Gender Male
Dave Ward joined Tommy Nobis Center in October 2015 as President & CEO. Dave is a servant leader with more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit field. He has a proven history of programmatic and organizational success with a strong focus on building new programs from the ground up, and he is passionate about changing lives and advancing
the mission of Tommy Nobis Center.
Prior to joining Tommy Nobis Center, Dave served as Executive Vice President of Mental Health and Family Services for the Wounded Warrior Project after serving as Warriors To Work Director and Economic Empowerment Executive Vice President. In addition, Dave has held roles as Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Regional Director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Regional Vice President of Best Buddies International. Dave spent six years with the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities in Ohio and was once a licensed psychotherapist providing home-based counseling to at-risk youth.
In addition to being a Leadership Atlanta Class of 2020 graduate, Dave also serves as a Governor-appointed member of the Georgia Employment First Council. He sits on the board for the Georgia Association of Training, Employment and Supports (GATES) and will serve as its president from 2019-2021. He was also a nominee for the Turknett Leadership Group's 2018 Leadership Character Award. Dave's educational background includes a bachelor's degree in sociology and criminal justice from Bluffton College and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from Bowling Green State University.
A native of Bowling Green, Ohio, Dave now resides in Powder Springs with his wife, Priscilla, their son Cohen, and their daughter Callie. During football season, Dave can be found passionately cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
