What happens to a child once they enter a Boys & Girls Club depends more on the quality of the staff than any other single factor.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, all of our staff have been selected based on their experience and expertise in working with our youth population. Each staff member offers a unique life view and personality, providing our youth members with a wide array of adult mentors that they can depend on for guidance and assistance. We encourage our youth members and their parents to get to know our staff on a first-name basis, promoting open communication and strong relationships.
Natalie Pawluk
Unit Director
Natalie has been working with youth for over 10 years now in many different capacities, leading various youth programs. She studied psychology with a particular interest in adolescent development, and then went on to earn her Master’s degree from Chaminade University in Family Therapy. As the Unit Director of the Spalding Clubhouse, she truly believes that she has the best job in the world! Her main goals at the Boys & Girls Club are to help youth learn how to better relate with their peers and their families, to assist them in gaining an increased level of self-respect and respect towards others, and to guide members to discover their own interests and develop talents that can turn into future careers.
Unit Director
Natalie has been working with youth for over 10 years now in many different capacities, leading various youth programs. She studied psychology with a particular interest in adolescent development, and then went on to earn her Master’s degree from Chaminade University in Family Therapy. As the Unit Director of the Spalding Clubhouse, she truly believes that she has the best job in the world! Her main goals at the Boys & Girls Club are to help youth learn how to better relate with their peers and their families, to assist them in gaining an increased level of self-respect and respect towards others, and to guide members to discover their own interests and develop talents that can turn into future careers.
Jeric Lake
Athletic Director
Jeric has led the athletics and fitness programs at the Spalding Boys & Girls Club for two years now. His Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, along with his experience with special needs youth at Hawaii Behavioral Health, gave him a solid foundation for working with a diverse group of youth. As a mentor, he aims to provide consistent discipline and structure for Club members so they can constantly improve themselves. He brings energy, passion, and hard work in order to promote healthy lifestyles. As the athletic director Jeric hopes that youth strive for excellence both in and out of the sports arena. He encourages all youth to get up, get out, and be active!
Athletic Director
Jeric has led the athletics and fitness programs at the Spalding Boys & Girls Club for two years now. His Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, along with his experience with special needs youth at Hawaii Behavioral Health, gave him a solid foundation for working with a diverse group of youth. As a mentor, he aims to provide consistent discipline and structure for Club members so they can constantly improve themselves. He brings energy, passion, and hard work in order to promote healthy lifestyles. As the athletic director Jeric hopes that youth strive for excellence both in and out of the sports arena. He encourages all youth to get up, get out, and be active!
Franz Schmutzer
Filmmaking Program Assistant
Franz graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production and has been working in the industry in Los Angeles and now Oahu. At LMU he was the Director of Production and Programming for the award-winning student-run television station - ROAR Network. While there, his focus was to teach young filmmakers to use their tools to create work that expressed their passions and creativity. Although video production can be both fun and challenging, Franz’s goal with the Boys & Girls Club is to guide youth to use the medium of film to help connect themselves to their world and to each other, producing work that will enrich their lives and that of the community.
Filmmaking Program Assistant
Franz graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production and has been working in the industry in Los Angeles and now Oahu. At LMU he was the Director of Production and Programming for the award-winning student-run television station - ROAR Network. While there, his focus was to teach young filmmakers to use their tools to create work that expressed their passions and creativity. Although video production can be both fun and challenging, Franz’s goal with the Boys & Girls Club is to guide youth to use the medium of film to help connect themselves to their world and to each other, producing work that will enrich their lives and that of the community.
Danielle Trinidad
Education Director
Dani has been with the Boys & Girls Club for three years. In her role as Education Director, she oversees Power Hour and all Project Learn programs. She is a key staff for the Main Club, providing programming mostly for the preps but also some programs for the elementary youth. She is passionate about the Girl Power and Girls for Change programs, but is excited to also run the Yearbook program for the first time this year. Dani is currently earning her psychology degree, which will increase her ability to serve as a mentor and leader to Club youth. She hopes to assist the youth at the Boys & Girls Club to become responsible individuals through positive thinking and encouragement.
