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.
Claire Levin, Alumni Engagement & Marketing Manager
Claire Levin (she/her) is the Alumni Engagement & Marketing Manager at Leadership Columbus, where she oversees the Alumni Membership Program, connecting with over 3,500 Leadership Columbus alumni across Central Ohio
Prior to joining Leadership Columbus, Claire served as Associate Director of Corporate Development Analytics, supporting both the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation and The Kids Mental Health Foundation.
Claire began her career with City Year Cleveland, an AmeriCorps program dedicated to full-time community service, where she spent two years helping students build academic, workforce, and interpersonal skills. She later joined Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.), a youth workforce development organization, focusing on advocacy, strategic partnerships, and board governance.
A proud third-generation Buckeye and Northeast Ohio native, Claire holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs from The Ohio State University, with specializations in nonprofit management and community organization & civic engagement. She also holds a Master of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University. Claire was recognized in 2022 as one of the Crain’s Cleveland Business “20 in their Twenties,” an award celebrating the next generation of leaders working to envision a more vibrant community.
In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, spending time outside with her dogs, live music, and the local food scene.
Collin Ries, Program 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.
