FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brittany Carter
Phone: (240) 235-0277
Email: bcarter@columbiabooks.com

Bethesda, Md. - Forrest M. Cason, CFO at the Mental Health Center of Denver, has been named the 2013 Nonprofit CFO Transformational Leader: State Organization. He will be honored at the 2013 Nonprofit CFO of the Year Awards Luncheon, January 31 at The Capital Hilton in Washington DC.

“Forrest Cason of the Metal Health Center of Denver won the Transformational Leader award by a near perfect 19 of a possible 20 votes.” said Chief Judge of the CFO of the Year Awards and CPA President at LangCPA Consulting LLC, Andrew S. Lang.

“Mr. Cason's most significant accomplishment is his consolidation of a series of aging clinics into a single well-designed space for present and future needs. Not only did he work to identify how the space was to be used, but he also negotiated the purchase of the property at an exceptionally favorable price. On the business management side, Mr. Cason helped to develop a system of key financial indicators, revenue cycle management, and growth trajectory analysis. I could go on for some time on this gentleman's accomplishments.

Forrest Cason joined the Mental Health Center of Denver in October of 2007 as its CFO. For the previous nine years he was employed by the University of Colorado Hospital as Senior Vice President, CFO and Treasurer. From 1996 to 1998 he served as the CFO of the Stapleton Development Corporation. His prior work experience includes: seven years in public finance investment banking with firms based in Denver, Colorado; four years as a Cabinet Officer for Governor Roy Romer; one year as a Cabinet Officer for Denver Mayor Federico Pena; and five years as a senior administrator and Deputy City Manager for the city of Aurora, Colorado. Prior to returning to Colorado in 1981, he was on the faculty of the Center for Urban Studies, Wichita State University.

Forrest has served on the board of directors of several not-for-profit organizations since his return to Colorado, including YouthBiz, Mile High Red Cross, University of Colorado Hospital, and Colorado Public Radio. During his twelve-year tenure on the board at Clayton Early Learning, he served as Finance Committee Chair for five years. Forrest also served on the board of the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority (CECFA) for 12 years, serving as Chairman for the final five years. He currently serves on the boards of the Colorado Regional Health Information Organization (CORHIO) and the HealthONE Hospital System in Colorado.

He received his B.A. degree from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The 2013 Nonprofit CFO of the Year will be honored at the Nonprofit CFO of the Year Awards Luncheon, January 31 at the Capital Hilton in Washington DC. Also to be honored at the event are the 2013 Nonprofit CFO of the Year, and Nonprofit CFO Rising Star. For more information visit www.NonprofitCFOAward.com

About the Nonprofit CFO of the Year Awards: Each year the CFO Awards recognize the often unsung leadership role CFOs have in the important works nonprofits do, working generally behind the scene as a key supporter of the executive director, to keep the organization moving forward. The program is hosted in joint partnership with Association TRENDS, Tate & Tryon and West, Lane & Schlager Realty Advisors.