Martin Cohen

Martin Cohen is the Director of Human Resources for Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), the country’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults.  Martin is charged with maintaining and improving critical HR services such as employee benefits, the performance management system, employee records and files, keeping the Employee Manual up-to-date, working with managers to achieve recruiting goals, and assisting staff members with questions and personal concerns.

In a way, Martin has returned to his roots by taking the position at SAGE, having started his career as a vocational counselor working with disadvantaged individuals throughout the City under the Manpower Development and Training Act. Following this, Martin was an independent consultant for more than 25 years in the Human Resources field, with an emphasis on training and talent development. He is skilled in needs analysis/assessment, design and development of training, evaluation of training and OD interventions, executive coaching, and writing. He also worked for JP Morgan Chase for 6 years and Union Carbide for 10 years, and consulted to various Fortune 500 clients, including Pfizer, Merck-Medco, Philip Morris and Kraft General Foods in training and development.

Prior to joining SAGE, Martin served as the Director of Human Resources at the Metropolitan Pavilion where he developed and installed a total human resources infrastructure, including mission/goals, job descriptions, employee handbook, hiring and dismissal procedures, performance management system and selected training and coaching. Martin has written a book chapter on leadership for a training and development handbook, an article on large-scale sales meetings in a trade journal, a chapter on project management in the Practice of Management Development, and a number of white papers on various HR subjects. Martin received a BS from the Wharton School, an MA from the New School and an MBA from Baruch, CUNY.