Education Director
Dani has been with the Boys & Girls Club for three years. In her role as Education Director, she oversees Power Hour and all Project Learn programs. She is a key staff for the Main Club, providing programming mostly for the preps but also some programs for the elementary youth. She is passionate about the Girl Power and Girls for Change programs, but is excited to also run the Yearbook program for the first time this year. Dani is currently earning her psychology degree, which will increase her ability to serve as a mentor and leader to Club youth. She hopes to assist the youth at the Boys & Girls Club to become responsible individuals through positive thinking and encouragement.
Brianne Villarosa
Leadership Director
Bri has been an employee of the Boys & Girls Club for three years. As the Leadership Director, she is responsible for the Leaders in Training teen program, the Torch Club program, and DZ Leaders. Bri enjoys planning a variety of service learning projects to expose youth to new experiences and opportunities for growth. Her Bachelors degree in Community Health Education helps her to educate members about the importance of healthy living. Bri also works to assist the Athletics program at the Club and encourages more girls to participates in sports. Bri’s goal at the Club is to assist the youth members to become future leaders who know how to make positive decisions.
Leadership Director
Bri has been an employee of the Boys & Girls Club for three years. As the Leadership Director, she is responsible for the Leaders in Training teen program, the Torch Club program, and DZ Leaders. Bri enjoys planning a variety of service learning projects to expose youth to new experiences and opportunities for growth. Her Bachelors degree in Community Health Education helps her to educate members about the importance of healthy living. Bri also works to assist the Athletics program at the Club and encourages more girls to participates in sports. Bri’s goal at the Club is to assist the youth members to become future leaders who know how to make positive decisions.
Lindsay Mattone
Program Assistant
Lindsay loves working with elementary youth in Discovery Zone and has been with the Club for over a year now. Lindsay is a psychology major at HPU focusing in child development, autism and behavior disorders. With over ten years of experience, she has worked with children of all ages in various settings. Lindsay’s desire to make a positive impact on youth development is supported by her effort to encourage children to think for themselves and develop positive social skills that will allow them to grow as individuals. At the Club she hopes to foster critical and creative thinking, social communication and healthy decision making for elementary youth.
Program Assistant
Lindsay loves working with elementary youth in Discovery Zone and has been with the Club for over a year now. Lindsay is a psychology major at HPU focusing in child development, autism and behavior disorders. With over ten years of experience, she has worked with children of all ages in various settings. Lindsay’s desire to make a positive impact on youth development is supported by her effort to encourage children to think for themselves and develop positive social skills that will allow them to grow as individuals. At the Club she hopes to foster critical and creative thinking, social communication and healthy decision making for elementary youth.
Kenani Aisek
Office Manager
Kenani became involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii through the Honolulu Community Action Program. She demonstrated a professional and friendly attitude as the front desk assistant for three months as a volunteer, which made her a perfect fit for the position. Her experience with her seven siblings helps her in communicating with and relating to the Clubhouse youth, who love her outgoing and fun personality. Her goal at the Spalding Clubhouse is to provide excellent service as the first person all guests interact with and as the membership manager. She wants to contribute to providing a safe place for our youth to be healthy and productive citizens.
Office Manager
Kenani became involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii through the Honolulu Community Action Program. She demonstrated a professional and friendly attitude as the front desk assistant for three months as a volunteer, which made her a perfect fit for the position. Her experience with her seven siblings helps her in communicating with and relating to the Clubhouse youth, who love her outgoing and fun personality. Her goal at the Spalding Clubhouse is to provide excellent service as the first person all guests interact with and as the membership manager. She wants to contribute to providing a safe place for our youth to be healthy and productive citizens.
