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PARKERSBURG — The Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg announced the expansion of its senior leadership team.
The expansion is in response to ongoing growth as well as a strategic plan for increased organizational capacity, according to a release from the Club.
Justin Clark assumed the role of chief operating officer effective Oct. 2. He previously served as executive director of the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Charleston, along with years of experience with Clubs in northeast Tennessee.
Clark holds a master of public administration and nonprofit management degree, as well as certification as a tier II trainer through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Training Initiative with specializations in racial equity inclusion. He also holds certificates in adult mental health first aid from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, DEI management from the American Management Institute and the people manager qualification from the Society of Human Resource Management.
Clark lives in Charleston with his wife Anne Marie, their sons Asher and Simeon and Anne Marie’s grandmother, Dora.
“Bringing Justin into our organization is one of the best things I have done since arriving in Parkersburg,” Club CEO Lynn Reins said. “He brings years of experience, true passion for our mission and an unbelievable drive to always be moving us forward. He just happens to also be a phenomenal trainer, and our staff are getting the very best professional development possible. I can’t wait to see where we are this time next year due to his guidance and leadership because I know without a shadow of a doubt, we will be serving more youth at a higher quality.”
Darlene Parsons will assume the role of unit director effective Dec. 4. She most recently served as owner and director of the Vienna Learning Center. Her previous experience includes serving as the teen director at the Club, teaching in public and private schools in West Virginia and North Carolina and serving for five years as principal of Van Devender Middle School. Parsons was instrumental in securing 21st Century Community Learning Center funding for Club Vandy, a partnership between the Boys & Girls Club and Van Devender which continues to operate daily.
Parsons holds degrees in journalism and elementary education from WVU Parkersburg, a master’s in elementary education from Marshall University and a master’s in educational leadership from Wheeling Jesuit University. She is in the process of completing her master’s in counseling at Divine Mercy University.
Parsons is a proud mother of five and grandmother of six. She lives with her husband Toby and their two cats.
“We are beyond excited to have Darlene joining our team,” Reins said. “With her years of experience (in) education and child care, we know that she will bring new insight into how we serve our Club members. We are on to bigger and better things.”