In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Lighthouse Counsel Senior Consultant Carole Carter talks with Clark Baker about board engagement. Clark retired as CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston after more than 50 years working within the YMCA organization.

In their conversation, Carole and Clark discuss:

• The importance of making your board members your best friends
• Keeping board members active and engaged
• The biggest obstacles a nonprofit leader faces in establishing and nurturing an effective board.

About our guest

Clark Baker spent much of his career as a YMCA executive and much of his personal life at the Y. He has been a member since he was gifted membership as a child. And he has said he basically went to the Y one day and never came home.

Clark has worked full-time at the Y since 1970, when he started as a youth director. From there he moved into leadership, heading up Ys in Indiana, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.

Throughout his career, he raised millions of dollars to build new YMCAs and camps and personally mentored 23 staff members who now lead YMCAs across the United States. 

Connect with Clark on LinkedIn

“Work, Play, Pray Hard: Life and Leadership Lessons of Visionary CEO Clark Baker” by Carolyn Baker.