Boys & Girls Clubs CEO announces resignation
Smiley indicates personal struggles amid accomplishments
The president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, who was arrested in October on several misdemeanor counts related to driving while intoxicated, has submitted his resignation, effective Dec. 5.
In a statement provided to the Post-Tribune, Ryan A. Smiley, 45, cited his accomplishments in the more than 10 years he has been with the organization and noted personal struggles that led to his pending resignation.
“It is for these reasons that I do not currently feel fully capable, committed, nor competent of providing the type of leadership I’ve previously offered to the Boys & Girls Clubs organization,” he said. He said he is stepping down “as a result of my current mental health and well being, and in the interest of the organization.”
The nonprofit’s board placed him on administrative leave after his arrest, saying in a statement at the time, “These charges of misconduct are inconsistent with employee conduct standards as established by the governing board.”
Police said Smiley’s blood
alcohol content was 0.34% at the time of his arrest, more than four times the legal limit for the state of Indiana.
According to Smiley’s profile on LinkedIn, he has served as president and CEO of the organization since January 2018. Before the Porter and Lake County clubs merged in 2018, he served as president of the Porter County clubs for more than four years, and previously was director of operations there.
In 10 years, the operating budget for the clubs has grown from less than $3 million to almost $11 million annually, Smiley said, adding that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization was serving more than 2,200 youth per day, more than ever in the organization’s 68-year history.
“The impact our organization has had on the children, families and communities we serve will be something I will always value, appreciate and cherish,” he said.
Larry Moore, former board member and former CEO of CSI, Inc., will serve as the organization’s interim CEO as the nonprofit works with support from the national organization and begins the leadership search process, the board, which accepted Smiley’s resignation earlier this week, said in a statement released late Tuesday. Operations
will continue as normal.
“With respect to Mr. Smiley’s privacy and as all personnel matters are confidential, we are unable to offer further comment. Our commitment to our Club youth, their families, and the communities our Clubs serve is unwavering,” the board said.
In his communication to the board, Smiley stated, “I would like to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to the countless individuals, Board members, donors and staff that have supported me and our organization for more than 10 years. Your unwavering support, dedication, friendship, and leadership have been meaningful and inspiring.”
The board thanked Smiley for his leadership over the past 10 years and offered him “our full support as he dedicates himself to his health and family.”
The nonprofit has 10 locations throughout Lake and Porter counties offering youth programs, including a new Valparaiso club at 708 Evans Ave. that opened earlier this year.
Smiley asked Valparaiso police to contact the police chief, the sheriff, the mayor and a judge to help him out of his situation, according to a police report released after Smiley’s arrest by Valparaiso police on Oct. 13.
Police said Smiley “was loud and verbally abusive” to officers at times and requested to call Valparaiso police Chief Jeff Balon,
Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy, Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds and Porter Superior Court Judge Christopher Buckley “to help him out of his situation.”
While police were on the phone with Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer requesting a blood search warrant, “Mr. Smiley kept yelling ‘Hey Buck,’ thinking I was talking to Judge Buckley,” police said.
According to online court records, Buckley recused himself from the case and it is now in the hands of Porter Superior Court Judge Michael Drenth. Those records also indicate that Smiley filed a motion to waive an initial hearing this week and also requested an interlock device for his car instead of having his driver’s license suspended.
Police said Smiley “displayed a very entitled attitude and mentioned he was the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club” and asked if officers knew what they were doing the night he was arrested.
“Thanks a lot for ruining my (expletive) life,” Smiley said to police several times, as well as calling officers an expletive throughout their encounter, according to the police report.
Valparaiso police arrested Smiley on five misdemeanor counts related to operating while intoxicated after he pulled into his driveway.