COSE, established in 1972, is a small business group in Greater Cleveland that offers networking opportunities to members, educational events, advocacy on legislative and regulatory issues, and cost-effective group purchasing programs, according to its website.
“The health and well-being of the owner is equally as important as the health of the business,” Evans said in a statement. “COSE has programs and solutions that help take care of the owner, their employees, and the business so everyone can show up their best and the business can thrive.”
As new board chair, Evans builds on his history with COSE. As a board member, Evans chaired COSE’s Small Business Caucus, a committee in charge of understanding and taking action on legislative and regulatory issues affecting small businesses, by early 2023, the announcement said.
“(COSE) is a home base for me… It’s a really tremendous community that’s become some of my closest friends, and so it’s an amazing organization,” Evans told Crain’s. “How people build community, how connections are made, how especially as a small business owner, the ability to connect dots for each other and help each other in our respective business journeys is really the biggest accomplishment to me, just seeing so many peers really build community and thrive.”
In Evans’ new position, he plans to focus on COSE’s HEART strategy which stands for health, education, advocacy, relationships and talent. As a business owner in the recruiting industry, Evans said he wants to emphasize “the needs for small business related to talent” that may be different from bigger corporations in the region.
“We want to lead from the front in terms of making sure small businesses are set up for success when it comes to talent,” Evans told Crain’s.
Additionally, Evans serves on the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s (GCP) board of directors as part of the executive committee and government affairs council. He also contributes to the Team NEO Talent Development Council, a group that brings together higher education institutions, companies and workforce organizations to develop regional solutions for talent development, according to the website.
Evans also joined the National Small Business Association’s (NSBA) Board of Trustees, which was announced on Jan. 7. Evans founded his company, Rest Belt Recruiting, nine years ago. The business focuses on recruiting for manufacturing companies across the Midwest and Great Lakes, the announcement said.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University.
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