Organization Overview

The Imperial Divan is the international governing body of Shriners International. The governing body works as a corporate Board of Directors and consists of 12 officers, each of whom is elected to the lowest position on the Divan and moves up one position each year, with the exception of the Imperial Treasurer and Imperial Recorder.

The highest leadership position within Shriners International is Imperial Potentate. The Imperial Potentate is both president and chief executive officer of Shriners International, and is elected for a one-year term. He spends his year in office visiting many of the Shriner temples (chapters), attending regional meetings and visiting Shriners Hospitals for Children locations. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for both Shriners Hospitals for Children and Shriners International.

A similar organizational structure is followed at the local level within each temple around the world.

Imperial Potentate Brad T. Koehn

Brad T. Koehn of Topeka, Kansas, is serving his ninth year as a member of the Boards of Directors for Shriners International and Shriners Children’s™. Koehn was elected Imperial Potentate, part of the 12-member body that helps govern the Shriners fraternity, during the Shriners 2025 Imperial Session held June 29-July 3 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Fraternities and Philanthropy Master Mason, Topeka Lodge #17, Topeka, 1981 Member, Orient Topeka Lodge #17, Topeka Arab Shriners, Topeka, 1981 Potentate, Arab Shriners, 2015 Member, Membership and Finance Committees, Arab Shriners Imperial Auditor and Chairman, Finance and Audit Committee, Shriners International and Shriners Children’s, 2012-2013, 2015-2017 Emeritus member, Finance and Audit Committee, Shriners International and Shriners Children’s Member, Building & Equipment, Budget, Capital Evaluation, Corporate Compliance, Investment, Oversight and Strategic Planning Lifetime member, Cabiri International Emeritus member, Iowa and Colorado corporations Imperial Treasurer, 2017-2025 Education Bachelor’s degrees, Accounting and Business Administration, University of Kansas Professional and Personal Koehn is retired from the accounting firm of Berberich Trahan & Co., P.A., where he was employed for more than 37 years, the last 23 serving as a director/owner. He continues to practice part-time for a CPA firm in Topeka. He is a member of the Kansas Society of CPAs. Koehn’s work experience includes providing audit, tax and accounting assistance for many Shriners International temples for over 40 years.

Over the past years, he has worked with many temples and their leadership, providing guidance and advice in the areas of accounting policies and procedures, internal controls, cash flow, income taxes and other business-related topics.

Koehn and his wife, Cheryl, have two sons, Tyler and Brett, who are also Shriners, and a daughter, Courtney, who is married to Alex, also a Shriner. Together, they have six grandchildren. Koehn is a third-generation Shrine-Mason and followed in his father’s footsteps as Potentate of Arab Shriners.

First Lady Cheryl Koehn

Women Impacting Care, chaired by Shriners International’s First Lady Cheryl Koehn, is a thoughtful group of women donors, supporters and advocates who have bonded together to help highlight services and programs of Shriners Children’s. This year, Women Impacting Care proudly supports a program that embodies the very heart of Shriners Children’s, compassion, innovation and empowerment seen Through the Eyes of a Child. A program associated with Women Impacting Care, designed to help children understand the power of positivity which highlights the services provided to support the emotional and social journeys of patients during the healing process. Your support helps provide these life-changing services. Donations and product purchases fund medical treatments, emotional healing programs, and educational resources. Together, we can create a more compassionate, understanding world. Support First Lady Cheryl Koehn’s Program….Learn more: https://ow.ly/gQ1q50Wn3aH