Ceary Thomas has been named the new Chief Operating Officer of the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club. As a former attendee, Thomas said the club’s mission is meaningful to her and she hopes to use her experience to help others in the community.
Thomas attended the Club’s former Wightman Unit as a youth and is excited to pay it forward in her new role as COO.
“The mission of the Boys & Girls Club is special to me,” Thomas said. “As a child that grew up in a single-parent household, I know how important it was for my mother to have a safe and positive place for my sisters and I to attend while she worked. Through my own experiences, education, and the help of the great team at the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club, I hope to make an impact on the future of the youth in our community.”
Thomas said she is looking forward to the upcoming projects the organization has planned, including a workforce development program at our Mike Horn Unit in Owensboro that will introduce teens in the community to technical trades and education opportunities in the area.
Thomas most recently served as the success coach for the Advanced Manufacturing & Transportation Programs at Owensboro Community & Technical College and was employed with the college for more than 9 years.
Thomas is a first-generation college graduate and an alumna of both OCTC and Western Kentucky University, where she earned a degree in organizational leadership.
“I am thrilled that Ceary has joined our team,” said Steve Winkler, the club’s Chief Executive Officer. “Her knowledge of higher education and technical trades, in addition to her experience as a Club member, is a tremendous asset to our organization. We are happy to have her help in improving the lives of our Club members.”
