Board hires AYW’s own Environmental Corps leader, Parc Smith

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX – June 17, 2010 – The American YouthWorks Board of Directors announced on June 16, 2010, the hiring of former American YouthWorks Environmental Corps Director, Parc Smith, as Chief Executive Officer. Parc takes the role over from Interim CEO, Dick Pierce, who assumed CEO duties during the leadership transition period.

Parc Smith started with American YouthWorks in 1995 as a teacher and crew leader for the Environmental Corps and later filled roles as a program coordinator and most recently as Director of Environmental Corps and part of the Senior Management Team for the entire organization. With over 17 years experience in trail design and construction, parks, and conservation work, Parc was awarded State Trail Worker of the Year in 2004 at the American Trails National Trails Symposium and Trail Designer and Project Director for 2009 National Recreation Trails Coalition award winning “Southwest Keys Trail” for Accessibility Enhancement Project of the Year. Parc leads workshops and speaks at national conferences on national service and youth conservation corps involvement in land management, trail building and project-based outdoor education as a model for transforming lives of at-risk youth to youth “at-promise.” He serves on the Texas Recreation Trails Grant Review Committee and several regional advisory boards. He grew up in Stephenville, Texas, graduated from Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas and has called Austin home since 1995.

“The Board announces a new era at AYW. With the energy, dedication and integrity of Parc Smith as our CEO, we can only move forward to continue changing the lives of young people” says Board President, Margarine G. Beaman.

Parc joins Chester Steinhauser, COO, and Jenny Emmons, Superintendent, on the Executive Team at American YouthWorks as they continue to strengthen the mission of American YouthWorks, transforming the lives of at-risk youth through education, service and green jobs training.

About American YouthWorks
American YouthWorks is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Austin, Texas that is dedicated to transforming the lives of at-risk youth through education, service and green jobs training. AYW operates a public charter high school district including its Service Learning Academy, GED program and green job andservice corps programs, Casa Verde Builders, Environmental Corps, Computer Corps and Green Energy Corps. American YouthWorks also offers onsite social services, including a parent/child development center and academic coaching and counseling. For more than thirty years, American YouthWorks has assisted thousands of local youth in transforming their lives through community service, education and a commitment to preserving the natural environment.
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