Erin Gilliatt, Executive Director

 

As the Executive Director, Ms. Gilliatt has general oversight for all Club functions, including working with the board to plan and implement the budget; supervision of the full and part-time staff; oversight over Club facilities; compliance with state, local and BGCA regulations; and fundraising.

 

Ms. Gilliatt has been with the EPBGC since Sept. 2000, when she joined the staff as Director of Development.  She assumed the role of Executive Director in January 2004.  Since becoming Executive Director, she has been responsible for funding and completing a $1 mil capital improvement project (the Williams Avenue Expansion), restructuring the Club Board of Directors, and ensuring that current Club programs are based on industry best practices, with a focus on measuring program outcomes.

 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University.  Prior to joining the Club, she was a Program Assistant at the Johns Hopkins University Institute for Policy Studies, Center for Civil Society Studies’ Third Sector Project, a training of trainers program which worked with nonprofit executives in Central and Eastern Europe in the post-Communist period.  She assisted in writing handbooks on Marketing, Fundraising, and Board Development that were translated into seven languages.

 

Martin DeCosta, Associate Director

As the Associate Director,  Mr. DeCosta is responsible for maintaining Club facilities, overseeing day-to-day program operations, supervising part-time program staff, and assisting with the measurement of Club programs.

 

Mr. DeCosta has been with the EPBGC since June 1999 as a full-time employee; he was employed as a part-time lifeguard beginning in June 1996.  During his tenure as a full-time employee, he has served as teen director, unit director, and director of operations, leaving him uniquely qualified to provide oversight for these positions.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Babson College, where he concentrated in Nonprofit Management.

 

Karla Peetz, Program Director

Ms. Peetz joined the Club team in October 2016 as the Program Director.  In this role, she provides oversight for the program strategy at all three Club units, as well as, direct supervision and planning for the activities run at the Williams Avenue Unit.  She is also responsible for measuring program outcomes.  She received a Bachelors Degree in History and Education from the University of Massachusetts.  She holds a Rhode Island Early Learning Certificate and has been trained on the current DCYF standards and in Bright Stars.  She previously served as a director for another large non-profit in Providence.

 

 

Chris Lavendier, Hennessey School Site Director

 

Mr. Lavendier joined the Club team in September 2014 as the Director of the Hennessey School site.  He also oversees the Club’s summer camp program.  Mr. Lavendier came to the Club after several years at a similar school-based site in Cranston.    Mr. Lavendier holds a Master’s Degree in History from Northeast University and Bachelors degree in History and minor in music from RI College.  He has taught private music lessons for 20 years.