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:
Brian W. Caputo Ph.D.
PRESIDENT
Brian Caputo became the President of the Three Fires Council in April of 2023. He began his Scouting career as a Cub Scout in 1967. As a youth, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and was the recipient of the Ad Altare Dei Religious Emblem. Beyond being the current Three Fires Council President, Dr. Caputo also serves the council as a Unit Commissioner, Order of the Arrow Associate Chapter Adviser, merit badge counselor, and religious emblems counselor. In the past, he served as a Den Leader, Cubmaster, and Assistant Scoutmaster. Additionally, he has held several positions at the district and council levels, including District Commissioner. He holds a Master of Commissioner Science degree and is a Commissioner Doctorate candidate. Dr. Caputo’s Scouting awards include the NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award and the District Award of Merit.
Dr. Caputo works as the President of the College of DuPage where he oversees an institution of higher education with over 3,000 employees serving 22,000 for-credit and 25,000 non-credit students. Previously, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of the City of Aurora, Illinois, for 19 years. In 2004, he retired from the United States Army Reserve at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after more than 22 years of military service.
Dr. Caputo holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He attained a M.S. in Accountancy degree from DePaul University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Northern Illinois University. Additionally, Dr. Caputo earned a Ph.D. with an emphasis in Public Administration from NIU. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Dr. Caputo and his wife Karen have three children: Brian Jr., Gregory, and Katherine. Brian Jr. and Gregory are both Eagle Scouts and spent their youth Scouting years with the Three Fires Council.
David George
COUNCIL COMMISSIONER
David George is a third-generation scouter and an Eagle Scout. In his youth, he hiked Philmont, attended the 1977 National Jamboree and worked 4 summers as a camp counselor at his local Hawkeye Area Council (Iowa) Boy Scout camp. As an adult, he has served as a volunteer in all facets of the unit, district, and council program including as Cubmaster, Scoutmaster and Roundtable Commissioner. He teaches at Merit Badge University and Training Academy and serves on the Three Fires Council (TFC) Executive Board.
Dave attended Philmont, Sea Base and Boundary Waters with his son, earning the Triple Crown. His proudest moment in scouting was when his son earned Eagle. Dave attended Wood Badge in 2009 and has served on five council Wood Badge staffs, leading it as Course Director in 2018. He is currently the Wood Badge Advisor, serves as a Camp Master at Camp Big Timber, is on the Eagle Dinner Committee and will be a Scoutmaster for a TFC contingent troop to the 2023 National Jamboree. He has been awarded the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver.
Professionally, Dave is the owner of Dogtopia, a dog daycare, boarding and grooming facility in South Elgin. Prior to Dogtopia, he had a 30-year corporate career with Honeywell, Primedia and Ideal Industries serving in various Marketing, Communications and Sales leadership roles.
Dave graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Marketing. He is married to Sue George, and they have two children.
Clint Scharff
SCOUT EXECUTIVE/CEO
Clint graduated from the University of Florida with a major in US History and a minor in Secondary Education. Clint has been actively involved with community organizations as a lifelong Rotarian, Paul Harris fellow, and member of the Masonic lodge. Clint's volunteer involvement with Scouting includes serving as a den Leader (5 years), Troop Committee Chair (8 years) and Crew Advisor (4 years). He is also very active in his Church, where he has served as SPRC Chair, Trustees Chair and Missions Chair for the UMC.
Clint began his Scouting career as District Executive at the Southwest Florida Council in Ft. Myers, FL. He became Field Director, Director of Support Services, Director of Field Services, and then Deputy Scout Executive with the Lincoln Heritage Council, Louisville, KY.
Clint is an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor Member of the Order of the Arrow, and enjoys hiking & camping.
Clint and his wife, Susan, have 2 children: James and Hannah, both graduated from the University of Kentucky.