The Boys & Girls Clubs of North County have announced the selection of a new Chief Professional Officer (CPO) to oversee the six sites that serve some 1,100 youth in the greater Fallbrook area.

Allison Barclay, who has been with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake for 18 years, most recently serving as vice president, will step into the position on Oct. 22.

"We had over 100 applicants," said interim CPO Donna Reisbeck-Stoewer, who has led the club since the departure of Abe Oliveras on June 29. Oliveras held the position for ten years.

"We did phone interviews with 20 applicants and then selected five finalists to meet with our five-person interview committee," said Resibeck-Stoewer.

Reisbeck-Stoewer said the number of finalists was then reduced to three, and a careful analysis followed.

"At that point we had to determine who would be the strongest person for us to select; that would fit in with our club and community," she said.

"We need [Barclay] to make a big difference here, especially in fundraising and revenue building," said Reisbeck-Stoewer.

"It’s a very exciting time right now because we are starting our annual fundraiser called the Great Futures campaign, formerly known as Step Up to the Plate," said Reisbeck-Stoewer. The campaign starts Oct. 1 and continues through January.

"The goal of that fundraising campaign is to raise $100,000" she said.

Barclay will lead the 50 staff members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North County and plans to relocate to Fallbrook with her family.

"We will create an event to celebrate her arrival where community supporters can come meet her," said Reisbeck-Stoewer. That event will be announced in a future issue of the Village News.