“Find out what you like doing best, and get someone to pay you for doing it.”

-Katharine Whitehorn

            For nearly 160 people employed at Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County (BGCSLC) that quote from Katherine Whitehorn resonates strongly. To do the job that needs to be done you must have a built-in passion for working directly with kids in a way that empowers them.

Their passions have been recognized this week by the St. Lucie County Human Resource Association when BGCSLC was honored with the ‘Best Places to Work’ award during their annual luncheon.

BGCSLC was recognized through a complex algorithm factoring in turnover, growth, training, benefits, promotions, work environment, and more.

Kaitlyn Spera started with BGCSLC three years ago as a school-based Club director and now serves as a Clubhouse director at the Garden Terrace Club “There is nothing more rewarding than getting to wake up, come to work, and be the caring adult a child needs in their lives. Working alongside amazing, dedicated, youth professionals who truly care for the well-being of our members is a bonus. We all share the same vision and it’s very empowering.” said Spera.

Some of the more notable recognitions were related to the COVID environment everybody has been working through since early spring. BGCSLC Human Resources department provided extensive messaging to employees to keep them up to date about the latest safety protocols for themselves and the ClubKids they work with. Breakfasts were cooked and prepared to show support for employees working in the community.

“I am elated for the well-deserved recognition the team received today from St. Lucie County’s HR Association as one of the ‘Best Places to Work’. On behalf of the board, we congratulate Mr. Armstead and his team for the hard work and dedication to keep our clubs moving forward in an incredibly safe and smart way during the pandemic.” said Leslie Kristof, board chair for BGCSLC and Keiser University campus president in Port St. Lucie.

Kayla Turner recently was promoted from a school-based club director at Westgate K8 to the Chuck Hill club director. “I take pride in really sitting and mentoring the kids we serve who need us most. The real gift is seeing the transformation of character in the kids we serve and knowing that your efforts played a vital role,” said Turner.

BGCSLC was able to maintain its staff during COVID in several ways, one being innovative in creating the Camp-A-Thon at the MidFlorida Event Center which allowed the children of the essential employees to do their jobs while knowing their children were being cared for safely.

“Hiring new staff members is so important because they will be the ones on the front lines having direct contact with the youth. We want them to know they have the support of the entire staff to do the best job they can for the youths we serve at one of the Best Places to Work in St. Lucie County,” said Will Armstead, CEO of BGCSLC.