Title: Founder
Company: Better Outcomes Inc.
Location: Akron, Ohio, United States
Louis Herschel Kraus, MS, Founder at Better Outcomes Incorporated, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Nonprofit Administration.
Mr. Kraus has demonstrated a distinguished career spanning more than five decades, marked by a steadfast commitment to social work, communications and mediation. As the founder of Better Outcomes Inc. in Northeast Ohio since 2013, he has dedicated himself to advancing nonviolent communication and fostering understanding across diverse communities. Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, known as the Chofetz Chaim, Mr. Kraus established his nonprofit organization to provide clear guidance on effective interpersonal communication. His vision for the organization is twofold: to introduce nonviolent communication techniques to law enforcement agencies, equipping officers with de-escalation tools, and to promote accountability and problem-solving inspired by his Aunt Francie’s direct approach to addressing concerns.
At Better Outcomes Inc., Mr. Kraus collaborates with religious leaders from Judaism, Christianity and Islam, including a rabbi and an assistant imam from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, with plans to include a minister for comprehensive representation. Together, they are developing a book that explores how different faith traditions address universal human challenges through distinct yet complementary approaches. The organization’s curriculum integrates Old Testament teachings and the principles of “Nonviolent Communication” by Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD. Notably, Mr. Kraus is leading the development of the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Program for police officers and a project titled “My 2 Cents,” which will lower the level of violence necessary to do their jobs and encourage them to seek solutions directly from organizational leadership.
Before founding Better Outcomes Inc., Mr. Kraus owned Maple Care Center Nursing Home from 1987 to 2009. In this capacity, he managed operations and provided compassionate care for residents alongside his father for more than two decades. Notably, Mr. Kraus’ entry into the nursing home sector followed his completion of graduate studies in social work at a time when opportunities in his field were limited.
Earlier on, Mr. Kraus gained experience as an assistant administrator at Jones Nursing Home, where he gained valuable experience in healthcare administration and honed his leadership skills for nearly 10 years, starting in 1979. It also prepared him for future success in entrepreneurship within this sector.
Pivoting from a career in corrections, Mr. Kraus spent 1973 to 1979 as both a unit supervisor and hearing officer with the State of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. In these positions, he was responsible for supervising adult offenders and conducting hearings that shaped rehabilitation outcomes. This included managing a caseload of convicted felons comprised of both men and women.
Mr. Kraus’ professional journey began as an officer with the Ohio Adult Parole Authority in 1969. He also supervised adult felons during this time while developing expertise in parole authority processes that would later inform his work.
In preparation for his future, Mr. Kraus’ academic foundation included earning a Bachelor of Arts in sociology with a minor in psychology from Miami University in Oxford in 1969 after graduating from Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, in 1965. Additionally, he received a Master of Science in social administration from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 1979.
Besides his professional pursuits, Mr. Kraus has contributed significantly to civic life through volunteerism and community engagement. He has volunteered by teaching bar mitzvah lessons, a role informed by his own formative religious education under Isaac Goodfriend, a former opera singer who became cantor at Mr. Kraus’ childhood synagogue. He also attends synagogue five times each week. Additionally, Mr. Kraus played an instrumental role in founding the Maple Heights Chamber of Commerce, where he facilitated candidate conversations as a mediator during local mayoral campaigns.
As an author, Mr. Kraus published “Communicating for Better Outcomes” in 2023. The book examines the mechanics of communication using Mehrabian’s research on words, tone and body language while exploring cognitive biases that influence behavior and decision-making.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kraus has achieved expertise in social work administration, parole authority with adult felons, nursing home management, nonviolent communication, improving communication strategies and mediation. His dedication to these fields has positioned him as a respected leader committed to fostering better outcomes for individuals and communities alike.
Mr. Kraus attributes much of his success to the influence of his mother and father, who worked in education and social work, respectively. Their divine guidance instilled resilience and perseverance throughout his life. Moreover, the knowledge acquired during his social work education profoundly shaped Mr. Kraus’ worldview and professional approach.
Looking ahead, Mr. Kraus aspires to teach others how to communicate with greater kindness by drawing on nonviolent communication principles and the teachings of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan. He also seeks to facilitate meaningful conversations among political candidates that move beyond conventional tactics toward more thoughtful leadership selection. Mr. Kraus continues to seek opportunities for community engagement while pursuing new ways to educate others about effective communication, believing that his greatest impact is still ahead through Better Outcomes Inc.
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