To Whom it May Concern,
I have known Joe Andreo for the past 2 years while he has served as Scout Executive for the Housatonic Council in Derby, Connecticut. I currently serve as the Executive Vice President of the Housatonic Council and have worked closely with him during his time with us. Joe has an excellent understanding of how to operate a council and has the necessary financial background to make it operate efficiently.
He has done an excellent job of creating and improving various fundraising initiatives which has enabled us to finish in the black for the first time in seven years. He is very creative and knows how to take charge. I was very impressed on how he was able to apply for and receive several grants and donations to make more improvements to our camp, Camp Strang, in the past two years then have been done in the past 10. Joe secured funding to build a new trap house for shotgun shooting, a badly needed boat house and sea wall for our waterfront, and new roofs for over twenty structures in camp.
Joe is very open to units’ concerns and started the first fireside chat where once a year unit leaders meet with council officers and discuss their concerns and successes. This has been very instrumental in making units feel included and heard. He is very innovative in creating new events and is very focused on the importance of the Arrow of Light to Scouts BSA crossover transition.
He has a realistic view of how to run things and has been instrumental in helping us to turn things around to make budget, membership goals, and improve camp while eliminating differed maintenance. He doesn’t sugar coat things and lays out what is feasible and what is not. I will be sad to see him go for he has been a good friend, and I would love to see what else he can do for our council and camp, but I understand his reasons for exploring this other opportunity.
I recommend him for employment without reservation. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Yours in Scouting,
Paul Uhrynowski