Dustin Cottrill, a mountain of a man in both size and personality, works to establish order while nurturing energetic kids at the Tom Browning Boys & Girls Club where he works as acting program director.
Founded in 1952, the club now serves more than 1,500 active members between the ages of 5 and 15. It’s a safe, lively space where kids spend their afternoons doing homework, playing and eating in the cantina, instead of sitting home alone.
Dustin, 47, became the acting program director early in the fall of 2025, but his easy-going energy and genuine care quickly made him a familiar face and someone whom the kids seem to trust.
His commitment to youth and community didn’t begin in Maysville. Before joining the Boys & Girls Club, Dustin spent a decade shaping young lives through teaching and coaching. At Center Grove Schools in Greenwood, Ind., he worked in a before-and-after care program in Honey Grove and later in the school system’s program for behaviorally challenged kids in Bridges Academy. At the same time, he juggled coaching soccer at nearby Franklin College, finding creative ways to make ends meet while doing what he loved most — mentoring kids.
Family has always been at the center of Dustin’s work with children. He and his wife, Mary, 48, have two children, 14-year-old high school freshman Zoe, and 17-year-old Xavier, 17, a junior. Xavier was diagnosed with high-functioning autism when he was five, and this has deepened Dustin’s understanding of the need for communication and empathy, he said.
Having a son with autism, it’s taught me patience, and to listen differently,” Dustin said.
Those lessons carry into his work every day, where he focuses on helping kids manage emotions and feel heard.
“Sometimes, all a kid needs is a change in scenery, and it becomes easier to make progress,” Dustin said.
After taking a break from working with children, Dustin worked at a car dealership in Louisville, later moving his family to Maysville for another dealership job. He then suffered from a seizure, which led him to leave the industry.
“I tried a couple of times to go back (to the dealership), and it just wasn’t the same,” Dustin said.
After leaving the auto business, Dustin spent a year volunteering his time to coach the Mason County High School girls’ soccer team before ending up at the Boys & Girls Club. His goal there is to create a safe, nurturing environment for kids to learn how to express confusing emotions.
“You learn to pick your battles,” he said. “Some days it’s just about helping a kid make it through to the next one.”
