Finalist
Nonprofit Board Executive of the Year Award
Paula Kollstedt
executive director
Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati
www.alz.org/cincinnati/ | (513) 721-4284
Just 21 months into her tenure as executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati, Paula Kollstedt has moved an already well-run organization to record achievements. She invites people from government, business, education, community and individuals to engage in little and big ways as the organization moves toward a vision of a world without Alzheimer’s.
Kollstedt knows Alzheimer’s disease in a deeply personal way and the career and leadership role she is in now is in fact a “second act” after 25 years at GE Aviation. More than 12 years ago, she began the journey as a caregiver after her husband was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. The disease and its related complications are the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S., and the only one in the top 10 that is increasing.
Kollstedt combines her laser-focused business skills and expertise with personal experience in a graceful manner in order to impact the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati in profound ways.
Her approach is always “win-win” as she understands the importance of everyone benefiting. This strategy, along with her servant-leadership style, resulted in a 2011 walk season (the chapter held five fundraising walks) that generated more than $500,000 to fund programs and services within the organization’s 27-county service area.
Kollstedt is constantly communicating with her senior staff and identifying new opportunities and avenues for engagement. She works urgently because someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s every 68 seconds. Kollstedt consistently offers visionary leadership and attention to data as well as constant evaluation of processes to ensure energy is expended wisely.
