Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Welcomes New Additions to Leadership Team

Wakeman Boys & Girls Club has recently welcomed three members to the full-time staff, filling roles that are vital to the growing organization. Lisa Byrne has taken the role of Chief Financial Officer; Sarah Motti has assumed the position of Director of Development; and Shawn D. Byrd has been named the Unit Executive Director of the Smilow-Burroughs Clubhouse.

As CFO, Lisa will manage all financial functions of the organization, which is set to open its third clubhouse later this summer. She previously held senior leadership roles at The Connecticut Audubon Society, Foundation Source Philanthropic Services, and GE Capital. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bucknell University.

Director of Development, Sarah Motti, comes to Wakeman BGC after working with other youth-serving organizations since 2010. Starting out on the program side, Sarah quickly found her cause in fundraising at the Cardinal Shehan Center and the McGivney Community Center, both in Bridgeport. Sarah holds a BA from Smith College and is a member of the Board of Directors of Leadership Greater Bridgeport. She is also a Board Member with the Association of Fundraising Professionals Fairfield County Chapter, serving as President in 2021.

Prior to joining the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club team as Unit Executive Director of the Smilow-Burroughs Clubhouse, Shawn D. Byrd enjoyed a successful career in the technology sector. He held executive management, sales, and marketing roles with fortune 500 companies, Coca-Cola, Xerox, and Computer Associates. He then pivoted to focus on social entrepreneurship, founding the STEAMulating Young Minds Imagination (SYMI) Academy in his hometown of Bridgeport, CT, where he has been a life-long resident. Appointed by the city’s Mayor and Chief of Police, Shawn also serves as the Bridgeport Community & Police Youth Collaborative (BCPYC) Liaison. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems from The Virginia State University. He is a proud Life Member of The Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated and serves on the Board of Directors for the fraternity’s Northeastern Province.

In addition to the three new team members, Laura Magnotta has transitioned from her role as Unit Director at the Smilow-Burroughs Clubhouse to the organization’s Director of Safety & Leadership Development. In this new position she will be responsible for creating a culture of safety for members and families through a combination of on-site initiatives. She will also ensure all full-time and part-time staff and volunteers are adequately trained, supported, and equipped to provide our members with a world-class Club Experience.

“Each of our team members is essential to the organization as a whole, helping us operate efficiently and effectively to have the most impact on as many local youth as possible. Our three new additions are no exception; as Wakeman [BGC] grows, it is so important to have their valuable, collective experience in place so we can continue to advance our mission,” reflects Wakeman BGC CEO, Sabrina E. Smeltz.