Ronn Kolbash

Ronn has more than 25 years of experience assisting higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations with transforming their operations through strategy, operating models, process improvements, and technology implementation.

Improving operational outcomes in higher education and the nonprofit sector requires an understanding of the unique attributes of the organization; a thoughtful approach to the interplay of people, process, and technology; and collaboration to define and achieve success.”

About Ronn

Ronn brings an innovative and transformational approach to providing human resources (HR), organizational and business transformation, and talent strategies to higher education and nonprofit institutions, enabling them to navigate challenges, improve operations, and achieve results.

Throughout his career, Ronn has:

• Led the design and implementation of an HR and finance shared services center for a tier-one research (R1) university, implementing automation to achieve measurable efficiency gains and identifying over $7.5 million in savings.
• Directed a human resource transformation at a Midwest R1 university, including the implementation of new technology tools to improve the recruitment process, workflows, and overall user experience. As part of the management of a $300 million benefit plan, he negotiated $3 million in cost avoidance related to pharmacy costs and led the effort to consolidate retirement plan record keepers, resulting in $2 million in annual plan savings to participants.
• Guided the transformation of an East Coast R1 university’s business operations, implementing a shared services operating model and streamlining payroll, financial management, accounts payable, vendor management, and a service center. This engagement resulted in lower transaction costs, increased throughput, and improved customer experience.
• Led and contributed to the design and implementation of improved operating models and governance structures at several colleges and universities during large-scale technology transformations.

Prior to joining Huron, Ronn served as a specialist executive at Deloitte. He also held senior operations roles at the University of Chicago, Yale University, and the State of Ohio. In those roles, he focused on identifying and achieving efficiencies and cost savings and improving customer experience in the areas of human resources, finance, and procurement by implementing improved operating models, technology, and talent strategies.

Ronn earned a Juris Doctor from Capital University and a Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University.

Ronn was named one of the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers by Government Technology magazine.