Boy Scouts of America Lehigh Valley Council Director of Field ServiceCandidate:John EchevarriaFebruary 2015

Director of Field ServiceCandidate:

John Echevarria

February 2015

Dear Mr. Poland and Council Selection Committee:

Thank you for choosing me as a candidate to serve as your next Director of Field Service.  My wife Mila and I look forward to the interview process.  The Boy Scouts of America is my career choice because it allows me to make a difference in the lives of young people. I believe my nineteen year involvement in Scouting has impacted many lives and it has provided them with great experiences while helping our members to be "Prepared for Life" through our programs, communities, families and schools.  My extensive experience in creating innovative programs, building relationships and leadership has remained consistent throughout my career.

A life changing decision like this should be discussed and supported by family. My  family has been very supportive and are excited about the thought of moving to Allentown, especially in the capacity that is being presented. We are a family of faith and believe the Almighty Lord should be first in all decisions. That will set the tone for all success.  That is why I thank God and I thank you for this great opportunity.  Under Mr. Poland's leadership as Scout Executive and working together with the support of Mr. Christ as Assistant Scout Executive I am confident that I am the missing jigsaw piece of your council.  I believe in my heart that I am the DFS you are looking for to help lead the scouting movement in the coming years.

I want to be the next Director of Field Service of the Lehigh Valley Council!

.

Gallup Strengthsfinder

Many years of research conducted by The Gallup Organization suggest that the most effective people are those who understand their strengths and behaviors. These people are best able to develop strategies to meet and exceed the demands of their daily lives, their careers, and their families.

A review of the knowledge and skills you have acquired can provide a basic sense of your abilities, but an awareness and understanding of your natural talents will provide true insight into the core reasons behind your consistent successes.

Your Signature Themes report presents your five most dominant themes of talent, in the rank order revealed by your responses to StrengthsFinder. Of the 34 themes measured, these are your "top five."

Your Signature Themes are very important in maximizing the talents that lead to your successes. By focusing on your Signature Themes, separately and in combination, you can identify your talents, build them into strengths, and enjoy personal and career success through consistent, near-perfect performance.

The following are the results of the survey I took.

John Echevarria StrengthsFinder Results

Individualization Your Individualization theme leads you to be intrigued by the unique qualities of each person. You are impatient with generalizations or “types” because you don’t want to obscure what is special and distinct about each person. Instead, you focus on the differences between individuals. You instinctively observe each person’s style, each person’s motivation, how each thinks, and how each builds relationships. You hear the one-of-a-kind stories in each person’s life. This theme explains why you pick your friends just the right birthday gift, why you know that one person prefers praise in public and another detests it, and why you tailor your teaching style to accommodate one person’s need to be shown and another’s desire to “figure it out as I go.” Because you are such a keen observer of other people’s strengths, you can draw out the best in each person. This Individualization theme also helps you build productive teams. While some search around for the perfect team “structure” or “process,” you know instinctively that the secret to great teams is casting by individual strengths so that everyone can do a lot of what they do well.

Belief If you possess a strong Belief theme, you have certain core values that are enduring. These values vary from one person to another, but ordinarily your Belief theme causes you to be family-oriented, altruistic, even spiritual, and to value responsibility and high ethics—both in yourself and others. These core values affect your behavior in many ways. They give your life meaning and satisfaction; in your view, success is more than money and prestige. They provide you with direction, guiding you through the temptations and distractions of life toward a consistent set of priorities. This consistency is the foundation for all your relationships. Your friends call you dependable. “I know where you stand,” they say. Your Belief makes you easy to trust. It also demands that you find work that meshes with your values. Your work must be meaningful; it must matter to you. And guided by your Belief theme it will matter only if it gives you a chance to live out your values.

John Echevarria StrengthsFinder Results

Responsibility Your Responsibility theme forces you to take psychological ownership for anything you commit to, and whether large or small, you feel emotionally bound to follow it through to completion. Your good name depends on it. If for some reason you cannot deliver, you automatically start to look for ways to make it up to the other person. Apologies are not enough. Excuses and rationalizations are totally unacceptable. You will not quite be able to live with yourself until you have made restitution. This conscientiousness, this near obsession for doing things right, and your impeccable ethics, combine to create your reputation: utterly dependable. When assigning new responsibilities, people will look to you first because they know it will get done. When people come to you for help—and they soon will—you must be selective. Your willingness to volunteer may sometimes lead you to take on more than you should.

