Prescott, AZ — The board of directors of Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters (YBBBS) appointed Robin Layton as Interim Executive Director, alongside making a series of strategic organizational changes designed to ensure the agency’s continued strength and sustainability in serving youth across Yavapai County.
Layton, who has nearly eight years of experience with the agency in marketing, communications, fundraising, and recruitment, along with 30 years in the newspaper industry, will lead YBBBS through this transition period.
“I’m honored to step into this role at a time when innovation and community connection are more important than ever,” said Layton. “We’re evolving our operations to better meet the needs of our Bigs, Littles, and families while ensuring our long-term impact.”
As part of this evolution, YBBBS is restructuring to focus more on people than property and has adopted a mobile and mission-centered work model that includes selling its Prescott office building at 3208 Lakeside Village Drive. This shift allows the agency to reduce overhead, increase flexibility, and focus more resources directly on mentoring relationships.
“Selling our building in Prescott doesn’t mean we’re going anywhere,” Layton added. “Our staff will be working remotely to direct more resources into our one-to-one mentoring. The agency is deeply rooted in Yavapai County. By working this flexible remote model, we’re able to stay responsive, efficient, and mission-driven.”
“These updates reflect a broader nonprofit trend toward flexible, resource-savvy operations that sustain critical services like ours, even during times of financial pressure.”
Despite financial challenges that led to a reduction in staff, YBBBS remains fully active and committed to safe, high-quality youth mentoring. The agency has right-sized to a core team, following guidance from the national office of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the YBBBS Board of Directors, and leadership from the Tucson BBBS affiliate. Several small affiliates nationwide operate successfully with a similar staffing model.
YBBBS is currently supporting existing matches, and hopes to continue recruiting new mentors and youth by September. Meeting spaces will be utilized as needed through local community partnerships.
“As we celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2021, we introduced our renewed mission: to create and professionally support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the promise in all of us. Alongside this, we emphasized a powerful truth, mentoring isn’t confined to buildings. It happens out in the world. Our Matches connect through meaningful experiences like cooking, fishing, hiking, reading, and more. This is the essence of what we do: Big Brothers and Big Sisters sharing their time, talents, and guidance with local youth,” shared Layton.
“At Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters, we create meaningful, lasting mentoring relationships that help local youth thrive. Our dedicated team and volunteers continue to make an incredible impact, one match at a time,” added Wendy Ross, YBBBS Board Chairperson.
Until the building sale, the Prescott staff is available at the Lakeside address Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at 928.778.5135. The agency will retain its building at 830 S. Main St #1h, Cottonwood, with a staff member available onsite Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or at 928.634.9789.
For more information, or to learn how you can support youth mentoring in Yavapai County, please visit azbigs.org.