Susan Karas brings over 30 years of experience working in healthcare, education and social services to her work today. Susan is founder and president of Akouo, LLC, a counseling, coaching and consulting enterprise that combines expertise in counseling and supervision with an understanding, passion and drive to help small nonprofits achieve organization effectiveness and greater impact. Akouo is a Greek word that translates to “I listen”, a guiding principal of the organization.

Susan’s diverse professional background has taken her from critical care nursing to agency & private practice counseling to university teaching & seminar presentations. Her interest in nonprofit work spans 3 decades. She is a founding member of the Northeast Ohio Bereavement Council and served on the advisory board of Cornerstone of Hope. Susan has served on several independent school boards as board member and in various leadership roles. Susan served as the President of the Board of Trustees for Lawrence School (2007- 2016) and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2001. She was instrumental in co-leading the school through a period of transformative change during her tenure.

Susan continues to serve on the Lawrence School Board of Trustees and serves on Cleveland Clinic Children’s Leadership Council. Susan is a member of the Hellenic Preservation Society and runs several youth programs at St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church. The time spent directing the young adult Greek dance troupe and rap sessions for teens are among her favorite activities.

Susan earned a BA in Psychology from Baldwin Wallace University and an MA in Clinical Counseling from the University of Akron. Her post graduate work is in the areas of assessment, diagnosis and leadership development. She holds current licenses in both Nursing and Counseling in the State of Ohio. Susan lives in Richfield with her husband Arthur. They have two grown children who are making their way in the world from New York and Boston.