Brian Bovaird

About Brian Bovaird

I start with a simple credo – you have to be in the business of fulfilling your Mission. The Mission must be preceded with core Values & Mentorship, framed with a Purpose of Servant Leadership. Leadership is evaluated by a clear Vision, Perseverance, Innovation and Execution – Entrepreneurship. Your Customer outcome defines your success and sustainability.My real world journey began 30 years ago working for IBM. My “balance” was volunteering in my community every step of the way, and investing in friendships. I achieved IBM’s top sales recognition, the Golden Circle. Attended Duke/Fuqua School of Business for my MBA. Knowledge is a great tool, but continuous education, and exposure to the world strengthened my resolve. I have proven business leadership, and started several companies. My volunteer journey is primarily through Rotary International, YoungLife, my Church, the Tulsa Boy’s Home, Adopt-a-Schools, Charter High School Board Director, Funds Development, and most recently the Interim Executive Director of a year-round youth and family camp.My passion is Outdoor Classroom & Social Entrepreneurism for youth, via Camps- evaluated by the lives my leadership can touch, and the positive impact on society my team can effect. Kids today suffer from Nature Deficit Disorder (Richard Louv), oftentimes lack GRIT (Angela Duckworth - University of PA), and the solutions are best captured by author Paul Tough\'s book - How Children Succeed. The cycle of poverty can be broken - kids just need to see their natural world differently, and as an opportunity to develop relevant skills. Our teachers need help expanding their classrooms - outdoors. This can significantly impact creativity, perseverance,\"safe failures\", and bring STEM education to a more natural state of learning. This approach creates stronger families, better work opportunities and a more balanced life of environmental stewardship.

Experience

1. CEO & Camp Director

   Camp Grit

   Jan 2013 — Present · OK, US

   Behind nearly every successful leader in the corporate or non-profit world, there is a change-making childhood camp story they love to share. Camp is where tomorrow’s leaders are nurtured, encouraged, strengthened and inspired to dream big and touch lives.Camp Grit has the ability to bridge social, racial, physical and/or economic iniquities for both the youth participants and the older youth leaders, who are building the self-confidence and grit to innovate and execute.Camp Grit creates a unique environment outside the home or classroom, unplugged and more self-aware. It is an Outdoor Education! Families return to camp to renew their spirits and familial purpose. Camp Grit leverages the wilds of the outdoors, coupled with intentional programs to instill leadership characteristics and creativity into the lives of kids. At the same time, bringing in executive style training for the youth staff to create leaders of consequence for this chaotic, fickle and ephemeral world (Tom Peters) in which we live in. Social entrepreneurship requires an experiential Camp environment, where youth take risks, get messy and develop true grit. Integrate the Camp Grit concept into an existing camp or help me start a new one to serve your community. Let’s begin discussing your favorite camp story, for the next generation.

Education

• Southern Methodist University

  BA, Geology/Earth Science, General

  1980 — 1984

• Touro University Nevada

  Master of Science - Camp Administration & Leadership, Camp Operations

  2014 — 2016

• Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business

  MBA, Business

  1989 — 1990

• Holland Hall

  High School, Science & Math

  1974 — 1980

• IDEO U

  Certificate of Completion, Human-Centered Systems Thinking

Skills

• Strategy
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Entrepreneurship
• Management
• Team Building
• Budgeting
• Sales
• Servant Leadership
• Nonprofits
• New Business Development
• Thought Leadership
• Enterprise Software
• Organizational Development
• Change Management
• Technical Leadership
• Business Development
• Youth Leadership
• Public Relations
• Business Strategy
• Strategic Planning
• Executive Management
• Business Planning
• Mergers
• Contract Negotiation
• Start-Ups
• Leadership Development
• Budgets
• Strategic Partnerships
• Community Outreach
• Research
• Public Speaking
• Analysis
• Proposal Writing
• Marketing
• Fundraising
• Leadership
• Management Consulting
• Consulting
• Program Management
• Non-Profits