Lorene Suidan
Chief Operating Officer
Lorene Suidan brings over 25 years of nonprofit management expertise, financial leadership, program development and strategic planning to her role as the chief operating officer of Leader Dogs for the Blind. She leads the organization’s national programs including both guide dog and orientation and mobility services and all aspects of client and field services to ensure the best possible outcomes for clients. In addition, Lorene directs all canine care programs including puppy development and the veterinary clinic, providing the optimum environment and care for future Leader Dogs.
Lorene is the liaison for the Mission Assurance and Quality Committee, where she oversees the review of the organization’s key quality metrics.
In her prior role as chief financial officer at Leader Dog, she provided financial oversight and leadership for over $128 million dollars in philanthropic and other revenue raised. In addition, she has overseen all financial aspects of the $14.5 million-dollar capital campaign, the largest in the organization’s 80-year history, to create the canine development center.
Prior to her arrival at Leader Dogs for the Blind, Lorene served as chief financial officer at Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit (JSL), where she was instrumental in designing effective systems and encouraging board involvement and oversight of the finance function. Lorene has been privileged to serve in a variety of nonprofit environments prior to coming to Leader Dog including Sacred Heart Major Seminary and The Order of the Fishermen Ministry. Lorene is an adjunct professor at Rochester College, teaching courses in nonprofit management and nonprofit budgeting & financial management.
Lorene is a graduate of the James Madison College at Michigan State University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in justice, morality, and constitutional democracy. She holds a Master of Science degree in professional accountancy from Walsh College. Suidan completed Harvard Business School’s executive education coursework in “Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations.” Lorene is a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, serves as Vice Chair of its Nonprofit Task Force, and is a registered CPA.
