CASE STUDY - Boys and Girls Clubs of America Partnering with Broad Reach to find their new CIO

BACKGROUND

Since 1906, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) has been dedicated to enabling all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Today, over 3 million young people annually walk through the doors of one of BGCA’s 5,500 clubs across the U.S. to engage in programs that foster good character, healthy lifestyles, and academic success leading to a well-planned future.

Technology plays a key role in managing staff, volunteers, training, and safety at both the national and club levels. The CIO position is integral to the organization’s success.

CHALLENGE

When the CIO role became vacant in late 2024, BGCA acted quickly to address the opening. A hiring committee was formed to outline the job scope. While technical expertise was critical, the committee emphasized other key qualities to ensure a strong fit - critical thinking skills, effective communication, team leadership, and relationship-building within a highly matrixed organization. Members of the hiring committee included the CFO (the hiring executive), the members of the  Technology Committee of the board, the CEO, and other peer senior leadership roles.

ENGAGING WITH BROAD REACH

BGCA, headquartered in Atlanta, had previously engaged large executive search firms to recruit senior leaders. For this role, however, they sought a local firm with deep knowledge of Atlanta’s IT talent landscape.

They selected Broad Reach, a firm with over 50 years of combined experience placing exceptional IT leaders in Atlanta and beyond. Broad Reach is known for its personable, collaborative, and engaged approach to executive search.

Broad Reach began the process by thoroughly understanding BGCA’s needs and organizational culture. Each candidate presented to the hiring committee was assessed for not only technical qualifications but also personal attributes suited to BGCA’s mission and values. Impressively, over 95% of the candidates presented were interviewed. Broad Reach held weekly meetings with BGCA’s hiring committee to gather feedback and refine the search.

THE OUTCOME

The vacancy was filled in just over two months—well below the average timeframe of 4–6 months for C-suite recruitment, as highlighted in a recent Forbes article.

“What sets Broad Reach apart is their approach,” said Sam Unglo, EVP and CFO of BGCA. “Other firms can feel sterile, relying heavily on portals and surveys before even discussing the job. Broad Reach’s process was more natural while also being thorough—they genuinely sought to understand me as the hiring manager, our organizational culture, and team dynamics. Those nuances made all the difference. We’re confident our new CIO will add tremendous value to our organization.”

Pat Esser, retired CEO of Cox Communications and chair of BGCA’s Technology Committee, echoed these sentiments: “Broad Reach was thoughtful and thorough in their approach, delivering an ideal candidate. I would recommend them to any organization searching for senior IT talent.”

Douglas Hallan, BGCA’s new CIO, expressed enthusiasm as he stepped into the role: “I am grateful to Broad Reach for connecting me with this incredible opportunity. I look forward to using my leadership and technical expertise to positively impact the lives of millions of young people across the nation.”

At the end of the process, both BGCA and the CIO felt like they had found the perfect match.

Broad Reach has over 50 years of expertise in IT and Technical recruiting and staffing having placed thousands of individuals in all roles within IT.  To learn more about how Broad Reach can help you secure the right IT talent, email info@broadreach.net.