Lou Miceli

About Lou Miceli

Lou Miceli is a nonprofit executive with more than 30 years of experience leading organizations, building systems, and strengthening programs that support young people to succeed in school, work, and life.He currently serves as Chief Program and Impact Officer at Row New York, where he leads a multi-site youth development model integrating academic support, college access, and athletic programming. Under his leadership, the organization has achieved measurable improvements in participant outcomes, including a 25% increase in retention, reaching 85% overall retention across programs. The organization also maintains 100% college acceptance and matriculation, with college persistence and graduation rates that substantially exceed national averages.Lou’s work focuses on building high-performing teams, strengthening program delivery, and ensuring that organizations operate with clarity and discipline. He has led the development of data systems to support performance management and decision-making, including the implementation of a Salesforce-based platform to track outcomes and participant progress across programs.Across his career, Lou has led organizations through growth, transition, and crisis. As Chief Operating Officer at The Fortune Society, he helped lead a $32 million organization with 330 staff, strengthening operations, reducing staff turnover, and guiding the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. As Executive Director of JobsFirstNYC and Founder of the Workforce Professionals Training Institute, he built and scaled organizations that continue to shape workforce development policy and practice in New York City and nationally.Lou is deeply committed to developing others and creating environments where staff can do their best work. Many of the leaders he has mentored have gone on to lead organizations across the field.He has authored and contributed to numerous publications over the course of his career, including policy reports, field papers, and public commentary shaping workforce development practice and strategy.

Experience

1. Chief Program and Impact Officer

   Row New York

   Mar 2025 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Serve as senior executive leader for a multi-site youth development organization integrating rowing, academic support, and student success programmingLead program strategy, performance, and delivery across sites, with responsibility for senior program staff and oversight of approximately 75% of the organization’s operating budgetIncreased overall program retention by 25% in one year, reaching 85% retention across programsOversaw college access and success programming achieving 100% college acceptance and matriculation, with 87% persistence and 86% on-time graduation ratesLed athletic performance outcomes, including 100% of participants achieving personal records in a single yearReduced program staff turnover from 25% to 0% within one year, strengthening team stability and performanceDesigned and implemented a Salesforce-based performance management system to track program outcomes, participant progress, and organizational impact across sitesManage program operations to ensure services are delivered on time and within budget, including reducing costs in key areas such as racing expensesPartner with the Chief Executive Officer and Board on program strategy, growth, and long-term planningContribute program data and outcomes analysis to support foundation and institutional fundraising effortsWork directly with young people and support frontline staff to ensure program quality and responsivenessPartner with staff- and board-level DEIBA committees to embed equity, inclusion, and access across programming, staff development, and organizational culture

Education

• New York University

  Master of Science - MS, Non-Profit / Public / Organizational Management

  2008

• New York University

  Master of Social Work - MSW

  2002

• University of Connecticut

  BA, History, Communications

Skills

• Training
• Policy
• Organizational Development
• Nonprofits
• Non-Profits
• Economic Development
• Career Development
• Grants
• Program Development
• Program Management
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Human Resources
• Staff Development
• Public Speaking
• Fundraising
• Leadership Development
• Leadership
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Capacity Building
• Building Coalitions
• Workforce Development
• Public Policy
• Youth Development
• Systems