Christine GrotaChristine Grota serves as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee vice president of organizational development. She officially joined the Boys & Girls Clubs in the fall of 2006 after spending two years in a part-time role through the generous support of The Brico Fund.
With more than 19 years of experience providing quality programs to young people, Grota is responsible for overseeing the Clubs’ organizational development as it grows and deepens the impact through the Decade of Hope Initiative. This includes implementation of new staff training as well as ongoing employee development efforts.
Prior to joining the Boys & Girls Clubs, Grota served as director of strategy development for The Brico Fund, where she completed a program audit of our service to girls and developed and launched the Sista Pride initiative. Before her work at The Brico Fund, Grota served as the chief program officer for the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee, vice president of education at Planned Parenthood Wisconsin, director of neighborhood services for COA Youth and Family Centers and as a program specialist for the Girl Scout Council of Greater Minneapolis.
Grota holds a bachelor's degree from Marquette University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Cardinal Stritch University. She is married and has two daughters.
David KnutsonDavid Knutson began his work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee in 1998, joining the operations staff as a grants administrator. In 2002 he was promoted to vice president – government affairs and special initiatives. Under his leadership, the Boys & Girls Clubs have increased government-based giving to the Clubs by more than 250 percent.
Knutson has played a pivotal role in implementing several key Decade of Hope Initiatives including both the SPARK Early Literacy Program and the Stein Scholars Program. Knutson also serves as the agency’s government liaison officer and coordinates a variety of agency strategic initiatives.
Knutson graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992. He continues to work towards completion of master’s degree in urban studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to joining the Clubs, Knutson worked for several years as a research specialist with the UW-Milwaukee Center for Economic Development. He also spent more than five years as the director of planning at the Social Development Commission overseeing more than $28 million in annual fundraising.
Peggy LarsonPeggy Larson joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee in 2002. She brings more than 25 years of experience in communication, philanthropy and community relations to the organization.
Formerly director of corporate contributions for Ameritech and the president/founder of Milwaukee-based Effective Philanthropy, Inc., Larson is well-acquainted with Milwaukee's for-profit and non-profit sectors.
As chief development officer and vice president of communications, Larson directs the Milwaukee Clubs’ fundraising, communication, media relations, marketing and special events efforts. She is responsible for securing more than $3 million annually to support the agency’s daily operations.
Larson is an active member of several local boards and Tempo International's Milwaukee chapter.
A lifelong resident of Milwaukee, Larson holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Kenneth RobertsonKenneth Robertson, CPA, is the vice president and chief financial officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. He joined the organization in July 2007.
A product of Milwaukee Public Schools, Robertson grew up on the city's northwest side and graduated from James Madison High School. He spent six years in the United States Air Force and returned to Milwaukee to attend college at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Robertson's professional experience includes accounting positions with Price Waterhouse LLP, GE Medical Systems, Motorola, Miller Brewing Co. and most recently, Briggs & Stratton where he served four years as the company's international controller.
With his wife and two daughters, Robertson is a lifelong Milwaukee resident who truly embraces the mission of the Clubs.
Clarice SmithClarice Smith has been a local Boys & Girls Clubs professional for more than 23 years. She began her career at the Augusta M. LaVarnway Club in 1985 as an office manager.
In 1988, Smith was promoted to an administrative assistant position in the operations and human resources department. Due to her extensive work in human resources, she was asked to head the Milwaukee Clubs' human resource department in 1994. In 1996, she was promoted to vice president of human resources.
As vice president, Smith guides the acquisition, training and development of the Milwaukee Clubs' full-time and part-time employees.
For the past few years, Smith has been an active member of the Training and Professional Development Advisory Committee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Midwest regional office. She has presented numerous human resource workshops at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's national and administrative conferences.
Smith holds a bachelor's degree in communication and has a number of human resource certifications in areas including compensation, benefits and compliance laws.
Denisha TateDenisha Tate is a self-identified program person. She has over 11 years of experience developing and improving Boys & Girls Clubs programs, most recently at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. Here in Milwaukee, Denisha is responsible for guiding the Clubs as it expands programming and services to new and existing sites. Through outcome-based programming, she is leading the charge to deepen the impact on the youth we serve.
Tate is responsible for ensuring that programming in all six core program areas impacts the lives of our members. Some of the larger initiatives that she overseas include Stein Scholars, Sista Pride and SPARK, our early literacy program.
Tate is a native of Chicago and graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Her enthusiasm and energy are a welcome addition to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.