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ALUM Spotlight Tracey Guidry '93

Tracey Guidry is the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of the Lake Martin Area, located in Alexander City, Alabama. Tracey put her degree in math to work as a professional in the nonprofit world. She has worked for Children's Harbor, Auburn Alumni Association, and The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Recently Tracey was named the J. Richard Ullom Rookie of the Year, but a quick review of Tracey's distinguished list of honors and activities would certainly be described as anything other than "rookie." She's a member of the Board of Directors for Alexander City D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), and Co-Chair of the Tallapoosa County Assessment Team for the Lake Martin Area United Way just to name a few.

Q. What is a typical day like for you at Boys and Girls Club?

A. There is no such thing as a typical day at the Boys & Girls Club. Everyday brings its own set of challenges as well as its own set of successes. I am always in the process of building relationships, forming partnerships, assessing the needs of both our children and our community, assessing the effectiveness of our existing programs and developing newer and more innovative programs, supervising and developing staff, and looking for creative ways to sustain our operations while finding new ways to expand our service area to reach as many people as possible. No two days are alike, but they all are great in some way or another.

Q. What is the best part about your job? the toughest?

A. The best part of my job is when I visibly see the difference that our Clubs make in the lives of young people and their families. I could give you countless examples of children increasing their academic performance and making better grades, unemployed parents enrolling in college courses because they had a safe and affordable place for their children to go in the afternoon, children using the techniques that they have learned at the Club to put an end to stereotyping and prejudice, older children taking the time to help younger children with their homework or listening to them read, parents becoming more involved with their children and others' children through volunteer activities at the Clubs, etc. The list goes on and on…

The toughest part of my job is getting drowned in all of the paperwork that is necessary to run a nonprofit in this day and time. I am a proponent for accountability but it can be time-consuming.

Q. Did AU prepare you well for your career?

A. Auburn University more than prepared me for my career. My academic success at Auburn helped build a great deal of self-confidence and a sense of achievement. I also learned about perseverance and hard work. My experiences at Auburn as a student assistant, a graduate research assistant, and a professional with Alumni and Development, also helped me gain the skills and the knowledge that I needed to succeed in my present position.

Q. What does the Auburn spirit mean to you?

A. The Auburn spirit means so many things to me. I am a first-generation college graduate. My father was a roofing contractor and had contracted work with Auburn before I was born. He was so impressed with the campus and the people there that he and my mother decided that Auburn was the place for me to attend even though they knew that we did not really have the means. After visiting the campus I agreed whole-heartedly. We all worked hard in order for me to go to Auburn. Therefore, the Auburn spirit reminds me that with hard work and determination, we can overcome any obstacle and make our dreams come true. I know that I made my parents proud the day that I walked across the stage and accepted my diploma.

I met my husband and the love of my life, Blaine J. Guidry '04, at Auburn University. We have been married for almost thirteen years and have three beautiful children, Bailey, Jordan, and Aubrey. So many wonderful and exciting things have happened to us at Auburn and because of Auburn. Blaine and I hold Auburn dear to our hearts and we are raising our children to do the same.

Q. Where's your favorite place to visit on or around campus?

A. Of course I love Jordan Hare Stadium! I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest when I am there. I am also partial to a little area on the side of the concourse where Blaine and I sat on a bench on our first date. Parker Hall is special, too, because I spent so much time there. Really, there is no place on campus that is not special to me just because it is Auburn and I love it.