St. Louis-based COCA, one of the leading multi-disciplinary arts organizations in the country, has a new president and CEO.
Indigo Sams will begin her new role at the St. Louis-based nonprofit on Feb. 14. She brings 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, youth development, facilities operations, resource development and human resources to COCA. Sams becomes just the the third person to lead COCA in its 30-plus years of history, following former executive director Kelly Pollock and founding executive director Stephanie Riven.
For 17 years, Sams served in various executive roles at Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Louis, where she most recently was vice president of operations/programs and club services. Notably, she began her professional career in 1999 with COCA in various operational, support and external roles, rising to the position of director of community services before joining Boys & Girls Clubs.
As president and CEO, Sams will be responsible for shaping COCA’s vision and establishing and implementing the organization’s strategic goals. She will work to expand COCA’s cultural and educational impact within and beyond the greater St. Louis area and advance COCA’s existing leadership position in the arts and culture sector on a local, national and international stage.
COCA, which stands for Center of Creative Arts, serves as a regional hub for learning in and through the arts for all ages from all backgrounds. One of the most diverse cultural institutions in St. Louis and the fourth-largest multi-disciplinary arts organization in the country, COCA reaches more than 50,000 students, audience members, artists and families across the region every year.
