Sep 03, 2021
Hector Colon - CEO of Lutheran Social Services
MY JOURNEY FROM BOXING RING TO BOARDROOM – 5 ESSENTIAL VIRTUES FOR LIFE AND LEADERSHIP

Héctor Colón is the President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
(LSS). Under his visionary and Servant-Leadership approach, Colón has positioned LSS for greatness -
adapting new models and business strategies to increase impact and viability for staff, clients and the
organization.
Before the start of Colón’s tenure in 2017, the organization had not met its budget for four consecutive
years. During Colón’s first three years, LSS grew from over $4 million in losses to $8 million in gains
resulting in a $12.4 million financial turnaround. No stranger to financial turnarounds, Colón worked
with his team to turn multi-million dollar deficits into multi-million dollar surpluses while serving as
Executive Director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, he
led several countywide initiatives, including efforts to reform the juvenile justice system, end chronic
homelessness, transform mental health care, and end a 30- year waitlist for disabilities services.
Héctor will say that his own personal and professional turnaround began in boxing. As a member and
champion of the national USA Boxing team, he won seven national titles and competed in the 1992
Olympic trials. At the height of his boxing career, Colón stepped away from a lucrative boxing career to
serve God. Today, he is the USA Boxing Board Vice President where he and the organization focus on
inspiring athletes to discover their own path towards personal and professional greatness.
He also serves on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. Colón’s life experiences and success
prepared him to answer the call of Servant-CEO. He is working to inspire a Servant-CEO collective to
revolutionize the social services sector as we know it today in the following ways:  Position the
nonprofit industry as the employer of choice  Fully commit to the growth and development of all clients
and their potential for greatness  Reimagine a Servant-Led sector that will thrive well beyond the next
century.
Colón was named a 2021 Notable Minority Leader and the 2019 Nonprofit Executive of the Year by
BizTimes Media. He also was chosen as Hispanic Man of the year by United Migrant Opportunity
Services (UMOS). His first book, “From Boxing Ring to Boardroom: Five Virtues For Life and Leadership”
is now available for purchase on amazon.com and hectorcolonmke.com

Sponsors