BUILD Announces Charles R. Salter to Serve as the Organization's First President

REDWOOD CITY, CA--(Marketwired - Aug 9, 2013) - BUILD, a national education and entrepreneurship non-profit based in Redwood City, CA announced today that Charles (Chuck) R. Salter will serve as the organization's inaugural President. Mr. Salter brings more than 15 years of experience in management and education to the organization.

BUILD offers a four-year experiential learning program designed to motivate low-income, disengaged high school students through entrepreneurship and business. Today, the BUILD program partners with 19 schools to serve more than 1,000 students in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, D.C. and Boston, helping reduce drop-out rates and propel students to college and career success.

"Chuck's deep educational and management experience will be a tremendous asset to BUILD as he directs the organization's day-to-day operations. His experience will help us to more quickly become a catalyst in changing opportunities for disadvantaged and disengaged students in the U.S." said BUILD Founder and CEO, Suzanne McKechnie Klahr.

Mr. Salter began his career in East Palo Alto as a Teach for America corps member at the same time BUILD Founder, Suzanne McKechnie Klahr, founded BUILD in the same small city. During his three years in East Palo Alto, Chuck founded the Ravenswood Youth Soccer Club and served as the president of the Ravenswood Teachers Association. Following his time in East Palo Alto, Chuck went on to work as a master teacher, school leader, principal and charter school superintendent in different regions throughout the country. In addition to his direct work in public education, Mr. Salter has held senior management positions with national educational non-profits including Teach for America, After-School All Stars and Lighthouse Academies.

Ajay Agarwal, Managing Director at Bain Capital Ventures and BUILD's National Board Chair, said, "His commitment and experience working with and serving disadvantaged youth is unparalleled. His leadership will be instrumental in helping BUILD scale our programs to impact tens of thousands of high school students over the coming years."

BUILD targets disadvantaged and disengaged young people, from low-income families, who demonstrate low academic performance and little interest in going to college. The odds would be against them if not for the training, academic advising and skill development provided through the class curriculum. BUILD has an extraordinary success rate using entrepreneurial education to propel students otherwise left behind to college and career success.

Mr. Salter added, "I am honored to be the inaugural President. Having the opportunity to work with such dedicated, talented people is a true professional pleasure. I am excited for the work in front of us."

Mr. Salter earned his B.A. magna cum laude with university and departmental honors from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania and his J.D. from the Mauer School of Law at Indiana University, Bloomington. Mr. Salter has also completed graduate studies in Nonprofit Management and Business Management from Indiana University and Ball State University respectively. He is a trained mediator and a member of the Indiana State Bar.

About BUILD
Founded in 1999, BUILD's mission is to use entrepreneurship to excite and propel disengaged, under-served students through high school to college and career success. BUILD believes that the power of student ideas in action drives youth to reach their fullest potential in school and beyond. The four-year high school program offers a unique blend of entrepreneurship, academics, and personal support that attracts and motivates many students who are otherwise at high risk of failing classes and dropping out of high school.

BUILD currently serves high school students at programs located in Redwood City and Oakland, California; Washington, D.C. and Boston, Massachusetts. For more information or to connect with us, please visit: www.build.org or follow us @BUILDNational or at build1600 on YouTube