Project Description
COA Youth & Family Centers is pleased to welcome Charlotte Cannon-Sain as our new Executive Director! Charlotte’s appointment follows the retirement of Tom Schneider, who joined COA in 2001 as Executive Director and led the organization for nearly 20 years. Over the past two decades, Tom has demonstrated vision and innovation in advancing COA’s mission of helping Milwaukee children, teens, and families reach their greatest potential. Tom has left his stamp on COA and laid a strong foundation for the organization to build from moving forward.
“I could have never imagined 40 years later I would have the privilege of returning to serve a community that gave me so much.”
COA’s Board of Directors conducted a wide search for an individual with Charlotte’s experience and skills, as well as her passion for serving Milwaukee families. Charlotte also has deep roots in the Amani neighborhood where COA’s Goldin Center is located. “Growing up as a little girl on 21st and Burleigh,” Charlotte said, “I could have never imagined 40 years later I would have the privilege of returning to serve a community that gave me so much.”
Serving the community is both a passion and a way of life for Charlotte Cannon-Sain, having spent more than 30 years in the nonprofit sector. Before joining COA as Executive Director, Charlotte served as the Director of Finance and later as the Vice President of Administration and Finance for the Center for Veterans Issues (CVI), a community-based organization whose mission is to serve the men and women of our armed forces who find themselves in need upon returning to civilian life. Although she has no military background, Charlotte was second in command at CVI and served as the Interim President and CEO due to the sudden passing of Brigadier General Robert A. Cocroft. Prior to CVI, Cannon-Sain held leadership roles at La Causa, Potawatomi, and M&I Trust. Charlotte has served on many nonprofit boards including Employ Milwaukee, YWCA, MATC, and African World Festival. She also served as the Treasurer for District 7 Alderman Khalif Rainey for over eight years.
Charlotte holds an Executive MBA, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Professional Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Management, Strategy, and Leadership at Michigan State University. She has been married for over 27 years to her best friend Mark Sain, a former MPS School Board President and retired Milwaukee Fire Department Assistant. Together they have four daughters and nine grandchildren (eight boys, one girl).
Growing up in Milwaukee’s Amani neighborhood, where many see “plight and blight,” Charlotte sees “possibilities and untapped potential.”
Charlotte leads by example, always doing her best and encouraging others to do the same. She always wants to be that person who says, “How can I help?” As the new Executive Director of COA, Charlotte wants to make sure the community knows that COA will help them when they are in need. Growing up in Milwaukee’s Amani neighborhood, where many see “plight and blight,” Charlotte sees “possibilities and untapped potential.” While many studies and statistics measure a people’s struggle, Charlotte believes none of them can measure a people’s heart, and that’s what she sees in COA – a heart for the people served.
Charlotte Cannon-Sain’s vision and leadership will be a tremendous asset to COA, building off the great momentum put in place by Tom Schneider over the last twenty years as we enter our next chapter. Please join us in welcoming Charlotte to COA!