President & Executive Director
Email or call at (216) 588-1440 ext. 105

Role with WIRE-Net

John is the chief executive of the organization and is responsible for leading and managing WIRE-Net’s strategic plan and staff. He also supports the Board of Directors and leads the organization’s fundraising efforts

Background

John is WIRE-Net’s founding director, which he has led since 1986. He grew up in Washington, DC and in Taiwan (where he learned Mandarin). Mr. Colm is a graduate of the State University of NY at Buffalo, where he completed his undergraduate studies in Environmental Design and Planning. John won his Certified Economic Developer status (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council in 2006, and certification in the Appreciative Inquiry method from Case Weatherhead School of Management in 2004. The National Development Council certified him as an Economic Development Finance Professional in 1994.

John is a member of the Board of the Cleveland Citywide Development Corporation, which provides below-market financing to Cleveland businesses and policy support to the Cleveland Department of Economic Development. Under John’s leadership, WIRE-Net was instrumental in forming the NE Ohio Campaign for American Manufacturing (NEOCAM) in 2004, and the Great Lakes WIND Network^TM in 2007.