Kristen Corey
Program Assistant
Kristen is excited to join the Spalding Clubhouse as a key staff member for the Discovery Zone elementary program. She majored in biology and is hoping to earn her graduate degree in zoology. She is passionate about animals and wants to inspire Club youth to preserve and care for the environment. One of her favorite experiences was teaching youth about marine life at the Dolphin Research Center. At the Club she hopes to encourage the youth become excited about learning and show the Club members that it is possible to make a difference in the world, no matter how old they are or where they live.
Program Assistant
Kristen is excited to join the Spalding Clubhouse as a key staff member for the Discovery Zone elementary program. She majored in biology and is hoping to earn her graduate degree in zoology. She is passionate about animals and wants to inspire Club youth to preserve and care for the environment. One of her favorite experiences was teaching youth about marine life at the Dolphin Research Center. At the Club she hopes to encourage the youth become excited about learning and show the Club members that it is possible to make a difference in the world, no matter how old they are or where they live.
Bryan Valencia
Program Assistant
Bryan is one of the newest members of the Spalding staff team and will be working mostly with the elementary youth in Discovery Zone, but also with the preps and teens. He was born and raised on Kauai and moved to Oahu to earn his degree in kinesiology and rehab science. Bryan has two years of experience working as a behavioral assistant, which taught him how to be patient and consistent. He enjoys playing a variety sports and also playing music, offering a diverse range of programs to Club youth. Bryan hopes to build confidence in the Club members through team building and learning new talents.
Program Assistant
Bryan is one of the newest members of the Spalding staff team and will be working mostly with the elementary youth in Discovery Zone, but also with the preps and teens. He was born and raised on Kauai and moved to Oahu to earn his degree in kinesiology and rehab science. Bryan has two years of experience working as a behavioral assistant, which taught him how to be patient and consistent. He enjoys playing a variety sports and also playing music, offering a diverse range of programs to Club youth. Bryan hopes to build confidence in the Club members through team building and learning new talents.
Melissa Barfoot
Program Assistant
Melissa joined the Spalding staff team to work primarily with the middle school Club members. Her Bachelor’s degree in Community Service guided her to become interested in the Boys & Girls Club, and helped her to really understand the organization on a different level. Although most of Melissa’s experience is with pre-school youth, she found she was passionate about working with pre-teens and enjoyed developing their interests and talents as they become young adults. At the Club, Melissa is excited to implement the BGCA Healthy Habits program, DIY Arts and a variety of media programs. Her main goal in working with the preps is to teach inclusivity and to create diverse peer groups.
Program Assistant
Melissa joined the Spalding staff team to work primarily with the middle school Club members. Her Bachelor’s degree in Community Service guided her to become interested in the Boys & Girls Club, and helped her to really understand the organization on a different level. Although most of Melissa’s experience is with pre-school youth, she found she was passionate about working with pre-teens and enjoyed developing their interests and talents as they become young adults. At the Club, Melissa is excited to implement the BGCA Healthy Habits program, DIY Arts and a variety of media programs. Her main goal in working with the preps is to teach inclusivity and to create diverse peer groups.
Liana Beatty
Program Assistant
Liana is one of the newest staff members at the Spalding Clubhouse and is excited to run programs both with our elementary and middle school members. She originally is from New Jersey, where she worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs as the AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator and as a program leader. It was there that she became interested in working at a non-profit and using her talents to support her community. Her degrees in Elementary Education and Psychology make her well-qualified to inspire our youth to become strive in academics and to become life-long learners. At Spalding, she hopes to share her love for outdoor activities, music and art with the Club kids through new programs.
Program Assistant
Liana is one of the newest staff members at the Spalding Clubhouse and is excited to run programs both with our elementary and middle school members. She originally is from New Jersey, where she worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs as the AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator and as a program leader. It was there that she became interested in working at a non-profit and using her talents to support her community. Her degrees in Elementary Education and Psychology make her well-qualified to inspire our youth to become strive in academics and to become life-long learners. At Spalding, she hopes to share her love for outdoor activities, music and art with the Club kids through new programs.