Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee’s CEO, Carlyle Carroll, has decided to pass the baton after five years leading the youth mentoring organization.
Carroll’s dynamic leadership had allowed the regional mentoring organization to grow over 60% in annual revenue, enabling the organization to create new programs and better serve children with a mentor.
While serving as CEO, Carroll implemented new procedures improving volunteer processes and strengthened employee compensation significantly for the organization. He also identified changes in volunteer trends and community responses, and implemented two new efforts that each aided in more children being served by adult mentors.
Carroll created a partnership with Lyft car ride service allowing volunteers with commute concerns during their lunch hour an option making the school based mentoring program possible. He also was instrumental in the agency launching an e-mentoring program where high school students and professionals meet primarily online working through joint assignments and discussions, coupled with multiple in person meetings.
Carroll was the top individual fundraiser in last month’s Over the Edge event when he not only raised more than $23,000 from friends and family… but he rappelled 291 feet down the Bank of America Plaza. That event was not an isolated incident, last year he raised more than $10,000 and rappelled the Omni Nashville Hotel. In 2017 he rallied the construction and development industry to raise more than $20,000 during the annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser raiser. He made fundraising on behalf of children in need of a mentor a priority during his time as CEO.
In addition to these many successes, he has also served as a volunteer mentor to three different youth in Middle Tennessee through the agency’s mentoring program – Treyon, age eight when they met and “matched” for three years until family relocated in the community based mentoring program. He was also matched with Anthony, age 12 for a year and a half and then Edwin, age 12 for year in the agency’s school based mentoring program at Cameron Middle School in Nashville.
Carroll has energetically served the organization for the past five years after spending over 30 years in his first career in Economic Development, much of that time with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.
“As CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, Carlyle championed the needs of at-risk youth and successfully grew the organization—both through programs and services and funding resources to make those services available—to be able to help more of those youth,” commented Matt Knight, Board of Directors President. “We know his commitment to mentoring young people in this community will never disappear. He is a true Big Brother and friend to this agency.”
Carroll’s last day with Big Brothers Big Sisters will be June 8, and replacing him will be Melissa Hudson-Gant, a Nashville native returning home from Asheville, NC after serving as Vice President of Philanthropy and Chapter Development for the Pediatric Brain Cancer Foundation.
“Melissa’s background and enthusiasm will make her a great successor to Carlyle,” added Knight. “We believe she will continue to grow the organization and meet the needs of our community.”
The primary administrative offices for Big Brothers Big Sisters are located at 1704 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 130 in Nashville. To better serve children, the agency also has satellite offices in Murfreesboro and Springfield. To learn more, visit www.mentorakid.org or call (615) 329-9191.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. These improvements help children create better schools, safer neighborhoods, and make healthier choices. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a volunteer and donor driven organization that matches children in need with a positive adult role model. Revenue generated is used to conduct background checks and screening of prospective volunteers to ensure child safety, and provide ongoing professional support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee serves children all across Middle Tennessee in Metro Nashville/Davidson county as well as Williamson, Rutherford, Cheatham, Dickson, Robertson, Sumner, and Wilson counties. You can help a child overcome adversity and better position themselves to reach their potential in Middle Tennessee by going to www.mentorakid.org or calling (615) 329-9191.
