Our council is led by volunteers and supported by staff. The top position is our council president, who leads our 60 member board of directors and is selected through a nominating committee process and elected to serve a two-year term. The president and board hire the Scout Executive, who guides and manages our council employees. Rounding out our top leadership team is the council commissioner, appointed by the board, who directs the volunteers that work directly with leaders of Scouting groups to help them succeed.

 

Meet our top council leadership team, known as our Council Key Three:

Richard Schmitt

PRESIDENT

Richard was a Cub Scout, Webelos, and Boy Scout in his youth in Aurora, Illinois. He reengaged in 2005 when his oldest son needed a den leader in Cub Scouts. He has been a Cub Scout den leader, pack leader, Scoutmaster & Committee Chair for Scouting units in Glen Ellyn. In the 7 years Richard served as Scoutmaster and committee chair, 38 Scouts earned the Eagle Scout Rank. He was most recently the Chippewa District Chair for Three Fires Council. He is the proud father of two Eagle Scouts.

Richard has been a McDonald’s franchisee since April 1, 1986. Schmitt Family McDonald's currently operates 24 restaurants in the Western Chicago suburbs. He has served in leadership roles for McDonald’s locally on operations, people, PR, and financial, and is currently serving as a board member of the local marketing team. Richard was a member of McDonald’s National Leadership Council for 9 years, National Operations Team and McDonald’s USA Strategic Planning team. He led the National McDonald’s Food Improvement Team & Menu teams for the McDonald's USA for 10 years and Richard currently is on the McDonald's National Advertising Board.

We are grateful that Richard chooses to spend his time with Scouting and are thankful for his leadership.

Dr. Brian Caputo

COUNCIL COMMISSIONER

Scouting has been central to Brian’s life since childhood.  As a youth, he earned the Arrow of Light, Ad Altare Dei Catholic Religious Emblem, and Eagle Scout rank.  His passion in Scouting as an adult has been to support units and their leaders through commissioner service, having previously held the positions of District Commissioner in the Lake Huron Area Council (Michigan) as well as Unit Commissioner and Assistant Council Commissioner in the Three Fires Council.  His other previous Scouting positions include Den Leader, Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Three Fires Council Executive Board President.  The Doctorate of Commissioner Science, Silver Beaver Award, Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, and Order of the Arrow Brotherhood membership are among Brian’s Scouting recognitions.

Brian is a retired administrator from higher education and local government.  He served as the President of the College of DuPage, Illinois’ largest community college, from 2019 to 2024.  He had a long and distinguished career in government finance, including nearly 19 years as the Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer for the City of Aurora, Illinois.  Brian brought the local government perspective to the (national) Governmental Accounting Standards Board as a Board Member from 2015 to 2025.  Moreover, he served more than 22 years in the United States Army, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the US Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Science in Accountancy degree from DePaul University, as well as a Master of Public Administration degree and Doctor of Philosophy degree from Northern Illinois University.  He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Brian and his wife Karen have two sons and a daughter.  Both sons, Brian Jr. and Gregory, earned the Eagle Scout rank with the Three Fires Council.

Ron Wentzell

SCOUT EXECUTIVE/CEO

Ron began his Scouting career in 1997 as an Exploring Executive at Three Fires Council. He then became the Finance Director, Field Director, Director of Development, Director of Support Services, and Director of Field Service all with Three Fires Council. Ron was selected to be Scout Executive/CEO on January 6, 2024. Ron is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow.

Throughout his Scouting career, he has helped the council achieve many successes ranging from increasing Scouting enrollment among local youth, spearheading a successful and safe camp program following the Covid pandemic, leading the council's annual million dollar popcorn sale campaign for years, creating ways for Scouts with disabilities to enjoy the program fully with the aid of the Thing 123 Foundation, and much more.