Introducing Brian Combs, Director of Operations

Brian Combs never knows what challenges he’ll face each day as he steps into his office at St. Vincent de Paul.

Since being hired to fill the revamped Director of Operations role in August 2020, Combs has quickly become the designated point-person for dozens of critical needs that keep SVDP operations running smoothly.

Whether he’s onboarding a new hire, troubleshooting tech problems, or – as was the case on a recent morning in March – removing a bat from a staircase in the Liz Carter Center, Combs says he tries to take each challenge in stride. “A huge positive is that there’s a great group here to support me. This is a tight-knit community that I can really lean on for help.”

Combs is no stranger to juggling multiple responsibilities at once. In his most recent position with Sheakley, a local human resources management company, Combs facilitated all-encompassing human resources operations for roughly 40 clients, the largest being SVDP and its 350+ employees. “I probably received about 200 emails per day,” Combs recalls. “It was challenging because every [client] manager has their own way of doing things… But, as the consultant, my job was to get the job done while making sure all sides were happy.”

Now, as SVDP’s Director of Operations, Combs is setting his sights on several big goals, including boosting 401k enrollment, developing strategies to support staff retention, and enhancing employee safety and security. “Security in general is big for me. I want people to feel safe when they’re here.”

After piloting company-wide training on cyber security to kick off 2021, Combs says he expects to roll out more learning modules in the months ahead – on topics ranging from diversity & inclusion to emergency evacuation procedures.

Brian can be reached at 513-762-2090 or bcombs@SVDPcincinnati.org.