckman and his wife Jocelyn have three sons, including one stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, and a daughter.
He is originally from La Plata, and grew up a Mizzou Tigers and Kansas City Royals fan. He said he’s looking forward to being closer to friends and family, and his favorite teams.
His career with BGC wasn’t initially planned. Beckman earned a bachelor’s in exercise science from Truman State University with the plan to work for YMCAs after some internships with the organization. He got a YMCA job in Illinois after graduation, and later found out about his first club job.
“It was one of those natural fits,” Beckman said. “I’ve always been sports-oriented, involved in sports and enjoyed coaching. This allows me to do coaching in a different aspect, setting kids up for a successful pattern for their life — how to make correct choices and deal with when things don’t go as planned.”
At his previous clubs, Beckman’s office was in the main club site. With his office now in the BGCWCM administration building, he’s making it a point to visit each club site “so I don’t lose that connection,” he said.
“Being with the clubs for 22 and a half years, you see kids who have grown up and now their kids are coming through the club,” Beckman said. “The impact of that, the ripple effect you have — that’s where our goal is, to continue that ripple effect and affect generations beyond us.”
After a week on the job in Sedalia, Beckman said he’s looking forward to building on the club’s current success.
“I look forward to being part of the Sedalia community,” he said. “I’ve met several people already that have strong ties to the club either through service or gifts of different kinds. That’s exciting to see there’s a lot of support because there’s a need in the community. I was active in Pontiac in terms of knowing parents, school administrators, donors, business people, families, so I’m excited to get involved in that here.”
