What do you do at Kent State's College of Public Health?

My title at KSU is senior director, Budget and Resource Management. For me, day to day work functions include budgeting and forecasting for the various operating programs that roll up to the College of Public Health. In addition, we provide financial analysis and managerial accounting support for the college through a variety of functions. These include break-even analysis for programs, capital budgeting for new projects, business planning for new ventures, and cost allocation analysis for our overhead expenditures. The less glamorous part of the job includes reconciling all of the accounting entries that pass through our college. My position gives me the opportunity to work with a number of different people across campus, including Academic Affairs, Controller’s Office, HR, Procurement, and more. 

Why do you like working at Kent State (and in CPH)?

I have enjoyed being a part of a new college and the challenges that this has brought. It has been really rewarding to see how our college has grown over the past 12 years, and how we have become fiscally stable. The university has given each of the colleges a fair amount of latitude to grow and operate their units as freestanding entities. Being on the “frontlines” and playing a part in operational and financial decisions for the college has been one the best parts of my job.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is working with a very diverse group of people. There aren’t too many jobs where you have the opportunity to work with faculty, deans, administrators, and students, all under one roof. We have a wonderful group of people working in our college, and it makes it a pleasure to come to work every day.

What do you like to do to unwind after a busy day?

My wife, Amy, and I brought home a puppy, Luna, about a year ago. Luna is a high energy labradoodle that requires numerous walks a day. Most days –rain or shine– we begin our evenings with a long walk through the neighborhood with our puppy. Lately, I’ve been ending my evenings with a glass of pinot noir and watching the Cavs get thrashed on TV.

What is the last TV show you watched, or book you read?

The last book I read was Travels with Charley, by John Steinbeck. This book caught my attention while I was watching a tribute to the late John Madden. John Madden talked about how this book was his inspiration for traveling the US, in a bus, while broadcasting NFL games for CBS/FOX.   The book is a travelog about Steinbeck’s travels around the country with his standard poodle, Charley. Steinbeck is such a good storyteller and he chronicles his travels to all four corners of the US. He claims that people in Ohio are the friendliest in the country, and I tend to agree with him.

What do you do to stay healthy?

Ok this is completely tongue in cheek, but my favorite form of exercise is golf. Most people don’t consider golf a sport, especially the way we play, with a riding cart and a six pack of beer in our cooler.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

I would love to learn how to fly fish. I am told that we are blessed with some of the best steelhead salmon fishing in the world, in the rivers coming out of Lake Erie. This sport looks so elegant and graceful, and I would love tying into one of those giant steelheads on a Fall day.

If you could travel anywhere for one day, where would you go?

My family and I put in for tickets to the 150th British Open this Summer at St. Andrews Golf Club in Scotland. Since everyone else on the planet wanted the same tickets we weren’t chosen for their exclusive drawing. This is definitely a bucket list destination for me and my wife and we hope to travel to this tournament one day when there isn’t all the fanfare of the 150th Open.

What is a quote or motto that best describes you?

I lifted this motto from a former CEO of one of the Akron Children’s Hospital, and it has always stuck with me. His philosophy was to ensure that you were serving your patients/students, or you were supporting someone who was carrying out this mission. In other words, don’t venture too far from the real mission of the organization and lose sight of who they are serving (for KSU this is our students).  

Tell us one fun fact about yourself that others might not know about.

I have had very few physically demanding jobs through my career, but my first job out of high school was by far my most challenging. My family owned a tire business in central Ohio and my first job was changing tires for semis and farm implement tires. I had my share of 90+ and subzero degree work days on this job. Kudos to those folks that make a living doing these physical jobs.

What is something that you're looking forward to, personally or  professionally?

My wife and I have eight grandkids and I always look forward to getting together with our family during the holidays and celebrations. We have a wonderful extended family, and as I get older, the family celebrations come with added joy. 

What advice would you give to CPH students?

Enjoy the journey as you navigate through your school years.