Building Futures: CEO Bill Bresser’s Journey from Volunteer to Visionary

How a volunteer’s heart for teaching became a lifelong mission of service

When Bill Bresser first walked through the doors of the Espy Club in Lower Price Hill more than twenty years ago, he wasn’t looking for a career. A University of Cincinnati graduate with a degree in biology, he thought his path might lead to teaching or medical research. But when a friend suggested he volunteer as a tutor with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, Bill decided to give it a try. Two or three days a week, he helped kids with reading and math, unaware that the experience would change the course of his life. When an Education Director position opened up, the Espy Club approached Bill with a job offer.

“I wasn’t looking for a job,” he recalls. “But they offered me one. I said sure, it would look good on my resume. I joke that I didn’t choose the job, it chose me.”

That decision marked the start of a journey that has spanned more than two decades. Bill quickly fell in love with the mission and the people who worked alongside him. Within months, he became the Club Director at Espy, leading programs and connecting with kids and families in the community. Four years later, he was promoted to Associate Director of Compliance, where he began learning the behind-the-scenes operations of a nonprofit such as grant compliance, food programs and city partnerships. Those lessons would shape his approach to leadership in the years to come.

After a year working his administrative role, Bill was again promoted to Vice President of Operations, where he led the charge in transforming BGCGC’s programming model. “When I first started volunteering with BGCGC, we were more like a rec center where kids would just drop in and hang out,” he explains. “We were a safe and positive place for kids, and that’s important. But half of our kids weren’t doing well in school, and we knew we had an opportunity to do more for them.”

That insight led to the creation of the Graduate, Fit for Life, Ready to Serve program, an organizational shift that emphasized academic success, physical fitness and nutrition education, and community service. Under Bill’s new program, every hour at the Club became purposeful, focused on academics, health and character development. Kids received tutoring and assistance with schoolwork, mentorship, team sports, field trips, USDA-approved snacks and dinner every day. The results were immediate. Critical incidents dropped, academic performance improved and the culture of the Clubs changed for the better.

“It was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done,” Bill says. “I really believe it laid the groundwork for where we are today.”

After a decade in operations, Bill was named CEO, a role he has held for more than seven years. Under his leadership, the organization continues to grow stronger and more sustainable. His vision for the future builds on the foundation of Graduate, Fit for Life, Ready to Serve by expanding into Workforce Development, with new programming focusing on career readiness, financial literacy and life skills training to prepare teens for success beyond graduation.

As CEO, Bill’s drive comes from his desire to set BGCGC up to serve the needs of youth for generations to come. “Ultimately, I’m just a steward of the organization,” he says. “My job is to make it as strong programmatically and financially as I can, so that when I retire from this role someday, it’s even stronger than when I found it.”

At home, Bill and his wife Bethany, a teacher, share a deep sense of purpose and resilience. Their son Will was born prematurely and lives with cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. Despite years of medical challenges, the Bresser family approaches each day with gratitude. They also recently welcomed a new daughter, Vada, a healthy and joyful addition who brings light to their lives.

Through every challenge, Bill’s perspective remains grounded in gratitude. “I get to go to work every day,” he says. “Not because I have to, but because I want to. I work for a company that deals in hope and opportunity, and that’s a privilege.”

For Bill, every new Club member represents potential waiting to be discovered. And every program is an opportunity to open a door to a brighter future. He knows the work of BGCGC is never truly finished, but each day brings progress worth celebrating.

To support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, visit bgcgc.org/support to learn more about how you can get involved. Together, we can continue building great futures for kids across our community.