The Watson Institute’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a leadership transition plan that will become effective July 1, 2015. At that time Barry Bohn, current Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of The Watson Institute, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer. Ray White, Watson’s current Chief Executive Officer, will remain a member of Watson’s administrative team in a fundraising role.
“It has been a privilege to work with Ray and witness his dedication to The Watson Institute over several decades as a member of our Board of Trustees and as CEO” said Barry Bohn. “The strength and sustainability of the organization during that time is due in large part to Ray’s leadership.”
Mr. Bohn has been employed by The Watson Institute for most of the last 25 years as his responsibilities have expanded in many areas of the organization. His career began at the Institute in 1989 as an accountant in the reimbursement department. He left for a brief period to pursue a career change as a consultant for Coopers & Lybrand, but returned in 1997 to serve in the role of Director of Finance. Two years later, he was promoted to Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Barry has been instrumental in overseeing more than $35 million in capital construction projects while navigating the organization through some difficult regulatory times. His oversight of the financial operation has allowed Watson to grow from an organization with annual revenue of $5 million in 2000 to over $20 million today. More importantly, Watson has tripled the number of special needs children served during this time. In 2010, these efforts were recognized by the Pittsburgh Business Times when Barry was named “CFO of the Year”. This annual award honors financial professionals in western Pennsylvania for outstanding performance as corporate financial stewards.
Watson’s Board of Trustees sees this transition of Barry to the role of CEO as essential to the progress of the organization as we build an even stronger and more robust Watson in the future with the ultimate goal of enhancing the lives of more children, their families, and the professionals we serve. “I look forward to the challenge and am proud to lead an organization that I’ve had the good fortune to be a part of for so many years and does such great work for children with special needs and their families” said Barry.