WATERLOO -- The Boys and Girls Club of Black Hawk County has filled its top two leadership posts, completing a personnel overhaul in the wake of financial mismanagement that threatened to close the group down.

After a national search that lasted more than a month, the club named Jason Barta as chief professional officer and Shirley Greer as director of operations.

Barta received a master's in family studies and human services from Kansas State University and comes from the Boys and Girls Club in Topeka, Kan., where he served as director of operations.

"I am very familiar with the administrative procedures and requirements that are expected of a well-run organization, and I look forward to building a reputation for the Boys and Girls Club that will instill confidence in parents, youth, and community donors," Barta said, in a statement.

Greer, who has lived in the Cedar Valley for more than 30 years, served as director of the Gear-Up program for middle and high school students. She received her master's in business administration human resources from Upper Iowa University, and is working towards a doctorate in human services, social work and community services through Capella University in Minneapolis.

Greer, who has been working with kids at Logan Middle School, said she looks forward to the opportunity to continue working with the area's children.

"Our children face tougher challenges today than most adults realize," she said.

Years of mismanagement reached a boiling point in May when the club revealed some $500,000 in assets had been depleted over several years. The club serves about 1,500 disadvantaged youths through a host of programs ranging from computers to basketball. To keep the programs running, various businesses and organizations donated money to pay the bills. In June, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals issued an administrative subpoena to the organization for records of its bingo operations.

An emergency committee, formed by Chris Harshbarger and Mac McCausland in May, reorganized the board and implemented an executive committee to oversee the club's operations. Of the old 14-person board, seven continued serving with the club, and the remaining members either quit or were asked to resign.

Michelle Gholston, the club's former executive director, resigned in April after nearly four years on the job to pursue a graduate degree in nonprofit management at the University of Northern Iowa.

Contact Jens Manuel Krogstad at (319) 291-1580 or jens.krogstad@wcfcourier.com.