Vince Meno Named Executive Director of Midtown Educational Foundation
Introducing the new Executive Director of Midtown Educational Foundation, Vince Meno.
Longtime MEF Executive Director Glenn Wilke to continue with organization as its Executive Director Emeritus
CHICAGO, IL (June 1, 2023) – Midtown Educational Foundation (MEF), the city of Chicago’s acclaimed non-profit organization guiding low-income urban youth along pathways of success, has named veteran marketing and business operations professional Vince Meno as its new Executive Director. The announcement was made by John J. Conroy, Jr. (President, Midtown Educational Foundation Board of Directors) and Glenn Wilke (Executive Director Emeritus).
Meno will oversee the day-to-day operations, including fundraising, budgeting, grant development, staffing, student recruitment efforts, and program facilitation at Midtown Educational Foundation’s Chicago-based headquarters, along with the two centers it serves, the Midtown Center for boys (1819 N. Wood St.) and the Metro Achievement Center for girls (310 S. Peoria St.).
Wilke, one of the most respected leaders among Chicago non-profit organizations, is stepping down from his role as MEF Executive Director, a position he has held since 2004, but will remain with the organization as its Executive Director Emeritus, maintaining and cultivating sponsor and donor relations.
“Vince Meno has demonstrated impressive leadership in expanding the awareness of MEF’s mission to a broader audience. Vince also clearly understands our goal of helping kids from Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods become better students and better people. His extensive skills in people management and his creative, forward thinking will benefit our students and their families for years to come.”
“I would also like to thank Glenn Wilke for his outstanding leadership of MEF over the past two decades. Glenn will go down in MEF history as one of the organization’s greatest leaders and champions. We are so pleased that Glenn will assist Vince during this transitional period, and grateful that he will be remaining to maintain the countless friendships that have emerged during his tenure.”
“I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of such an iconic leader. I am grateful to Glenn Wilke for the strong foundation he has built and I am blessed that he will continue to play an active role in the advancement of MEF’s mission. I deeply respect the 58-year-old legacy formed by the staff, volunteers, supporters, and students that came before me. I will continue to honor that tradition while making bold moves to elevate the MEF brand so that we can help even more families experience the life-changing enrichment programs at our Midtown & Metro Achievement Centers.”
Since 2020, Meno served as Midtown Educational Foundation’s Director of Community Outreach & Marketing. Under Meno’s direction, MEF experienced significant growth and increased public awareness for the organization’s mission and vision across its digital and social platforms, along with securing numerous earned media opportunities.
In addition, Meno served as the only three-way employee in the organization, working equally for MEF and its two centers, successfully establishing a cohesive message and positive, virtue-based mindset among all students, parents, staffers, and volunteers.
Prior to joining MEF, Meno held the title of Marketing & Business Development Manager with Chicago-based Midway Moving & Storage, Inc., where he successfully led the company’s rebranding campaign and its enhanced digital/social customer engagement efforts, leading to increased annual new customer acquisition and year-over-year sales revenue records.
Originally from Ft. Hood, Texas, Meno received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from The Ohio State University. In addition to his numerous volunteer efforts, including leadership roles with the Knights of Columbus and St. Edward School Board, Meno also received the prestigious “Columbian Boosters Award” from the Archdiocese of Chicago Chapter of the Knights of Columbus, becoming one of the youngest recipients ever to have received the award in the state of Illinois.
Meno and his wife Sara, who is the Chief Development Officer at Noble Schools, and their two children reside in Chicago.
For any media inquiries or, for a tour of MEF’s Midtown Center for boys and Metro Achievement Center for girls, please contact Sr. Director of Advancement Chris Richards at crichards@midtown-metro.org.
About Midtown Educational Foundation: Midtown Educational Foundation (www.midtown-metro.org), through its Metro Achievement Center for girls and Midtown Center for boys, has helped close the achievement gap for underserved students in Chicago since its founding in 1965. Its programming, focusing on academic excellence, virtue development, individual attention, and parental engagement, has led to 100% high school graduation and college enrollment for its students for over 20 consecutive years.