Cleveland Metroparks Names Wade Steen as Chief Financial Officer

Cleveland Metroparks today announced it has named Wade Steen, CPA, as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Steen will lead and manage all aspects of Cleveland Metroparks finance department including short- and long-term budgeting, accounting, auditing and payroll. As CFO, Steen will serve as an ex officio officer of the Board of Park Commissioners and advise the Board on financial requirements.

Steen brings over 35 years of experience in not for profit and government management including in financial reporting, budgeting and auditing. Most recently, Steen was President and Founder of Steen & Company LLC in Columbus, Ohio, as well as Commissioner of the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority and Board Member of the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio. He previously served as Fiscal Officer of Cuyahoga County from 2011 to 2013.

“Wade brings several decades of experience and public service to Cleveland Metroparks and will provide responsible oversight and stewardship of public dollars as we enter our second century of stewardship,” said Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian M. Zimmerman.

Cleveland Metroparks has decades of clean audits and strong fiscal management and has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting each fiscal year since 2012 by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) as well as the Distinguished Budget Presentation for its annual budget by GFOA for 28 consecutive years. Through vigilant management of funds and with an eye towards the future, Cleveland Metroparks has also continued to operate without debt.

“Cleveland Metroparks is an exceptional organization that enriches the lives of all of the communities it serves,” said Steen. “I’m thrilled to join such an esteemed organization at this point in my career and be part of its second century of stewardship to the region.”  

Steen graduated from The Ohio State University Honors Program with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He was selected as Crain’s Cleveland Business CFO of the Year in 2013 in the nonprofit category.