Episode 1364: Non Profit Spotlight with NFL Standout Erik Coleman & Yolanda Robano-Gross

Business Leadership Series

In this episode Derek Champagne talks with Options for Community Living CEO, Yolanda Robano-Gross, and NFL Standout, Erik Coleman. Yolanda and Erik share a spotlight on the current epidemic of mental health and homelessness, how their organization is addressing the problem, and how we can take action in our own communities. Learn more at https://optionscl.org/
Yolanda Robano-Gross joined Options for Community Living (Options) as Chief Executive Officer in 2014 with more than twenty years of prior executive-level experience within the health care industry. She is responsible for oversight of all agency affairs and reports to the Board of Directors. Responsibilities include fiscal management of an annual budget of over $24 million, personnel management, program development, and fundraising. She earned her master’s in health care administration from Hofstra University, master’s in social work from Yeshiva University, and her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Marist College.

She holds a certificate in Executive Education, Non-Profit Leadership from The Fordham Center for Non-Profit Leaders.

Erik Coleman is a former NFL standout, businessman, philanthropist, and sought-after sports analyst who uses his on-field experience, extensive knowledge of sports, and robust personality to bring new and exciting insight to fans across the globe.
After a stellar collegiate career as the captain of the Washington State football team, Coleman was drafted in the fifth round by the New York Jets in 2004. Coleman played nine consecutive seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and the Detroit Lions. Recognized for his unwavering work ethic and passion for the game, Coleman became the first New York Jets player ever to earn the NFL Rookie Defensive Player of the Month Award since the honor’s inception in 1996 and finished his rookie season as the NFL’s highest grossing member of its performance-pay program, the league’s plan for rewarding low-salary players who outperform their contracts. During his NFL tenure, Coleman’s highlights include 653 combined career tackles and assists, 11 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 37 passes defended and served as the player-elected NFL Players Association Team Representative five out of his nine years in the league.
Since his retirement in 2013, Coleman has become a TV analyst for the New York Jets’ “Jets Pregame Central”, “Jets Post Game Show”, SiriusXM NFL Radio’s “Sunday Kickoff”, CBS NY’s “Jets Late Night” and MSG Network’s “The Betting Exchange.” He also frequently appears as a sports commentator on several sports shows and network programs such as The Sean Hannity Show and FOX & Friends.
Coleman is an active philanthropist who supports several causes close to his heart such as sickle cell anemia, pediatric cancer, mental health, and traumatic brain injury, to name a few. Most recently, Coleman started assisting The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth & Opportunity (TANGO) to help assist nonprofits grow through education, preferred services, and mission support. He is a board member for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation (CBTF) and a mentor for My Brother’s Keeper Mentorship Program. Moreover, Coleman is the proud recipient of Manhattan Youth Baseball Excellence in Sports & Philanthropy Award. When Coleman isn’t working or giving back to the community, he enjoys spending time with his wife Sabrina and their three beautiful children.