TeenWorks Names Nick Duvall Chief Executive Officer

TeenWorks today named Nick Duvall as its incoming chief executive officer. Duvall brings more than 11 years of experience in program and campaign management, fundraising and strategic communications to the organization, which empowers teens in Indianapolis and Muncie to achieve excellence in college, career and community.

“Leading an organization like TeenWorks is a once-in-a-career opportunity,” said Duvall. “I’m humbled to be able to serve my community in this capacity and help lead programs that have such a profound impact on the lives of young people. I look forward to collaborating with my TeenWorks colleagues, board members, donors and future partners to help the organization and the kids we serve reach their fullest potential.”

TeenWorks offers youth in Indianapolis and Muncie the opportunity to learn employability and professional development skills through summer and year-round employment, robust college readiness programming and supportive services. Participating teens build professional resumes, gain job skills, participate in volunteer projects, receive job coaching, and have the opportunity for internships and apprenticeships not usually accessible by teens. Ninety-two percent of TeenWorks students qualify for free and reduced lunch, and more than 75 percent identify as a racial or ethnic minority.

High unemployment rates among teens and young adults has caught the attention of the civic, governmental and philanthropic communities alike. Since 2000, the job market for teens has significantly shrunk, and only 26 percent of youth are employed. Research from the Aspen Institute has shown that youth unemployment can have lasting consequences over a person’s work life. And this is especially true for young people of color, who are often combating systemic barriers that limit their access to jobs and can contribute to setting them up for disparities later in life.

Duvall’s professional experience is complemented by a compelling personal story of how his first job enabled him to develop the core employability skills that have helped propel him to TeenWorks’ top leadership role.

“As a teen, I had a job because I needed to support my family. That job gave me a paycheck, but more importantly, it developed my self-confidence and instilled the values I rely on today,” said Duvall. “I know firsthand how a first job can accelerate a teen’s path to workplace success, and I’m excited to lead an organization that is building a talented and diverse future workforce.”

TeenWorks is a legacy organization of prominent Indiana philanthropist Eugene B. Glick, who founded the Pro 100 program in 1981 to provide teens with a summer job that would teach them the values of self-discipline, a hard day’s work and giving back to their community. TeenWorks was created as an independent nonprofit organization in 2013 to continue this founding vision and build strategic, collaborative partnerships with employers and community partners.

“Nick joins TeenWorks with an impressive resume, a powerful personal connection to the work and a passion for continuing my father’s mission: to empower young people to develop big dreams and the skills to achieve them through the honest work of their first job,” said Marianne Glick, president of the TeenWorks board and chairman of the board for the Eugene & Marilyn Glick Family Foundation. “As one of the youngest nonprofit leaders in the community, we look forward to seeing the entrepreneurial spirit that Nick will bring to TeenWorks and believe he will set a shining example for the teens who will come through the program.”

Duvall most recently served Little Red Door Cancer Agency as chief advancement officer overseeing annual fundraising efforts totaling $2.3 million per year. Prior to that, Duvall served in leadership roles with Boy Scouts of America, the Indiana General Assembly and the Library of Congress. In 2017, he was recognized by Junior Achievement of Central Indiana as an Indy’s Best and Brightest finalist. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in 2007 and his Master of Public Administration in 2014.

TeenWorks will hire 150 teens in Indianapolis and another 50 in Muncie for its 2019 summer program. The year-round Pro program supports 150 employed youth. To learn more about TeenWorks, please visit www.teenworks.org/.