Every company begins with a spark. Sometimes it is an idea, a frustration, or a vision for something better. What sustains that spark, however, is a shared purpose. At coLAB, we are building more than a platform. We are building a mission-driven company that integrates sustainability, strategic consulting, purpose-built software, and values-centered facilitation.
This work is about helping mission-driven organizations lead with clarity, confidence, and connection. Through this four-part series, we introduce the founding team behind coLAB, not only to share where we have been, but to reflect on what we are creating together.
Our conversations go beyond job titles or product roadmaps. They highlight the deep relationships, lived experience, and long-range commitment that shape every engagement we take on. Because coLAB is not just a name. It is the way we work, with our partners, with each other, and with the future in mind..
Meet the Team: Steve Herr, Chief Executive Officer
Building with Vision, Service, and Strategic Resolve
As Chief Executive Officer of coLAB, Steve Herr brings both big-picture thinking and operational depth. His leadership spans decades of experience across behavioral health, nonprofit strategy, public systems, and health technology. At the core of his work is a belief that service and scale are not mutually exclusive, and that businesses rooted in purpose can grow with integrity.
“We are not just creating a product,” Steve says. “We are building a company that supports nonprofits and mission-driven organizations with the clarity and infrastructure they need to grow and adapt.”
Steve first joined forces with the coLAB founding team through a shared history of leading complex, cross-functional projects. When it became clear that their work, and their values, deserved a stronger, more stable platform, he helped shape what would become the next phase of coLAB.
“It was clear that something meaningful had been started. I believed in the team, and I knew we had the potential to do something even more impactful if we brought our efforts together intentionally.”
Designing for Impact, Investing in Growth
As CEO, Steve focuses on aligning coLAB’s business model with its mission. He leads the company’s strategic planning, growth initiatives, and partnership development while also helping shape the culture from the inside out.
“Our short-term goal is to deliver a smart, intuitive online platform that helps organizations assess their sustainability, clarify their priorities, and act with purpose,” he explains. “This platform will not be another one of those tech stacks that require heavy implementation effort and staff buy-in. I have the good fortune of surrounding myself with amazing teammates who have worked in this industry, and understand the pain points that traditionally cause new initiatives to fall flat in both nonprofit and for profit organizations”. “We are building a brand and a team that people trust—not just for software, but for insight, facilitation, and long-term support.”
Steve is clear about what growth looks like. For coLAB, it means building the infrastructure to serve clients at scale without sacrificing personal connection.
“We are planning for significant expansion,” he says. “That includes a national campaign to elevate our presence and reach, and continued investment in product development, staff capacity, and partnership building.”
Leading With Balance
For Steve, business strategy and human-centered design go hand in hand. His leadership reflects both sharp financial acumen and a steady commitment to service.
“I have always worked in organizations where the mission mattered,” he says. “What drew me to coLAB was the opportunity to help build something that honors people, values relationships, and delivers results.”
He is also intentional about building a company that supports its internal team with the same care and structure it offers clients.
“Our internal culture is just as important as our external impact,” he says. “We want coLAB to be a place where people collaborate, feel supported, and bring their best ideas forward. That is part of what makes us different and that is not negotiable.”
Looking to the Future
Steve envisions coLAB as a leader in the social impact space, known not just for its software, but for the way it works with organizations of all sizes to navigate complexity and move forward with clarity.
“We already have a strong foundation and a proven value proposition,” he says. “Now we are building the systems, team, and tools that will carry us into the future.”
His goals are ambitious and grounded.
“I want coLAB to be a company that changes the way mission-driven organizations think about strategic planning and data,” he says. “I want our platform to be trusted, our consulting to be indispensable, and our team to be known for showing up with care and excellence.”
Steve is leading coLAB there, with vision, with clarity, and with a deep belief that meaningful change requires both bold ideas and the strategic infrastructure to make them real.
