TEAM

Tomeka joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford in May 2024. As a proud Hartford native, she brings nearly 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector, primarily with the United Way network.

Tomeka is not only a seasoned non-profit professional but also an accomplished entrepreneur. For more than 20 years, she operated Exquisite Events by Meeka, a successful event planning business. As part of this venture, she founded Club EE by Me, a subsidiary that empowered youth through creative “make and take” programs. These programs taught children, ages 6-12, valuable life skills -including baking and personal development- and fostered empowerment and creativity. 

Tomeka’s deep commitment to the mission and movement of Boys & Girls Clubs is inspired by her late husband, Dynale Martin. An alum of the JDL Northwest Club, his dedication to the organization has profoundly influenced her own passion for youth development. In his honor, Tomeka established the Dynale Martin Foundation in 2015 which empowers youth through free basketball clinics. 

Tomeka’s University of Hartford education has helped foster her strong operational skills, her ability to connect with people and her unwavering dedication to make a positive impact in her community.

Anne Johannes is a finance executive who comes to Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford from the “For Profit” world. She spent 27 years working on strengthening her strategic insights, crafting finance transformation skills, and focusing on growth initiatives. Anne now brings these skills to the Non-Profit space and BGCH where she will lead our Finance Team and utilize these strengths to solidify the financial foundation for the Boys & Girls Clubs focusing on the future growth and success of the Strategic Outlook. Anne is a Certified Management Accountant and has an MBA from Oakland University and a Bachelor of Accountancy from Walsh College. Anne and her husband are originally from Michigan and have four children.

Mary Beth has been a part of Boys & Girls Club of Hartford for more than two decades.  A Hartford native, Mary Beth started as a Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford volunteer and has served in a multitude of roles including Unit Director and Grants Manager. She is currently Director for Grants and Continuous Improvement, responsible for writing proposals and submitting timely and accurate reports for all grant funded projects, as well as researching foundations and corporations to evaluate prospects for both public and private grants. She has recently been charged with overseeing data tracking to show BGCH’s impact on Hartford youth. Mary Beth’s commitment to BGCH along with her skills and experience allow her to excel in her position.  

Amanda joined BGCH in October 2023 and serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications. She is responsible for sharing the impact of Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford through multimedia storytelling – including writing Be Greater: The News Magazine of BGCH, producing video content, designing graphic and print material, and managing BGCH’s social media channels. She also handles media and public relations for the organization. 

A Michigan native, Amanda earned her B.A. in Journalism and Telecommunications from Ball State University. She was a local news producer for nearly 10 years in both Indianapolis and Connecticut, earning four regional Emmy nominations. Amanda also spent a year as Communications Officer for a nonprofit research center affiliated with Yale School of Medicine. She is thrilled to be at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford and looks forward to continuing to show people why BGCH is a community gem.

o Misty Amarena joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford as the Director of Corporate Engagement in August 2024, bringing more than 12 years of expertise in philanthropy, volunteer management, and community development. With a strong commitment to empowering young people, Misty is enthusiastic about fostering meaningful partnerships with corporate allies and their teams to make a significant impact on Greater Hartford’s youth.

Before joining BGCH, Misty honed her skills as the Executive Director of Backyard

Harvest and in various roles with Junior Achievement of Southwest New England. During this time she excelled in driving revenue growth, engaging volunteers, and forging robust community connections. Her background reflects a proven track record of leadership and collaboration.

A West Coast native, Misty holds a M.Ed. from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Education from the University of Idaho. She is a passionate advocate for building a positive team culture and believes deeply in the transformative power of community. Misty is dedicated to supporting the next generation in reaching their full potential and living their best lives.

Patrick joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford in September 2024. Prior, he served as a Senior Grants Associate with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Patrick assists the Director of Grants & Continuous Improvement in growing and managing the grants portfolio (government, foundation, and corporate), including research, writing proposals, reporting, communicating with funders, maintaining grant records and managing a grants calendar.

He holds a MA in Pastoral Studies from Aquinas Institute of Theology (St. Louis, MO) and a MS in Nonprofit Management from Regis University (Denver, CO). Patrick is an active member of the Grant Professionals Association and the Project Management Institute and serves as a grants consultant with Petrus Development. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, hiking, photography and reading books by J. R. R. Tolkien.