Outside of school leaders, few people in central Ohio make more decisions that impact the lives of area youth than Edward Cohn, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio. It is the positive impact of his decisions that spurred his nomination for the 2012 Rea & Associates Nonprofit Executive Director of the Year.
Cohn’s strong business and financial background have helped to build the strong financial foundation, which has helped Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio to weather the nature of the nonprofit environment. Cohn has effectively adapted the budgeting process to manage within the unpredictable nonprofit environment, especially during the challenging economic climate brought about by the recent recession.
Cohn is extremely connected to and invested in the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission. His connection to the mission has led him to become a mentor himself. He has also incorporated a strong environment of collaborative decision making, working closely with his leadership team in making decisions that are aimed at the best possible results for the agency and all of its constituents.
Cohn utilizes a research and development approach to launch new initiatives, and his performance-based approach ensures that all staff members are performing at high levels to achieve the organization’s stated goals and objectives. His focus on evidence-based impact and outcomes has led to many program enhancements that continue to strengthen Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring matches and keep them together longer.
Each member’s time and talent is utilized for maximum impact by Cohn and his team. Most recently, Cohn worked with a board member from Cardinal Health to help bring lean-based training to the entire organization. Lean training became a valuable addition to the management of Big Brothers Big Sisters, leading to new ways of doing business.
How to reach: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, (614) 839-2447 or www.bbbscolumbus.org
