Swampscott resident Lynne Krasker Schultz has big plans for the community nonprofit SPUR after being selected as the organization’s new executive director.
Krasker Schultz joined the team in early August. Founder and current Executive Director Jocelyn Cook will remain with the organization as a member of the Board of Directors and will lead development and fundraising efforts.
“I am excited to work with the board and volunteers to launch SPUR into its next stage of development and expansion,” Krasker Schultz said. “SPUR is about engaging people living in our community to make a measurable impact within the community through volunteer opportunities. In addition to mobilizing volunteers, we are going to think about how to be a convener and collaborator, as well as deepen people’s connection to each other.”
Marblehead-based SPUR describes its mission as creating a “community of doers” by providing diverse, flexible and accessible volunteer opportunities for community members of all ages in Lynn, Marblehead, Salem and Swampscott.
Krasker Schultz said she is excited to bring SPUR to the next level, by creating more opportunities across all of the communities SPUR helps.
She wants to expand SPUR to do more community outreach beyond the annual Backpack Drive and the Holiday Cheer Drive, potentially seeking to include programs in the high, middle, and elementary schools of the communities SPUR serves.
Krasker Schultz has 16 years of experience working with nonprofits, including programming, marketing and fundraising. Before joining SPUR, she served for six years as the director of public programming and community engagement at The Vilna Shul, Boston’s Center for Jewish Culture. She also founded and directed Prism, the young adult initiative of the New Center for Arts and Culture, now JArts.
“Lynne’s experience scaling nonprofit programs and her energetic, positive leadership style will help SPUR continue to strengthen and expand the ways that we support our community,” said SPUR Board Chair Jackie Mongiello. “The Board of Directors and I are excited to have Lynne on board and help SPUR continue to grow to the next level.”
As Krasker Schultz’s first month as executive director comes to an end, she said she feels hopeful for the future of SPUR.
“We’re off to really great things and it’s really exciting,” Krasker Schultz said. “We’re going to be bigger and better. We want everyone to know about us and want to get involved.”
