Brian Slye
You’ve heard the old saying — if you want a job done well, give it to someone exceedingly busy. Perhaps the board of directors at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas had that in mind this month when they announced Lake Highlands neighbor Brian Slye as their new CEO.
“Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas provides safe, supportive places where kids can succeed academically, build confidence and develop the skills they need for life,” Slye says, already at a running start on his new gig. “Our mission is clear: to become the most trusted, youth-centered, outcomes-driven organization in Texas, ensuring students graduate prepared to be productive citizens.”
Slye and wife, Courtney, have four active children of their own. Brayden is an LHHS sophomore, Charlotte “Charlie” is an LHMS eighth grader, Birdie is an LHE third grader and Cooper is an LHE preschooler. The kids are involved in the community, dancing at Kitty Carter Dance Studio, tumbling at White Rock Tumble, volunteering through Young Men’s Service League and National Charity League, participating in Young Life, attending Fellowship Dallas and playing sports with Spring Valley Athletic Association, where Slye serves on the board.
Slye earned an MBA from SMU and a BBA from Texas Tech, and most recently he’s been working as VP of franchise development and marketing at Goosehead Insurance, where he led national expansion and other tasks. Pivoting to the nonprofit world is a welcome challenge, he says.
“My background is absolutely rooted in the business world, but at its core, I’ve always been motivated by leading teams that help people reach their potential. Leading a nonprofit like Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas is 100% aligned to that purpose. What’s different about the nonprofit world is how success is measured. Rather than revenue growth and profitability, the nonprofit sector is measured in outcomes such as graduation rates, workforce readiness, confidence and long-term life impact. The responsibility feels heavier in the best possible way, because the work directly affects kids, families and the future of our community. At the same time, strong financial discipline, strategy and accountability matter just as much here as they do in the private sector, and those are areas where my experience translates well.”
Slye has coached youth basketball, baseball and football for years, and the family actively supports their church, Young Life and Forerunner Mentoring, among others. Courtney runs Communitee Clothing, a custom apparel business serving schools and corporate clients. Her LH-themed apparel can be spotted in the stands on Friday nights at Wildcat football games.
“Before saying ‘yes’ to any opportunity, I ask a few simple questions: Do the organization’s values align with my own? Is it making a meaningful impact? And can I truly show up and contribute? With four kids at home, my time is precious, so when I commit, I want it to be to something that genuinely matters.”
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas currently operates eight standalone clubs and additional sites embedded in schools, focusing primarily in neighborhoods where the need is greatest.
“While we don’t currently have a physical Club location in Lake Highlands, it’s a community that’s near and dear to my heart,” Slye says. “We are actively exploring opportunities to expand access where it makes sense. In the meantime, Lake Highlands residents can support our mission through volunteerism, corporate partnerships and participation in upcoming community events that benefit youth across Dallas. The support from neighborhoods like Lake Highlands plays a critical role in making our work possible citywide.”
Though he hasn’t been on this job long, Slye says he is already busy in the community building relationships with donors, corporate partners and volunteers.
“Youth development takes an entire ecosystem of organizations that impact their social, physical, mental health, academic success, life & workforce readiness and building strong future leaders of our community. No single organization can do it alone.”
Slye is a former “club kid” himself, and he says some of the most powerful success stories are seen each day — young people gaining confidence, learning responsibility and discovering leadership skills which stay with them for life.
“Many of our members start simply needing a safe place after school and go on to become leaders in their own communities,” he says. “Our alumni include veterinarians, firefighters, educators, professional athletes, and even the mayor of Dallas, Eric Johnson. That kind of long-term impact is exactly what Boys & Girls Clubs is designed to deliver: meeting kids where they are and helping them discover who they can become.”
If you’d like to help, you may volunteer here. You may donate here.
