What's Up At Work?
What's Up At Work?
Sam Clyde Schroeder
Kristin Warzocha (CEO, Greater Cleveland Food Bank): Community Impact, Employee Love & Roller Skates
41 minutes Posted Apr 22, 2025 at 12:40 am.
Kristin’s 24-year journey from volunteer to CEO
How the Food Bank distributes 54 million pounds of food a year
What makes the Greater Cleveland Food Bank a NorthCoast 99 winner
Why they raised their wage floor to $20/hour—and how they did it
Keeping culture strong across 180 staff and 16,000 volunteers
How quarterly shutdowns became a communication superpower
Supporting wellbeing with Calm app access, First Friday happy hours, and more
A fund for employees facing personal crises—modeled after Progressive
Leading through food program funding cuts and rising demand
Behind the scenes of their new Community Resource Center
Kristin’s advice for any leader: “Just love on your people.”
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Show notes
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.
Timestamps
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Learn more about today’s guests:
ERC: https://www.yourerc.com
Greater Cleveland Food Bank: https://www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org