Restorative You love to solve problems. Whereas some are dismayed when they encounter yet another breakdown, you can be energized by it. You enjoy the challenge of analyzing the symptoms, identifying what is wrong, and finding the solution. You may prefer practical problems or conceptual ones or personal ones. You may seek out specific kinds of problems that you have met many times before and that you are confident you can fix. Or you may feel the greatest push when faced with complex and unfamiliar problems. Your exact preferences are determined by your other themes and experiences. But what is certain is that you enjoy bringing things back to life. It is a wonderful feeling to identify the undermining factor(s), eradicate them, and restore something to its true glory. Intuitively, you know that without your intervention, this thing—this machine, this technique, this person, this company—might have ceased to function. You fixed it, resuscitated it, rekindled its vitality. Phrasing it the way you might, you saved it.

John Echevarria StrengthsFinder Results

Achiever Your Achiever theme helps explain your drive. Achiever describes a constant need for achievement. You feel as if every day starts at zero. By the end of the day you must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about yourself. And by “every day” you mean every single day—workdays, weekends, vacations. No matter how much you may feel you deserve a day of rest, if the day passes without some form of achievement, no matter how small, you will feel dissatisfied. You have an internal fire burning inside you. It pushes you to do more, to achieve more. After each accomplishment is reached, the fire dwindles for a moment, but very soon it rekindles itself, forcing you toward the next accomplishment. Your relentless need for achievement might not be logical. It might not even be focused. But it will always be with you. As an Achiever you must learn to live with this whisper of discontent. It does have its benefits. It brings you the energy you need to work long hours without burning out. It is the jolt you can always count on to get you started on new tasks, new challenges. It is the power supply that causes you to set the pace and define the levels of productivity for your work group. It is the theme that keeps you moving.

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Background I have over 25 years of work experience with strong organizational, supervisory and time management abilities. I am accustomed to handling multiple ongoing tasks in a fast-paced and time sensitive environment. I have excellent interpersonal skills and I am able to work effectively at establishing relationships with people from different backgrounds and personalities. Before working for the Boy Scouts of America I worked as an Admissions Counselor for Job Corps. Job Corps is a program administered by the United States Department of Labor that offers a free educational and vocational program that help youth 16-24 years of age. I used to recruit young men and women so that they would be able to finish their High School Diploma or GED while at the same time learning skills for a particular career path. Before that, I worked as an assistant manager of a Video Rental store. My parents were born in Puerto Rico and when they married they relocated to Brooklyn, NY for greater employment opportunities and a better life. I was born there along with my 3 brothers and my sister. Life was not easy. The neighborhood was plagued with drugs and violence. I learned how to survive by being street smart. That life, showed me the importance of a solid education and a stable family environment. I owe a lot to my mother and father for all the sacrifices and everything they did for me and my siblings. They are still alive and have been living in Puerto Rico for over 20 years now.

Objective

I want to be able to use my interpersonal skills and lead volunteers in our mission of instilling Scouting values in an ever-increasing number of families. This would be an opportunity to apply my strong foundation as a proven motivational leader with a positive attitude and reputation along with strong ethical and moral character. It would be an honor to be able to work with the leadership of the Lehigh Valley Council. I am confident great things can be achieved together.

From my humble beginnings I was given the opportunity to grow professionally in many ways at my first council. I remained loyal and faithful moving up the ranks until there arose an opportunity for growth at another council. Moving to a different council was not an easy decision to make, but ultimately it was the right one. It prepared me to accept more responsibilities and strengthen my management proficiency. Over the last 8 years I have reinforced my understanding of council operations and procedures. I’ve enhanced many skills and gained additional experience to go to the next stage in my professional career. Moving to yet another council will mean another  opportunity to share the knowledge that I have gained.  My objective is to work with your great volunteers and help fulfill the Lehigh Valley Council’s Strategic Plan. My past experience has given me the life skills so that we can accomplish this together.

