Why leadership changes are coming to the Boys & Girls of Volusia/Flagler Clubs

Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties, Inc. are looking for new leadership after the outgoing longtime CEO fired a whistleblower who raised concerns about his use of grant money and accused him of harassment.

As news of the confusion spread, the Volusia County Council on Tuesday delayed approving a nearly $575,000 grant for the Boys and Girls Clubs, with council members saying they wanted to investigate the situation more thoroughly before handing over taxpayer money to the Seven-Club. A 50-employee organization based in DeLand.

In a telephone interview Monday, general manager Joe Sullivan, who founded the first club in Deltona in 1992 and has since run the Volusia/Flagler clubs, described the end of his career as “heartbreaking.”

Board Chairman Jaime Bracero issued a statement Tuesday evening in which he promised to continue all club operations and programs as normal.

“For over 30 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties has provided youth with a safe, inclusive space, best-in-class programs and development opportunities,” Bracero’s statement read in part.

Lisa Ryals, the organization’s former chief operating officer, accuses Sullivan, her former boss, of retaliating against her after she shared information with the Boys & Girls Club of America, an umbrella national organization, that Sullivan had misappropriated $15,800 in grants that were intended for disadvantaged club members.

Sullivan, in an interview Monday, acknowledged mistakes but said he was the victim of a “witch hunt” after Ryals weakened his position and attempted a “coup.” He planned to retire in February.

Sullivan met with the Boys & Girls Clubs board of directors on Tuesday and referred questions to Bracero about his status.

“(The board) is aware of the concerns that have been raised regarding the overall operations of the organization and the CEO,” the statement read. “Our board confirms that an interim CEO will join the organization soon to support the current CEO’s retirement.”

The board also began a search for a long-term successor to Sullivan, whom Bracero described as a leader “who values and embodies the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs and is aligned with the organization’s long-term strategic goals.”

As for specific questions about Sullivan’s status and departure date, Bracero, declining further comment, cited the “confidential nature of operational and personnel information.”

Was there a power struggle involved?

Talking to Sullivan and Ryals, as well as reviewing the correspondence each of them wrote regarding the event, revealed several things.

Ryals was interested in replacing Sullivan as CEO, which Sullivan did not want.

Ryals denied Sullivan’s claims that she was trying to push him aside ahead of his retirement date. She stated that she was not expressing concerns about the misappropriation of the grant out of spite, but rather following her moral compass and doing the right thing.

Ryals and Sullivan agree she was fired in August. They disagree on why. However, they both expressed hope that it would be possible to regain public trust in the organization due to its mission: serving defenseless children.

“Boys & Girls Clubs has truly done incredible work to change and save the lives of countless young people, and I have been very fortunate to have been a part of them for over 25 years,” Ryals wrote in an email to The News-Journal. “But over the last year or so, everything changed… due to uncovered embezzlement and I was named, discriminated against and wrongfully fired as a whistleblower.”

How were Hank Aaron grant funds misused?

Ryals accuses Sullivan of misappropriating $15,800 from a grant established by late baseball player Hank Aaron and his wife Billye to help Boys & Girls Club members who have demonstrated athletic ability but who may lack the resources to reach their full potential by joining leagues . participation in camps and purchase of equipment.

Ryals alleged – which Sullivan later admitted – of funneling funds to an inactive club member whose family income was above guidelines. She also alleged that Sullivan had an employee retroactively enter the boy’s attendance into the club’s electronic system.

In an email obtained by The News-Journal and verified by Ryals, she said she provided the Boys & Girls Clubs of America with information about the scholarship in March. Hank Aaron. The national organization could take no action other than to advise local authorities, but “their advice fell on deaf ears,” Ryals wrote, while “workplace toxicity increased exponentially.”

Sullivan said he gave the employee $2,000 to $3,000 a year for seven years to help her son, a wrestler, go to camps, buy equipment such as wrestling shoes and get better at the sport. Sullivan said the boy was once a member of the Boys & Girls Club but was not active when the money was supposed to help him.

“Maybe I made some mistakes last year? Yes,” Sullivan said.

“We dealt with it. We refunded the money,” Sullivan said. “Someone tried to run me off the road and make me look bad.”

Tensions mount at a staff meeting

The hostility between Ryals and Sullivan unfolded on Aug. 8 during a staff meeting at a nearby restaurant.

Sullivan told The News-Journal that the Florida Legislature eliminated nearly $7 million of the $18 million given to Boys & Girls Clubs of Florida last year and that some federal funding was also cut.

