Elk Grove nonprofit CEO makes a difference in the community
A college English major, Mitchell Bruski so loved literature that he went to work for a bookstore after graduation.
But it was through conversations with other book lovers about the stories contained in those pages that he learned about his true passion in life.
"Somebody said, 'You shouldn't be selling books, you should be talking to people,'" Bruski said. "The thing I liked about literature was that it dealt with the human condition. Rather than doing it secondhand, I thought maybe it's better to do it firsthand."
Bruski joined the Elk Grove Village-based Kenneth Young Center in 1985 as a clinical director, and in 1992 became the social service agency's CEO, a position he's held ever since. Bruski, 65, plans to retire next May.
He's overseen an expansion of the facility and the scope of the services it provides in the community, which includes mental health screening and treatment, counseling, and Meals on Wheels for seniors. He's also been a vocal advocate of permanent supportive housing complexes throughout the Northwest suburbs to provide affordable independent apartment-living for people with mental illness or physical disabilities.
In his role as CEO, Bruski oversees day-to-day operations of the center and its programs, a $10 million annual budget, and a staff of some 165 full- and part-time employees. He's helped market a computerized billing system, developed in-house, to 50 other social service agencies throughout the state, leading to a reliable revenue stream for Kenneth Young at a time when state and other funding is sometimes in doubt.
Despite Bruski's business responsibilities, colleagues say he brings the approach of a social worker to his management of the nonprofit.
"He's very calm, very patient, and very respectful of others, even when he disagrees," said Lois Colaprete, who was his assistant for 23 years.
When it comes to problem solving, "He'll sit back, rub his beard, and say, 'OK, now what are we going to do about this,'" Colaprete said.
Almost every employee at Kenneth Young has taken a four-week class taught by Bruski on emotional intelligence, how to understand other people's mindsets, and keeping one's emotions in check.
"It's a gift to be able to work with people who are helping other people. People working on our mission - to help people feel good, do better and find solutions - that's what keeps me focused day-to-day," Bruski said. "At some point during the day, some of that is going to happen. If you're looking for it, it's there."