I would love the opportunity to impact your community and make it mine as well.

 

ResponsibilityAs I look at my life I realize that responsibility has always knocked at my door. I have always opened the door, let it in and embraced it. I grew up fast not because I wanted to, but because it was necessary in my neighborhood. When I was 12 years old my twin brothers were born. I remember preparing their formula, feeding them, bathing them, changing diapers and doing many things many parents today try to avoid. I loved helping my mother and family. My parents did not have money. We were actually on welfare. I remember wanting to be a Boy Scout with my friends but not being able to due to my parents economic situation.. I was 14 and understood that I needed to get a job. That way I could help my parents and I can pay myself through Scouting. I shortly found a job and had money. The problem now was that the job hours conflicted with scouting meetings and activities, so I never became a scout. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:47-49. I believe this to be very true for myself. I have been blessed with a great career that entrusts me with the responsibility of helping young people be a part of the greatest youth organization in the world. I have also been blessed with a wonderful family. It would be a great move for all of us. My wife sees it as a new adventure. My daughter will be starting college and the twins will enjoy growing up in the area. I will enjoy being a scout parent by having the twins start cub scouts. Two future Tigers (part of my membership plan for your council). Ha! Ha!

Innovative

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Sometimes sticking to the basics for many things is all we have to do in order to be successful. But sometimes we have to try new things. If we do the same thing over and over again and always get negative results, then why not try something new. Innovation is what gets things moving and keeps things alive sometimes. I am persistent and have the ability to analyze problems and come up with solutions even if it is outside the box.

For many years the Alamo Area Council had much difficulty getting parents to turn in youth applications for the boys we serve in our In School Scouting program. Many parents feared that someone would investigate them in some way or that they would be charged even though we sent letters that said it would be free. We used to send all the professional staff to PTA meetings, school plays and X-mas shows to collect applications from the parents present. That was a big waste of energy and staff hours which many times fell short. This would happen multiple nights from October through the end of the year. To make a long story short, I had 25 In- Schools in which I offered an attractive incentive that each boy had an opportunity to win if they turned in his youth application signed by their parent. We had 1 incentive per school and soon many applications signed by parents started coming in. We even gave each boy that turned in an application a small token like a pencil for example. It sounds so simple for a problem that was so big. The funny thing is that it was that simple. The first year I implemented this idea was our toughest year ever with a huge deficit to overcome. It worked great! We’ve had membership growth every year since.

Last year while many Councils were suffering large losses in membership, I was keeping my staff focused on our youth, our programs, relationships with volunteers and sticking to our membership plans. By year end (12/31/14) my service area had a 4.1% increase in membership and earned Silver for JTE.

Quality Work

For me it’s always about the Quality, not the quantity. I do not think I’m a total perfectionist, but I do strive to give quality work always. I will not commit to something I can not finish or something I can not do the right way. Over the years I have earned many awards and recognitions for my accomplishments. I am not one that seeks recognition, but because I do my best always I somehow get it anyway. My service areas both in Puerto Rico and in San Antonio have earned multiple Quality District + JTE Awards. That was due to the ongoing recruitment of quality leaders, organizing quality units, delivering quality programs and providing quality management of fundraising and membership efforts.

Unifier

I believe having good relationships is the foundation to the success of any organization or company. Building relationships is not easy and is not done overnight. Over my career I’ve dealt with hundreds of people with hundreds of different personalities, differences of opinions and cultures. I work very well with all people and I’m able to gain their trust. Trust makes it easier for those to cooperate or compromise in order to get tasks done. Many times I’ve felt like a coach, counselor, judge and sometimes a referee. Being mutable is what is needed to keep current relationships stable, establish new ones and unify people for a common good. I have proven myself in the past.

I believe I can be the DFS you are looking for who can keep the great leaders of the Lehigh Valley Council working together while establishing new relationships and repairing past relationships (If any).

Restorative is 1 of my top 5 strengths on my StrengthsFinder survey.

