BY KARISSA MILLER

Cory Knight has joined the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont in Statesville as the new executive director.

“My goal is to make sure everything that we do needs to matter for the kids first and foremost,” Knight said.

Knight, who began his new role on November 4, hopes to be a positive agent for change and improvement at the club.

“I’ve spent my entire career in nonprofit work and mostly around kids. I’ve spent the last three years in southside of Statesville serving them through Power Cross,” Knight said.

Knight, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management, said that one of the biggest selling points for accepting the position was being able to learn from and work with Director of Development Brady Johnson, a retired superintendent for Iredell-Statesville Schools.

“It’s already really helped having Cory there. A lot of our children don’t have a strong male role model in their world. Having someone of his caliber there working with the kids has been a tremendous asset,” Johnson said.

Knight has a vision for the future of the Boys & Girls Club, which involves open communication with the staff and leading by example.

“It’s rare when you walk into a situation, where opportunities are just endless, from the facilities to the kids coming through the door to staff development. It’s a chance to make a real change and difference while building off of what they are doing,” Knight said.