Former Niles-Buchanan YMCA executive director Bret Hendrie has been hired to run the Edwardsburg Sports Complex.

Hendrie, who has more than 30 years experience working for nonprofits, including 16 years with the YMCA, is the organization’s first executive director.

Ed Patzer, ESC board president, said hiring an executive director was always part of the plan.

“We just felt we were at the point in time when it made sense,” Patzer said. “We really needed someone who could focus totally on what was going on out there so that we run as efficiently as possible.”

Hendrie will be responsible for overseeing the facility, from running board meetings, to fundraising, to taking care of day-to-day operations.

“He knows a lot of people in the community, and he certainly does have organizational skills from his longtime directorship at the YMCA — and that’s what we are looking for,” Patzer said.

Hendrie resigned from the YMCA in June.

The Edwardsburg Sports Complex Inc. was established as a nonprofit organization in 2005. Its mission is to provide safe, well-kept facilities for community sports in the greater Edwardsburg area.

The complex, when completed, will provide the community with 10 soccer/football fields, eight baseball/softball fields, concessions and pavilion buildings as well as a walking trail around the 100-acre complex. Currently, three soccer fields are in operation with many organizations using them. More than $2 million in donations has been received thus far, according to Patzer, with another $1.58 million needed to complete construction of all fields.

If you would like to be a donor or volunteer or just want more information about the Edwardsburg Sport Complex, go to edwardsburgsportscomplex.org.