Pictured at the award ceremony is Barbara Merrill, ANCOR CEO; Rod Braun, COC Executive Director; Bonnie Jean Brooks, ANCOR Foundation Board Member.

The American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) is a national association representing more than 1,400 private community providers of services to people with disabilities.  Each year ANCOR recognizes the most influential members to receive the Legacy Leadership Award. Since 2010, eighty-three members have received this award.  This year seven members were inducted into ANCOR’s Legacy Leadership circle, including COC Executive Director Rod Braun. 

In a ceremony held in New Orleans in April, Braun was recognized for his long time, contributions to ANCOR.  Braun served as the Chair for the Grassroots Task Force for ANCOR’s National Advocacy Campaign from 2000-2003.  Braun led several key initiatives, including a fundraising event hosted by Christian Opportunity Center that raised $7,000 for the Campaign. Through the Iowa Association of Providers (IACP), Rod worked to recruit new members to ANCOR and mentored a range of ANCOR’s Iowa members. And, as a member of the ANCOR’s Board Development Committee from 2004-2014, Rod worked to develop an assessment tool for effective governance.

“My employment began in 1976 when I took a position working with people with severe disabilities.  It really was taken as just a job, but soon became much more and an inspiration for a job change from geology to disability services,” Rod Braun.   After 31 years of service to COC, Braun plans to retire in June.  COC is very proud of all the contributions that Rod has made to the disability services field locally and nationwide.