Jim Ravas is the President/CEO of Toledo’s Boys & Girls Clubs, celebrating its 132nd anniversary. It is one of the founding Clubs of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and currently serves about 4,000 members in the Toledo metropolitan area. Jim joined the Boys & Girls Clubs in August 2020, inspired by its legacy, the need to guide through the pandemic, and its tremendous potential. In 2024, the Boys & Girls Club opened its 9th Club at Hiawatha Elementary School in Washington Local School District.
Jim graduated from The University of Toledo, earning a bachelor’s in organizational development and a dual major MBA in Finance and International Business. He has a long history of leading companies into and through the rapid growth phase. He began with The Limited in sourcing, then the path of turning around organizations, building new brands, merging organizations in the technology and telecommunications space, and most recently, participating in the growth and merger of Tyco and Johnson Controls.
Jim brainstorms and helps colleagues in technology entrepreneurship. Jim has served on several boards in the healthcare, education, and development of new business venture spaces. Jim shared his most recent experience with Johnson Controls, “I’ve always been drawn to entrepreneurial potential.” “Working with an organization that has shown themselves year after year to be committed to creating exciting, innovative products for customers, but also helping their customers move the needle in terms of sales.”
With the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo, Jim shared, “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with this amazing Team of leaders and youth development professionals to help our youth to realize their fullest potential.” Jim’s biggest success is being a dad to his three children and husband to his wife of 33 years, Elizabeth.
Jim has a long track record of leading companies through the step change from the growth stage to industry-leading scale. However, he is most thrilled to work with the Toledo community and partner with other non-profits to serve the youth of Toledo. “It takes a village.”
Quality afterschool programs can support healthy learning and development when key factors are addressed and well-implemented. They also demonstrate how complex it is to provide excellent, effective support for youth and their families. Ohio University’s in-depth independent study will be reviewed, demonstrating the impact of Boys & Girls Clubs programming in our community.