Trainings & Awards Professional Development 1,2,3 Personal Management 1,2,3 First Time Staff Leader Orientation Basic Grant Writing Seminar WoodBadge Powder Horn National Camping School 2005 National Scoutreach President’s Award Professional Circle Award Fiscal Management I Senior Leadership Essentials 1+2 (Scout Executive Certification completed)

Finance 2008- A total finance $147,139 was raised ($22,258 in FOS and $124,881 in

Popcorn). Popcorn had a 35% increase from the previous year. 2009- Raised $266,296 in total finance ($39,677 in FOS + $225,219 in

Popcorn

+ $1,400 in product sales). 2010- Raised in total finance $316,636 ($45,372 in FOS + $271,264 in

Popcorn). That was 5.5% above goal. 2011- Raised in total finance $332,444 ($44,339 in FOS + $313,500 in

Popcorn). That is another 5% increase over the previous year. 2012- This year the Council restructured the Service Areas to accommodate a

new Field Director and switch Districts around. One of my Districts

was assigned to another Field Director. A total of $246,307 was raised

in finance ($44,636 in FOS + $196,671 in Popcorn + $5,00 in project

sales). That was just in 2 Districts 2013- A total finance of $256,000 was raised. That is about a 5% increase. 2014-  Achieved a 35% increase for total finance from the previous year.  Raised

a total of $441,134 ( FOS+ Popcorn + Camp Cards).

Scoutreach Budget I am currently responsible for the total budget of $364,500+ for the

Scoutreach Program. I am responsible for the assignment of hours and checking time sheets

of 4 full time staff and about 16 part time staff. I submit it for payroll and keep track of that budget so we do not have staff members go over on hours or go over on salaries.

I also budget the purchase of program supplies, chartering Buses for Camps, purchasing food and catering, allocating Camperships and youth registration assistance.

I am responsible for hiring new staff and getting them set with all HR paperwork.

Provide training for all staff and make sure all staff are in compliance with our rules and regulations. If they are not, I follow our Progressive Discipline policy.

Philmont + Southside Camping Initiative

Council Advisor for the High Adventure Council Committee Responsible for organizing groups to be a part of the Philmont Council

Contingent for the last 5 years. The budget varies from year to year. This year it was $85,500 budget. I made

reservations for participants, collected fees and made payments. I also had to coordinate transportation, and budget the cost of that. Additional costs were for polo shirts, caps, patches and training preparations. The Southside Camping Initiative was a concept that was developed 5 years ago

to get more scouts to participate in our Resident Camp. Criteria for participation had to be at one of the following: They were brand

new to the Boy Scout program, family could not afford to pay for camp, they were a part of a brand new troop or a troop on the verge of collapsing, they did not have transportation to camp or they simply had no adult leaders that could be with them at camp for a week.

I was allocated a budget of as much as $30,000 to try and get as many boys to got to camp. That included camperships, transportation cost, fees for getting a doctor to fill out health forms for those that needed it.

Membership 2007- First few months on the job I lead a recruitment effort for 3 Districts

which combined had a 900 youth deficit and a 50 unit loss. With

vacancies and new hires in each District we still managed to make up

the loss and end the year even in membership from the previous year

with a gain in units. 2008- 10.8% youth increase and a 9.7% unit increase. 2009- 6% memb. increase, 2 of 4 Districts made Centennial Quality District 2010- 3% memb. increase, 2% unit increase, 3 of 4 Districts made CQD 2011- This year a school district did not renew our original agreement with our

Scoutreach program due to them not being in compliance with state

regulations. They wanted us but were not able to accommodate us in their

schedule. A slight increase in membership was still attained even

though we had a loss of 9 In School units which represented a loss of

over 1,000 youth. 2012- 4.5% membership increase and 2 units above the year before. 2013- 9.1% membership increase and a 1.5% unit increase over the previous year 2014- 4.1% membership increase and my service area earned Silver status in JTE

Thank You

My family and I thank you very much for this opportunity.

My wife and I hope to see you soon and we will pray to God that you as a committee and me, both find what we are looking for. After the interviews are over and the final decision is made, we hope that I will be the one signing on the dotted line.