Jessica Poore named Tennessee Boys & Girls Club CEO of the year
"She truly puts Club kids first in every decision she makes and leads her staff with vision, heart and purpose."
Jessica Poore, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport, was named the 2026 Tennessee Boys & Girls Clubs State CEO of the year at The Summit for Tennessee’s Youth program in Nashville, TN.
The award was presented during the Tennessee Area Council and Tennessee Hall of Fame dinner at Belmont University in Nashville. The Tennessee Area Council is made up of Boys & Girls Club sites from across the state, serving more than 35,000 children in 100 different club site.
Jessica has been with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport since October 2023. Before accepting her position as the CEO of the Club, she was employed at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenville and Greene County.
Since her arrival, Jessica has transformed the Club into a safe and welcoming place for hundreds of children. Through her leadership, the Club has seen a 190% growth in attendance since 2023, averaging 180 kids daily between its two site locations. The Club recently reached a new milestone when it served over 200 kids in a single day in January of 2026. The Club had 675 active members in 2025 and served over 48,000 meals to Club kids.
The club also has many outreach programs and events each year including the Youth Leadership Summit, Read Across America, and offers sports clinics and access to sports leagues through the Club’s various partnerships with youth sports organizations in the area. Through these partnerships, the Club was able to provide opportunities for 350 kids in 2025 to participate in different sports leagues and programs who might not have otherwise had the opportunity.
“We’ve all seen the incredible impact of Jessica’s leadership,” Vanessa Bennett of The Kingsport Chamber said. “She truly puts Club kids first in every decision she makes and leads her staff with vision, heart and purpose. I am incredibly proud that she leads the Club. Our community is stronger because of her unwavering commitment to the youth and families we serve.”
Jessica is actively involved in the community and serves on various local boards, and tasks forces including the Kingsport Chamber board and the Meadowview Task Force. She is also active within Leadership Kingsport and has presented at different events on leadership and creating a positive team culture.
“I’m thrilled that Jessica received this recognition that is so richly deserved.” Tony Melson, Former Boys & Girls Club Board Volunteer, said. “As I’ve served the Boys & Girls Clubs movement for years at the local, state, and national levels, I can confidently say there’s no better Club CEO than our very own, here in Kingsport. Jessica’s a rock star, and the entire state of Tennessee knows it.”
The Club extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation for the work Jessica has done for the Club and the community these last couple of years and is thankful for Jessica’s commitment to the organization, her staff, the youth in our area, and the community.
