Is it possible for a nonprofit to pay above-market wages and still thrive?
Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, says yes—and she’s got the results to prove it. In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Kristin joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to talk about building an award-winning culture in one of Northeast Ohio’s largest nonprofits.
She shares how the Food Bank prioritizes competitive pay, builds connections across warehouse and office teams, and brings frontline staff into major strategic decisions. You’ll also hear about creative benefits, honest leadership habits, and how her team is responding to funding cuts with grit and heart.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps:
- 01:45: Kristin’s 24-year journey from volunteer to CEO
- 05:00: How the Food Bank distributes 54 million pounds of food a year
- 08:00: What makes the Greater Cleveland Food Bank a NorthCoast 99 winner
- 10:00: Why they raised their wage floor to $20/hour—and how they did it
- 12:45: Keeping culture strong across 180 staff and 16,000 volunteers
- 14:30: How quarterly shutdowns became a communication superpower
- 17:00: Supporting wellbeing with Calm app access, First Friday happy hours, and more
- 21:00: A fund for employees facing personal crises—modeled after Progressive
- 24:00: Leading through food program funding cuts and rising demand
- 27:30: Behind the scenes of their new Community Resource Center
- 32:00: Kristin’s advice for any leader: “Just love on your people.”
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to What’s Up at Work? on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review—your support helps other leaders find the show and build better workplaces.
Episode Links
- Listen on Spotify
- Watch on Youtube
- Learn more about Greater Cleveland Food Bank: https://www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org
