A fishing trip off the coast of Puerto Rico nearly cost Chris Sohn his life. Decades later, the experience remains one of several defining moments that shaped his faith and leadership as chief financial officer at Cedarville University in Ohio.
Sohn, who was recently named a Dayton Business Journal "CFO of the Year," shared his remarkable journey from surviving a boating accident to building a successful corporate career and eventually joining Cedarville University during a recent episode of the Cedarville Stories podcast.
A Fishing Trip Turns Into a Fight for Survival
While living in Puerto Rico, Sohn, then a high school student, joined his father and others on a fishing trip that quickly became a life-threatening emergency. Miles offshore, a series of massive ocean waves overturned their boat, throwing the passengers into the water.
Sohn and his father managed to swim to a small sandbar, bringing with them the body of another passenger who had died from cardiac arrest in the accident. Stranded and facing an uncertain future, they had few resources to help them return home.
Then came an unexpected discovery. Sohn spotted his Purdue gym bag floating in the water. Inside were his wallet and keys -- belongings that survived the accident and ultimately helped them get home.
The experience became one of several moments in Sohn's life that reinforced his belief in God's protection and provision.
A Faith That Developed Over Time
Sohn's spiritual journey began years earlier. Raised in a family without an active Christian faith, he first heard the gospel and recognized his need for Jesus Christ as his Savior. Although he became a Christian during those years, Sohn acknowledged that he initially tried to live out his faith through his own efforts.
That changed in his early 20s after moving to California, where he began attending Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Through biblical teaching, worship and relationships with other believers, Sohn developed a deeper understanding of Christian discipleship and the importance of being connected to a local church.
Those experiences established a foundation that would eventually influence his approach to marriage, family, career decisions and leadership.
From Corporate America to Cedarville University
Before joining Cedarville, Sohn spent 16 years building a successful career with General Electric. His professional experience prepared him for senior financial leadership, but he had not anticipated that his career would eventually lead him to Cedarville University--one of the leading evangelical Christian universities in the country.
When a position at Cedarville became available, Sohn was initially reluctant to apply. What began as an unexpected job opportunity eventually became a significant turning point in his professional and spiritual life. Now in his 14th year at Cedarville, Sohn oversees the university's financial operations, helping position the institution for long-term stability while supporting its academic programs and Christian mission.
Under his financial leadership, Cedarville has emphasized conservative budgeting, responsible stewardship and limited debt -- principles Sohn considers essential to the university's long-term financial health. Cedarville has experienced four consecutive decades of balanced budgets and enrollment has increased each year since 2009. Today, in its undergraduate, graduate and online programs, Cedarville has an enrollment of 7,542. Enrollment was around 3,000 in 2009.
His full story is featured on the Cedarville Stories podcast, just below, where he discusses his family, faith, career and philosophy of leadership.
Leadership Beyond the Balance Sheet
Despite his financial responsibilities, Sohn believes effective leadership involves much more than budgets, investments and financial statements. He emphasizes hiring talented employees, providing them with the resources needed to succeed and creating an environment where individuals can flourish professionally and personally.
For Sohn, that commitment extends beyond the workplace to employees' families, churches and communities. He also credits Cedarville's faculty and staff, whose shared commitment to Jesus Christ and the university's mission plays an important role in its continued success. While Sohn's professional recognition reflects his financial expertise, his perspective on leadership is rooted in the same faith that sustained him through unexpected challenges earlier in life.
From surviving a boating accident in the Caribbean Sea to leading the finances of a growing Christian university, Sohn views his experiences as reminders that life's unexpected turns can become opportunities to recognize God's faithfulness.