Lou DiGioia, FASAE, CAE, a recognized leader in the nonprofit and association industries, has joined the Colorectal Cancer Alliance as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). DiGioia brings more than 20 years of experience in leadership positions—as well as a personal interest in ending colorectal cancer—to the Alliance.
As COO, DiGioia is responsible for leading the growth strategy for the Alliance’s operational structure, while also continuously enhancing service delivery, quality, outcomes, and financial performance.
Like many Alliance staff members, DiGioia has a personal connection to the disease. His mother, Josephine, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011.
“While she was lucky to have gotten the treatment needed to be cancer-free today, I can think of nothing more meaningful than being part of the team that helps ends this disease,” DiGioia said.
Immediately prior to joining the Alliance, DiGioia served as the Executive Director of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), which prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
Before his role at DECA, DiGioia served for 11 years as the Executive Director of the MATHCOUNTS Foundation during a period of historic organizational growth and achievement.
DiGioia holds a BA from Georgetown University, an MBA from George Mason University and a certificate in Performance Measurement of Nonprofit Organizations from Harvard Business School. An active member of the American Society of Association Professionals, he earned the Certified Association Executive credential in 2008 and was selected for ASAE’s 2019 Class of Fellows. He resides in Virginia with his wife and son.