Colby Coash is the Associate Executive Director for the Nebraska Association of School Boards, providing leadership and government relations work on behalf of elected leaders across Nebraska. This work gives him an opportunity to engage with policymakers and elected leaders using his experience as a former two-term State Senator. During his tenure in the Nebraska Unicameral Coash championed various causes, including child welfare, tourism, criminal justice reform, and support for people with disabilities.  

Prior to his public service, Colby worked many years in the field of developmental disabilities while operating group homes and emergency shelters for kids with disabilities. It was here he learned the value of advocacy and inclusion in all settings while working with the most vulnerable citizens of his State. He has spoken regionally about his passion for advocacy and taking a simple approach to leadership.   

His work has taken him from group homes to the Capitol. His training as an actor allows him to use storytelling as a medium for sharing his passion for advocacy and taking a simple approach to leadership. Colby speaks nationally in the areas of advocacy, employee engagement, performance coaching, communication, and leadership.  Colby holds a Masters Degree in Leadership Education and is an adjunct faculty member at Doane University and the Bryan College of Health Sciences. 

He is married with one son and enjoys movie making, having appeared in dozens of short and feature films. 

His debut memoir, Running Naked, Surviving the Legacy of Family in Rural Nebraska was released in 2024.