People

“The real strength in our organization comes from the many people who give their advice and support to our efforts. Every person has talents. But no-one is good at everything. It takes all of us sharing our strengths to create value for the people for which we work.” – Roger Smith

Executive Director – Roger Smith

He has been “Mr. Smith” to children and youth for almost two decades, including as a swim official for the Catholic Youth Organization, and as an adult leader and backpacking advisor in the Boy Scouts. After retiring from banking, Mr. Smith became a school bus driver. Working with kids is his passion.

During his career, he had many roles which placed him managing people directly, or as a project manager or program manager. A professional problem solver who understood the people with which he worked, and leveraged their talents to produce large successful results. His favorite work however was helping people set up their finances and habits to enable their life goals.

After retiring, Mr. Smith planned to use his past experience to develop programs which provide life tools for those who have had challenges in their life. He has a special interest in developing programs to help single-parent youth, or foster youth who will be aging-out of the system. Growing up as an adopted child, he nonetheless felt he had many advantages. He considered himself blessed and compelled to share with others. His feeling is ‘there but for the grace of God go I’.

“The kids call me Mr. Smith. You can call me Roger.” – Roger Smith