OLAF Executive Director Transition
After 15 years of service, OLAF's founder and Executive Director, Bob Clyde, has decided to retire from full-time status with OLAF. Clyde will assume a part-time role of Senior Counsel and Director of Government Relations. With 12 years prior experience as the Director of Northeast Ohio Legal Services, and 5 additional years as a staff attorney and Assistant Director, Bob has devoted his entire professional career, over 37 years, to the delivery of legal services to low-income Ohioans.
Bob Clyde's legacy is as a passionate leader in the legal aid community who has tirelessly worked to ensure that those unable to help themselves can gain access to justice. His continuous efforts to improve the legal aid system have earned him great respect throughout the state of Ohio and across the nation. Bob's part-time status will commence on January 19, 2010 and will continue through the balance of the year. It is anticipated that Bob will remain connected to OLAF thereafter, depending on the status of the various policy-related initiatives on which he will be working.
Jerry Lawson, also a well-known and respected leader with past experience in Ohio's legal aid community, will serve as Interim Executive Director. Jerry will be responsible for management of OLAF's day-to-day operations. He will also work with the OLAF Board of Trustees' transition/search committee to conduct an organizational assessment, which will identify the skills and characteristics needed in a new permanent executive director. Jerry will be responsible for designing and managing the search process. The OLAF board hopes to engage its new Executive Director in six months. Jerry, who is not a candidate for the permanent position, will begin as Interim Executive Director on Tuesday, January 19th. (Learn more about Jerry.)