PRESS RELEASE
Michael Thornton, 27-year veteran of organization, takes the helm
AMIkids Inc., a nationally-recognized, nonprofit organization that transforms troubled youth into responsible members of our communities, is proud to announce the recent appointment of Michael Thornton as President & CEO. Mr. Thornton follows former CEO, O.B. Stander, who served a 41-year career with AMIkids, the last 14 years as CEO.
“Mr. Stander’s lasting impact on this organization could not be expressed enough,” said Dr. Brenda Birkett, Chair, AMIkids National Board of Trustees. “His legacy will live on through the leadership of Mr. Thornton and the rest of the staff that work so hard to support the incredibly important mission of AMIkids.”
Mr. Thornton is an AMIkids veteran. He began his career as a Remedial Education Instructor, where he interacted with our youth on a daily basis. From there, he quickly ascended through the leadership ranks, working for seven programs, serving as an Executive Director at five, in three different states. He joined the Home Office as a Regional Director and then took on the position of Director of Human Resources and then Vice President of Support Services. His previous position of President/COO allowed him to oversee and guide all operational aspects of the organization.
“I am so pleased to be passing the baton to a man of Michael’s character and ability,” said O.B. Stander, former CEO, AMIkids Inc.. “He’s truly an asset to the organization, having held nearly every leadership position possible throughout his career, achieving great success along the way. Working closely with him for many years now, I have no doubt AMIkids is in good hands and will continue to flourish and positively impact the lives of at-risk youth and their families.”
The decision for Mr. Thornton to ascend to President & CEO was announced earlier this year, as former CEO, O.B. Stander, was retiring from a 41-year career at AMIkids. The appointment was recently made official at the annual AMIkids Board of Trustees meeting in October.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this great organization,” said Mr. Thornton. “I intend to focus on providing excellent service to our kids and our customers by adhering to our guiding principles and core values. We are an organization full of passionate individuals who want to ensure our kids find their potential within.”
###
About AMIkids:
AMIkids is a national nonprofit organization that serves at-risk youth with local programs in nine states throughout the country. Since 1969, AMIkids has empowered more than 135,000 boys and girls from across the nation, helping to transform their lives and guide them towards a bright future. For more information, visit: AMIkids.org.