When he announced further challenges for the 2024 budget at a staff meeting, he noted that the Volusia/Flagler Clubs had incurred losses of $426,000 while facing another challenge, he stated in an Aug. 9 memo to the board. The organization had to “dramatically raise” the salaries of club directors to keep them exempt from working overtime after passing a new Department of Labor threshold.

Part of his plan was to reassign two employees, including Ryals, to new duties.

“It didn’t end well. Lisa exploded, saying that… I was disrespectful to the entire staff by sharing these details with them, and she lost all respect for me as a leader and supervisor. This happened after she said this was what she wanted,” Sullivan wrote in the note.

Ryals saw it differently.

“I have been publicly reprimanded, humiliated and demoted in front of the entire (Boys and Girls Clubs) staff as well as the restaurant staff… our CHILDREN (to whom I have once again apologized profusely for your unprofessional behavior),” Ryals wrote in her email to board members. “You discriminated against me many times because of my sexual orientation, exposed me to the former management and the public, and humiliated my gender.”

Ryals, a lesbian, said she met with an employment lawyer about a possible sexual harassment claim.

Meanwhile, in his memo, Sullivan complained that board leadership was closing meetings “due to… my performance as CEO. In my 33 years of service, I have never been excluded from a board and/or committee meeting.

“… It is difficult, after so many years of building this organization from the ground up, to remain in the dark about concerns about my performance,” Sullivan wrote. “I feel like I’m having a hard time at work because I don’t know what’s going on, what the concerns are and from whom.”

Support for Boys and Girls Clubs is declining

It wasn’t a good sign for the Boys & Girls Clubs on Tuesday when the Volusia County Council, instead of voting to approve more than $2.5 million in grants to local nonprofits, put the issue up for further review. The grant is $571,724 for Volusia/Flagler, but board members reported receiving emails informing them of “disagreement” and “friction” within the Boys & Girls Clubs leadership.

County Chairman Jeff Brower said he would not vote for the funding unless the Boys & Girls Clubs portion of the funding was separated from the larger pool.

“It’s hard to say because all of us support the Boy & Girls Club,” Brower said. “I’ve heard from not just one email, but several from people directly involved who say they support the program but feel there are real problems at the top with how the money is handled.”

Brower noted that the support came directly from taxpayers, so council members need to “make sure we’re not misusing” the funds.

“It makes us look like we are playing against Boys & Girls. Quite the opposite,” Brower said. “We want the money to be spent properly, not wasted.”

Ryals said the organization lost “hundreds of thousands of dollars” as a result of “critical violations” reported to the national Boys & Girls Club of America.

Among those dropping support is Jeep Beach Inc., a nonprofit organization that raises money for charity by hosting annual events that attract Jeep owners to Daytona Beach. Ryals said Jeep Beach has withdrawn its entire annual support of at least $94,000 after donating more than $700,000 since 2012.

Charlene Greer, general manager of Jeep Beach, said she did not want to comment on the matter.

The Boys & Girls Club of America met with the local board

John Miller, senior vice president of affiliate relations for the national Boys & Girls Club of America, wrote to Bracero, the board chairman, on September 3, identifying concerns and proposing a meeting, which has since taken place.

“The purpose of the meeting will be to provide support and resources to your organization so that you can maintain good standing with Boys & Girls Clubs of America,” Miller wrote.

He identified seven concerns, ranging from “potential retaliation against an employee for raising concerns, which is a potential violation of Sarbanes Oxley whistleblower requirements and creates significant risk and exposure,” the potential misuse of the Hank Aaron grant, and “significant risk” to funding and loss of public confidence in community.”

Miller did not directly respond to questions, but the organization issued a statement explaining that the clubs operate independently and staffing and operational decisions are made at the local level.

“However, if issues arise that potentially threaten the governance or public trust of a local Boys & Girls Club member organization, BGCA has an obligation to its member organizations to uphold the provisions of the Constitution of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and to provide guidance and consultation at all times, offering resources and support,” the statement reads.

The senator confirms Ryals’ credibility

Ryals, who is currently trying to find a new job, said she does not want to return to the CEO position.

However, state Sen. Tom Wright, R-Port Orange, wrote a letter of recommendation calling her an “ideal successor” to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler.

“I have known Lisa Ryals for almost 10 years, and throughout that time she has consistently impressed me as someone who is credible, determined and compassionate in her service to Boys & Girls Clubs and the children who count on this organization and her every day,” Wright wrote in the letter of September 10.

“It is a testament to her character and work ethic that she dedicated so much of her life to serving others,” Wright continued.

Ryals said her heart was broken, but added there were still “wonderful staff” who had done “incredible work” for thousands of children over the years.

“It’s about these kids and our community,” she said. “We are a strong, amazing community and we will get through this.”