Fort Atkinson Club Executive Director - Darren Coady

Fort Atkinson, WI; December 5, 2014 – Rock River Heritage, Inc. has named Darren P. Coady as Director of the Fort Atkinson Club.

In anticipation of a January opening date, the Rock River Heritage board of directors stepped up the search director process this past November so that they would be in place when the newly established community center opened their doors.

Mr. Coady will be in charge of developing and directing the programming and marketing plans, as well as coordinating volunteers, facilitating fundraising activities, and nurturing beneficial partnerships for the soon to be completed Fort Atkinson Club. Located in downtown Fort Atkinson, and formerly home to the Masonic Lodge, The Fort Atkinson Club is in the final stages of renovation as a multi-use community center.

“We were fortunate to have a number of very talented and highly qualified applicants for the position,” said Cynthia Holt, Rock River Heritage Inc. board member and head of the selection committee. “The Board of Directors chose Darren because of his background in the nonprofit and business sectors, extensive experience organizing community programs, and most importantly his passion for our mission – to serve Fort Atkinson and Jefferson County communities.”

Coady’s educational background includes a BS in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Nonprofit Administration from the North Park University School of Business & Nonprofit Management in Chicago, IL. While living in Chicago, Mr. Coady worked and volunteered for a number of Chicago Area charities, focusing primarily on grant writing, fundraising, volunteer management, and strategic planning.

Darren shared:  “I am very excited to introduce everyone to the newly renovated Fort Atkinson Club! The board and I are thrilled to serve our community with this amazing building while showcasing the history, culture, and heritage of the area. I look forward to developing a wide variety of ways to nurture and support our vibrant community and offer many opportunities for others to participate in positive collaboration.”

He added, “While I just recently moved to Fort Atkinson this year with my fiancé Genevieve, we have both already fallen in love with the area. The Club is the perfect place for me to further transition my career and utilize my experience to serve the wonderful members, neighbors, and visitors of this community.”

“For the past months the Rock River Heritage Board has been focusing on the restoration of the former Masonic Lodge,” noted Joan Jones, Rock River Heritage Board President. “As the building nears completion, we have turned our attention to its future use as a community center. To that end, the Board has named Darren Coady as Director of the Fort Atkinson Club.  Darren has both a background in business and working with a non-profit organization. We expect exciting times ahead, and Darren will help bring the old building to life again – a center for all.”

About the Fort Atkinson Club
Nestled along the Rock River in the hub of historic downtown Fort Atkinson, The Fort Atkinson Club provides an unprecedented opportunity for our greater community to find a space for creative discovery and wellness endeavors. With three beautiful floors and over a hundred windows facing the Rock River, the club not only conjures up a hundred year history but also provides a foundation of vitality for the future of our community. Each room offers unique opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to gather and enjoy – exploring the arts through classes, and performances in theater, dance, visual arts, music, film, and movement.

Additionally, community partners can provide a wide variety of wellness activities, healthy cooking classes, and support group meetings at The Club. Organizations, businesses, and families will also have the opportunity to use the theater, catering kitchen, meeting rooms, and outdoor patio for seminars and meetings, fundraisers and celebrations. The building will be a year-round hub of community activity and a vital foundation for community wellness and healthy growth – a living exhibit of the area’s rich cultural heritage.

The Fort Atkinson Club is scheduled for opening in early 2015, but a calendar of events is already forming.  Stay tuned for further announcements. If you would like to inquire about holding an event at The Club in 2015, volunteer to support our efforts or simply join our mailing list, please email: Info@FortAtkinsonClub.org.