Staff
Kate Bauer, Executive Director
Kate Bauer (she/her) is the Executive Director of Leadership Columbus, where she is dedicated to cultivating leadership excellence and fostering community engagement within Central Ohio. She oversees the strategic direction of the organization, aiming to empower both emerging and established leaders through comprehensive training and development programs. Kate is a people-led, conscious leader committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Before joining Leadership Columbus, Kate crafted and executed impactful philanthropic strategies at CoverMyMeds and Columbia Gas of Ohio. She developed community partnerships with local non-profit organizations, fostered employee engagement, and managed philanthropic grants. Kate has also held leadership development roles at NiSource and Big Lots Stores, Inc. where she supported teams by facilitating leadership programs, creating leadership development initiatives, and mentoring emerging leaders.
An active member of the community, Kate previously served as President of the board of directors for Dress for Success Columbus. She currently serves on the board of trustees for the Wexner Center for the Arts. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from The Ohio State University and a certification in Corporate Citizenship Management from Boston College. She is a 2017 alumna of Leadership Columbus.
Kate resides in Upper Arlington with her two sons, where she continues to be an engaged community member.
Collin Ries, Program & Marketing Manager
Collin Ries (he/him) serves as the Program & Marketing Manager for Leadership Columbus. He is the staff lead on the Leadership Columbus Signature Program and Nonprofit Board Governance Training, as well as providing programming and administrative support for the Leadership Columbus team. He also manages the organization’s marketing and social media presence.
Prior to joining the Leadership Columbus Team, Collin served as the Graduate Assistant for the Nonprofit Administration Program at John Carroll University (JCU), working to advance the program’s mission to “develop unapologetic social justice leaders.” He has also worked and interned in various capacities at the CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, Ohio Environmental Council and The Ohio State University.
A Columbus native, Collin holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from John Carroll University and a Bachelor’s in Evolution and Ecology from The Ohio State University, as well as Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting from BoardSource. Collin was named a 2020 Nonprofit Leader of Tomorrow by the Nonprofit Administration Program at JCU. In his free time, he enjoys birdwatching in Columbus’s Metro Park system and continuing to explore all that Columbus has to offer.