Our Key Three

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

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.

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

Brian Caputo became the Council Commissioner of the Three Fires Council on August 1, 2025.

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 Vigil Honor are among Brian’s Scouting recognitions.

In his professional life, Brian became the Chief Operating Officer of the City of Aurora, Illinois, in September of 2025.  He returned to public service after completing distinguished careers in higher education, local government, and the military.  He served as the President of the College of DuPage, Illinois’ largest community college, and previously was the institution’s Vice President for Administrative Affairs and Chief Financial Officer.  Before moving into higher education, he worked in municipal finance for 26 years, including nearly 19 years as the Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer of the City of Aurora.  Brian brought the local government perspective to the (national) Governmental Accounting Standards Board as a Board Member from 2015 to 2025.  Moreover, he served for over 22 years in the United States Army and Army Reserve, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2004.

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 Master of Public Administration and Doctor of Philosophy degrees 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.