As CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Utah, JeuneElle Jeffries focuses daily on strengthening the community, supporting the current workforce and preparing the next generation of employers.
“In Utah, we have a history of people being self-reliant,” Jeffries says. “Our mission is to provide resources to working families so they can continue to stay self-sufficient — whether that’s childcare or access to services during a crisis.”
To lead an organization that provides everything from preschool to domestic violence support, Jeffries must prioritize her time and the people she serves. Here are the essential tools, inspirations and daily habits Jeffries uses to lead her team.
Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre season tickets
“The arts in Logan are fantastic. The arts provide you a different view of the world. Theater and music are how I relax. We try to take our children and teens to these live programs to expand their world. Our goal is to give them opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise, so they can see what their potential is.”
Spiral-bound notebook
“I use a task app on my phone and a planner, but I’m a paper and pencil person. I use a spiral-bound notebook with a little loop for my pen. Every morning, I write down a list of what has to be done today. Of course, I have reports and deadlines to meet, but I prioritize people. I always write down the four or five people I need to connect with that day.”
2017 Subaru Crosstrek
“I drive everywhere. I have a Subaru [with] 193,000 miles on it. And no, that’s not because I drove across the country. I do a lot of phone calls when I drive around talking to staff. When it comes to connecting with someone, you need to show up. I’m a really big fan of talking over the phone when it’s not possible to be sitting next to them.”
Audible
“The best thing that happened to me as a multitasker was becoming an Audible subscriber. I normally have some inspirational books, and sometimes I’m listening to a frivolous book. That way, my head can be somewhere else without thinking about the five emails that just came in while I’m driving on the freeway.”
‘The Book of Joy’
“I just re-listened to ‘The Book of Joy’ by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. It is fantastic, and I would recommend it to everybody. The book is about how to find joy in life, and how often the happiest people are those who have nothing but decided to be happy where they are.
“At our club, we adopted a saying from the book: ‘What can you do? Do that.’ People spend so much time focusing on what they can’t do. We tell our kids and staff to figure out what they can do right now, do it and just keep moving forward.”
Coca-Cola and mixed nuts
“I’m addicted to Coca-Cola. I do, for health reasons, drink as much water as Coke every day. That’s my goal. I live on nuts because they have protein. I always have cashews, almonds or peanuts with me.”
