Above and beyond How Michael Fiorile helped Columbus College of Art & Design aim higher

Pillar Awards Nonprofit Board Executive of the Year Finalist
Michael Fiorile
immediate past chairman
Columbus College of Art & Design
www.ccad.edu | (614) 224-9101
Michael Fiorile is a big thinker and persuaded the Columbus College of Art & Design’s entire board and senior leadership to think big, too. He is a man who is not satisfied by doing just “good enough.” He leads to achieve more and exceed past expectations.
Fiorile has devoted almost nine years of service to the CCAD board of trustees. He was elected to the board in November 2003. He served as board vice chair from
2008 to 2010 and as board chair from 2010 to 2012. He served on the board’s executive and governance committees from 2008 to 2012 and served on the executive committee until this year.
His most recent appointment expired in June 2012, but he agreed to serve one additional year as an ex officio member.
Throughout Fiorile’s board service, he has been tremendously generous himself, as well as assisting with corporate gifts and opening doors to additional private donors. The personal philanthropy of Fiorile and his wife, Karen, has placed them in the top tier of CCAD donors, and his advocacy on the college’s behalf has played an important role in securing leadership gifts.
In his final year as board chair, he was instrumental in increasing participation in board giving from 74 to 100 percent and increasing the average board gift by more than 200 percent.
In addition, the board and senior leadership alike appreciated how Fiorile kept the board conversation at the strategic level — avoiding micromanagement while keeping everyone’s eyes on collective goals.