May 11, 2009 OAKLAND, Calif. – Jack London Aquatic Center, Inc. (www.jlac.org) welcomed today Kenneth (“Kenny”) Purser as its new Executive Director. With more than 15 years of experience in outdoor leadership and urban education, Mr. Purser will drive JLAC’s future efforts to inspire the diverse communities of Oakland to experience their Estuary waterfront. He will lead JLAC’s efforts in sponsoring water-based recreational activities, education programs, and competitions on the Estuary along with hosting community events. Purser joins JLAC from Expeditionary Learning Schools Outward Bound, where he was a Regional Director. He was responsible for growing Expeditionary Learning programs in California through building relationships with school districts and school leaders around the state, and through effective marketing, fundraising, and financial management. “Kenny Purser brings to JLAC a great record of success creating innovative programming to help growing youth organizations realize their full potential. He will have an excellent foundation to build upon as he works with JLAC’s Board, staff and our stakeholders – including Oakland’s Department of Parks and Recreation and the Oakland Unified School District – to broaden and deepen JLAC’s positive impact throughout the Oakland community. Kenny is a visionary leader and great team builder. I welcome him to JLAC and look forward to his success,” said Wil Hobbs, Board President. Robert Kidd, JLAC’s co-founder, former Board President and its Interim Executive Director for the past eight months added “Kenny has demonstrated a commitment not only to serving Oakland’s youth, but also to working with adults through our rapidly-growing Masters Women’s Rowing Program, corporate team-building activities and expanded services for the nearby condominium and apartment communities. We are excited about expanding our reach with these key stakeholders.” Collaborating effectively with Oakland’s Office of Parks and Recreation and the Oakland Unified School District is an important part of the JLAC post, and Purser’s leadership experience at the intersection of outdoor leadership and school administration is expected to help JLAC to build on its successes to date. Prior to joining Expeditionary Learning Schools Outward Bound, Kenny was the founding Principal of Metropolitan Arts and Tech High School in San Francisco. He also served as the Dean of Students at Berkeley High School and as the After-School Coordinator at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Berkeley. Earlier in his career he was a science and math teacher and an Outward Bound Instructor. “I have long held the desire to have all citizens, particularly young people, experience nature and hopefully learn to love it. I have always managed to expose all of my students to nature while they were in my charge. Being the Executive Director of JLAC enables me both to follow this passion of mine and to expose greater numbers of people of all ages to the natural and beautiful world of the Oakland Estuary,” said Purser. Purser has a Master of Arts in School Administration from The University of California, Berkeley; a Master of Arts in Science Education from New York University; and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Auburn University. He is credentialed in Biology and Chemistry in California and New York and in School Administration in California. He also has been trained in facilitative leadership by Interaction Associates in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Purser lives in Oakland with his wife and two children. About Jack London Aquatic Center, Inc. (JLAC) JLAC, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire the diverse communities of Oakland, especially youth, to experience their Estuary waterfront for the purposes of recreation, education and competition. Through its rowing, kayaking and dragon boating programs, JLAC is the leading urban boating program in the United States that addresses diversity-related issues including cost, transportation and water safety. Its affordable Community Room hosts scores of events each year for families as well as for community, corporate, government and educational organizations. Visit www.jlac.org for more information, or call 510-208-6060. # # # CONTACT: Wil Hobbs, President of the Board Jack London Aquatic Center, Inc. Phone: (510) 208-6060 Email: wil.hobbs@jlac.org |
