How a Boys and Girls Club Kid Rebuilt the Organization That Raised Him

Josh Nolan from the Boys and Girls Club shares how he rebuilt a broken organization during COVID, grew it to serve 1,300 kids, and learned how to lead with purpose in a small town where everybody knows your name. This is the story of stepping into a challenge most people would avoid - and what nonprofit leaders can learn from rebuilding trust, staff culture, and community impact from the ground up. Josh also opens up about the Boys and Girls Club that shaped his own childhood, the rocky family history that made stability matter so much, and why he believes great leadership starts with doing what you say and saying what you mean.This episode is for mission-driven leaders, overwhelmed operators, and anyone who wants to grow impact without losing the human side of leadership.Josh shares how the club gave him the stability he didn't have at home, why he loves fixing broken systems, and what it looks like to build something that can run even when you're not in the room. If you're leading a nonprofit, raising kids, or trying to create a stronger team and community around you, this conversation will hit home.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Josh Nolan joins the Horn Hosa Podcast and the Boys and Girls Club story begins0:15 - Fifteen years in the movement and returning home during COVID0:53 - Moving back in the thick of the pandemic and leading through Zoom2:22 - How wrestling, content creation, and community building connect3:10 - Bret Hart, the Attitude Era, and why wrestling felt real4:47 - BTS, pageantry, and the power of live entertainment7:00 - Michael Jackson, global fame, and legendary performers8:27 - Balance, scheduling, and protecting time as a leader and dad10:24 - Getting pushed into leadership and taking over a broken club12:15 - Why Josh likes rebuilding messy organizations13:41 - The stability the Boys and Girls Club gave him growing up16:59 - Fatherhood, presence, and doing what you say18:44 - Middle school transitions and helping kids stay grounded23:43 - What the 24/7 phone really means in small-town leadership25:40 - Opening satellite locations and building equal partnerships27:56 - Volunteerism, board support, staff, and nonprofit funding29:13 - Serving 1,300 kids across a small-town network30:15 - What comes next for growth, infrastructure, and sports31:41 - How to get involved with the Boys and Girls Club👤 ABOUT JOSH NOLAN:Josh Nolan leads the Boys and Girls Club in Orrville Area, Ohio, where he focuses on rebuilding programs, expanding access, and creating strong, safe spaces for kids. He has spent about 15 years with the Boys and Girls Club movement and returned to the organization during COVID to help restore and grow its impact.🔗 Organization Website: https://www.oabgc.org🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE:Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Every week, hosts Keenan Hart and Efrain sit down with nonprofit executives, operations directors, and innovators to uncover practical strategies you can implement in your organization.Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact.🔗 CONNECT WITH US:FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis#NonprofitLeadership #MissionDrivenLeadership #CommunityImpact