Community Corner

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Appoints New Executive Director

Watertown native Renee Gaudette was selected to succeed long-time director Allen Gallagher.

The Watertown Boys and Girls Club will have a new leader after more than two decades.

S. Kelley MacDonald, Chairman of the Board of the Watertown Boys and Girls Club announced this week that the Board of Directors appointed Renee Gaudette, a Watertown native, as executive director of the club, succeeding Allen F. Gallagher, who announced his retirement after 21 years.

Gaudette has more than 12 years’ experience in leading youth organizations, and she most recently held the position of Executive Director of Camping Services for the Newton YMCA, according to a release from the Boys and Girls Club. While she was there Gaudette oversaw a $2 million budget and a camping program for 3,500 campers. 

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She also worked at the Boys and Girls Club of Providence and at the Jackie Robinson Park of Fame.

“The Board of Directors is most excited to have Gaudette join our Club as its executive director. She has the experience and passion to lead our Club to the next level, complementing Gallagher’s leadership over many years," MacDonald said. "The Club will benefit from her experience in program and staff development, as well as fund raising. She has broad operational management experience and has an extensive knowledge of non-profit finance.”

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Gaudette brings not only her experience working at places like the Boys and Girls Club, but also from attending the one in Watertown, said Club President Brendon Kilcoyne. She played basketball there and went on to be a star on the Watertown High School basketball team. This spring she was inducted into the Watertown High School Athletic Hall of Fame. 

"She offers some new ideas to expand our programming and should hit the ground running. She is familiar with the Club, having benefited from its programs as a young Watertown basketball player," Kilcoyne said.

Gaudette said she looks forward to working at the club.

“I look forward to leading the Club that was instrumental in developing me as a young athlete and in influencing me to work with youth," Gaudette said. "I feel I have developed the knowledge and skills to work with the staff to continue the fine programs we have and to introduce some new ideas. I look forward to working with the Board of Directors of the Club, as well as those leaders in Watertown who value the work of the Club on behalf of our young people.”


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