SAN JOSE, CA, September 9, 2020 — Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley (BGCSV) announced today that the Board of Directors has unanimously named Steve Wymer as the next President & Chief Executive Officer effective September 21. BGCSV conducted their search process with the assistance of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s CEO Search Team.
“In the midst of unprecedented and challenging times, the programs and services the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley offer are needed more than ever,” said Kathy Hevland, Chair, Board of Directors, Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley. “After several months partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to find the next President and CEO of our organization, the Board unanimously concluded that Steve Wymer is the right leader to step into this critical leadership role as our entire region seeks to serve those in need. Children and teens face ever-increasing challenges in Silicon Valley and I am excited to partner with Steve with a singular focus on growing our Clubs to have an even greater impact for those in need.”
Wymer brings a diverse array of experiences to Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley. Prior to his tenure in technology, he served as a senior advisor to three Senators in the United States Senate in Washington, D.C., as well as time as an advisor on the staff of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee. Steve was elected President of the bipartisan U.S. Senate Press Secretaries Association in 2010. During his time in Washington, he also served the U.S. Department of State on multiple occasions as a delegate to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Albania where he spoke at universities, conducted workshops, and led trainings for political activists and journalists throughout each country.
In 2011, Steve left Washington, D.C. for Silicon Valley where he joined TiVo Inc. Throughout his five years at TiVo, Steve lead corporate affairs and communications and immersed himself in the South Bay community. Upon leaving TiVo, Steve served in executive roles at Nextdoor.com where he led communications and policy, and eBay, where he led global communications and chaired the company’s corporate foundation.
Steve graduated Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication where he was a Thomas S. Foley Scholar. As undergraduate, Steve served an unprecedented three terms as student body president from 1998-2001, leveraging his tenure to drive a cadre of policy reforms and facility and service improvements that continue to benefit students to this day. In 2008, he completed graduate studies in business and political negotiations at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
In addition to many hours volunteering each year on behalf of the Special Olympics of Northern California, Steve currently sits on the Board of Directors and chair of the Finance Committee for Team San Jose, the public-private partnership constructed to drive economic vitality for the region with oversite of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center and the City’s theaters and performance venues. Steve and his wife, Michele, live in San Jose with their four young children.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said, “I am thrilled to see a person as energetic, uplifting, and capable as Steve step into this role. Steve can take this critically important organization—and the thousands of vulnerable children that Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley serves—to the next level. Steve has a long-standing passion and track record for helping children overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and his combination of integrity and extensive private-sector executive experience will make the Boys & Girls Clubs a powerful force for good.”
Nirav Tolia, co-founder and former President & CEO of Nextdoor.com added, “Steve Wymer is a fantastic choice for this role. Steve joined us at Nextdoor during a critical juncture as we brought the platform to international communities and scaled the company to new heights. Steve’s incredible energy and passion for community inspired his work and we were all better for it. I’m immensely proud to call Steve a friend and look forward to supporting him and the work of the Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley in any way possible.”
Carl Guardino, who recently concluded a 23 year tenure as President & CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group added, “Steve Wymer brings amazing lifeforce to everything he does and I could not be more excited to see how the Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley impacts the region under Steve’s leadership. The honor of working hand in glove with some of the technology industry’s greatest CEOs for more than two decades gave me a front row seat to witness what servant leaders can accomplish. I am supremely confident that Steve’s leadership ability, integrity, and passion for others will be a catalyst for the Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley and I look forward to being of service any way possible.”
Scott Murphy, Senior Vice President of Strategic Leadership Development at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, said, “On behalf of all of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, I am very happy to welcome Steve Wymer, as the new CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley. As the Silicon Valley community continues to navigate this unprecedented time, Steve stood out as the right person to lead the organization and I look forward to the many ways his talent, experience, and passion for serving youth will create lasting impact for the children and teens who need us most.” For Steve, the BGCSV opportunity is an honor. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity for my job to meet my purpose. As a father of four young children, my commitment to helping shape responsible, kind, community leaders in my own home is the most important job I will ever have. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of young people in Silicon Valley face increasingly daunting challenges navigating access to equal opportunity, affordable housing, food insecurity, and more. I could not be more inspired to serve in this capacity, work with the incredible BGCSV team, and lead the charge in our Valley to serve our young people. I plan to humbly challenge our community leaders, my friends and colleagues in the business community, and myself on a daily basis to play an even bigger role in supporting BGCSV’s mission to empower and equip young people in need. I’ve never been more fired up to make an impact,” said Wymer.
As President & CEO, Steve will serve as the organization’s primary ambassador, leading strategic direction, overseeing organizational operations, financials, programming, brand reputation, talent recruitment, resource development, and stakeholder relationships. In partnership with his team, Steve will oversee the organization’s 14 locations and report to BGCSV Board Chair, Kathy Hevland.
ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SILICON VALLEY
Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley is a non-profit youth development organization founded in 1944 that offers innovative and effective afterschool and summer enrichment programs primarily for low income, at-risk Santa Clara County youth ages 6-18 years. We serve approximately 3,000 regular members at 14 Clubhouse locations in San Jose, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy. Our mission is to inspire and empower all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring adults. For more information, please contact Boys & Girls Clubs at [email protected] or (408) 975-9685
