Harold Rice, Jr., Strategic Advisor at KEES, is a dynamic executive leader with over 35 years of experience bridging the for-profit and nonprofit sectors to drive organizational transformation, strategic growth, and community impact. Starting his career in various for-profit roles, Harold moved to nonprofit roles, focusing on economic empowerment and poverty alleviation, dedicating his career to mobilizing individuals and families toward self-sufficiency. As CEO of the Community & Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA), Harold leads one of the largest Community Action Agencies in the nation. He has played a pivotal role in ensuring the organization’s long-term stability since assuming leadership in 2014.

As CEDA’s CEO, Harold oversees a multi-faceted agency with over 100 different federal, state, and local grants and contracts with a budget of over $200+ million and since 2016 he has had zero audit findings. The agency’s services include Energy Services, Building Science Training, Community Services, Women, Infants, and Children, Single and Multi-Family Weatherization, and Housing Counseling.

Leading with a mission-driven and entrepreneurial style, Harold’s expertise spans long-term strategy development, operational execution, government relations, and organizational turnarounds, positioning him as a sought-after executive for leading transformational change. As a proven leader in executive strategy, governance, and operational excellence, Harold is passionate about empowering communities, developing high-impact teams, and driving systemic change through innovative leadership and cross-sector collaboration.

A strategic thinker and results-driven executive, Harold has a proven track record of improving employee productivity, increasing customer and client satisfaction, and implementing creative, data-driven solutions to organizational challenges. Before CEDA, Harold served as CEO of the Albany Park Community Center, Chief Development Officer for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, and a McDonald’s franchise owner/operator, bringing a unique blend of corporate acumen and nonprofit leadership.

As a recognized thought leader and educator, Harold has presented at Northeastern Illinois University, North Park University, the Donors Forum, and the Axelson Center Symposium on nonprofit leadership, CEO-board relationships, and strategic financial management.

Rice holds an M.S. in Management from Cardinal Stritch University and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. Committed to community empowerment, he serves on the Cook County Social Innovation Commission and the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies boards. He was also appointed to the State of Illinois African American Employment Plan Council.