Washburn Center names Mohamed Omar as Chief Administrative Officer
Agency continues to build on its ED&I commitment as it serves BIPOC kids and families.
MINNEAPOLIS, June 14, 2023 — Twin Cities mental health nonprofit Washburn Center for Children has named Mohamed Omar, MBA, MS, as its new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). With swelling demand and pressure on how mental health care is delivered, the Washburn Center is strengthening its resolve and leadership to ensure sustainability in its 140th year of community-based service.
“Mohamed is a proven leader with extensive experience in financial analysis, risk management, and strategic planning for some of the nation’s largest corporations, non-profits and governmental institutions,” says Craig Warren, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Washburn Center for Children.
“Our community’s children and teens are in deep emotional crisis. The mental health care system is desperately in need of transformation in the face of long-standing underinvestment that has created barriers for families to access care,” Warren continues. “We are fortunate to have Mohamed, his strategic expertise and operational acumen as we transform youth mental health care for today and beyond.”
Warren was named to the CEO role in 2022 as the agency’s first BIPOC CEO in its history. The growth of BIPOC leadership is significant as the agency continues to offer culturally-responsive care for children and families; of note, more than 55% of those served by Washburn Center identify as BIPOC.
Omar will partner with Warren, the Board of Trustees and senior leadership team in creating integrated financial strategies and implementing initiatives to support the sustainable advancement of Washburn Center’s mission. He will also serve as the chief of staff, lead the finance, information technology (IT), and facilities functions, and join Washburn Center’s leadership team in governance activities.
Omar’s experience in mission-based and values-based organizations sets him on a strong course for successful leadership and innovation at Washburn Center. He is committed to community involvement and serves on several boards in healthcare and housing arenas.
“Washburn continues to be at the forefront of children’s mental health, and it’s a privilege to continue to build the scale, scope and expand our service offerings at a time when our children’s mental needs are more acute than ever,” said Omar. “I am super excited about the opportunity to scale up and grow the finance, technology and facilities.”
Most recently, Omar served as Chief Financial Officer at the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (GMHF) where he directed financial operations for GMHF, as well as the Minnesota Equity Fund and NOAH Impact Fund. Prior to GMHF, Omar was a senior finance executive and controller at the Metropolitan Council and earlier in his career led investment banking, consulting and auditing.
Omar earned his MBA in finance and entrepreneurship and MS in information science from The Johns Hopkins University and received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from George Mason University. He completed the Humphrey Policy Fellows leadership program at the University of Minnesota.