CLEVELAND (July 3, 2007)–Thomas F. Zenty III, Chief Executive Officer of University Hospitals (UH), announces the appointments of several new members to the Boards of Directors at UH and University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC). He also named Monte Ahuja as the new Chairman of the UH Board of Directors.
Mr. Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of Transtar Industries, replaces Chris Connor, immediate past Board Chairman, who will remain on the UH Board. “Monte is the true American success story and is a shining example of entrepreneurship and leadership,” says Mr. Zenty. “University Hospitals will truly benefit with Monte at the helm of our Board during such a pivotal, exciting time for our health system. The stage has been set for him by Chris Connor, whose guidance has led University Hospitals through a period of major transition onto today’s path of superior clinical outcomes, financial stability and strategic growth. We thank Chris for his extraordinary contributions.”
Mr. Ahuja’s history is one of hard work, strategy and resolve. Born and raised in India, he earned a BS in mechanical engineering before emigrating to the United States in 1969. He earned an MS in mechanical engineering at The Ohio State University in 1970 and later an MBA at Cleveland State University.
Upon graduation, Mr. Ahuja established a small distribution company that eventually grew into a global success. Today this business, now known as Transtar Industries Inc., is the leading worldwide distributor of original equipment quality transmission parts to the motor vehicle repair industry. The company–with 35 locations in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico–has annual revenues of more than $250 million.
The UH Board of Directors also welcomes new members Craig Arnold and Ernest J. Novak, Jr.
New members of the UHCMC Board of Directors are Thomas W. Adler, Christopher Hyland, Raymond Lee, Robert G. Risman, Lorna Wisham and May L. Wykle. Board members serve three-year terms.
“We are privileged that these individuals will serve as ambassadors for University Hospitals,” said Fred C. Rothstein, MD, President of UHCMC. “It is an exciting time at University Hospitals and these leaders will contribute to our boards and to our community with their many talents and diverse backgrounds. As we continue to make great strides toward realizing Vision 2010, we will look to these new board members for direction and to serve as stewards in achieving our mission to heal, to teach and to discover.”
Mr. Zenty also applauded the effort of outgoing directors Myron F. Robinson and Robert Reitman for their years of distinguished service on the Boards of University Hospitals and University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Mr. Reitman and Mr.Robinson will become leaders of the Council of Diplomats at University Hospitals.
The new members of the UH Board of Directors are:
CRAIG ARNOLD is Senior Vice President of Eaton Corporation, a global $12.4 billion diversified industrial manufacturer, and serves as president of its Fluid Power Group. Mr. Arnold is responsible for Eaton’s hydraulics, aerospace, fluid connectors and filtration businesses. He serves as a member of Eaton’s office of the chief operating officer and is responsible for the Asia-Pacific region. Mr. Arnold joined Eaton in 2000 from General Electric Company (GE) in London, England where he was corporate vice president and president of GE Lighting Services Ltd. While with GE, he was responsible for the company’s lighting business in Europe, Middle East and India. He began his professional career with GE in 1983. In addition to his appointment to the University Hospitals board, he currently serves on the Salvation Army Advisory Board of Greater Cleveland. Mr. Arnold earned a psychology degree from California State University, San Bernardino and an MBA from Pepperdine University.
ERNEST J. NOVAK, JR. is joining the UH Board of Directors in addition to maintaining his role as Chairman of the UHCMC Board, a position he has held since May, 2004. Mr. Novak had a successful 34 year career with Ernst & Young where he held a variety of responsible positions including coordinating partner, area industry leader, managing partner of the Akron /Canton office and at his retirement in 2003, managing partner of the Cleveland office. He is currently the Chairman of the Board for the Cleveland Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as a board member with BorgWarner, Inc., A. Schulman Inc., FirstEnergy Corporation and the Playhouse Square Foundation. He also is on the Board of Trustees for the Greater Cleveland United Way. Mr. Novak has taught accounting and auditing courses at Case Western Reserve University and Bowling Green State University. He earned his Master of Accountancy degree from Bowling Green and his bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University.
New members of the UHCMC Board of Directors are:
THOMAS W. ADLER is Chairman of Playhouse Square Foundation where his primary focus has been the redevelopment of the downtown Cleveland district and the Euclid Corridor Improvement Project. Mr. Adler has served on the boards of the National Association of Realtors, American Society of Real Estate Counselors and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts. He also co-chaired the $27 million capital campaign for Idea Center, a partnership between Playhouse Square Foundation and Ideastream. In 2004, he received the Gries Award given to outstanding service to both the Jewish and general communities. Mr. Adler currently is a board member of the Cleveland Chapter American Jewish Committee. After graduation from the University of Wisconsin, he became a partner at Cragin, Lang, Free & Smythe and in 1968 became executive vice president and chairman of the Executive Committee. He later co-founded the real estate group, Adler Galvin Rogers, Inc., which was sold to Grubb & Ellis in 1991. For five years, he served as president of the company’s investment services group. In 1991 he co-founded Cleveland Real Estate Partners until they were acquired by Deloitte & Touche in 1998.
CHRISTOPHER HYLAND is Chief Financial Officer of Hyland Software Inc. in Westlake, Ohio. Mr. Hyland joined the company in 1992 and has served as chairman of the board of the company since 2002. He has held multiple positions within the company, including executive vice president and secretary of the company since 2001, chief financial officer and treasurer of the company since September 1994. Mr. Hyland has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Hyland Software since 1993. He currently works with the advisory council to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. He is a member of the National Leadership Council for University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Mr. Hyland is a member of Financial Executives International and the National Association of Corporate Directors. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Ohio Wesleyan University.
RAYMOND LEE is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Country Pure Foods (CPF), one of the nation’s largest independent juice packaging companies. Before rejoining CPF, Mr. Lee was CEO of Khyber Technologies and chief operating officer for Roetzel & Andress, L.P.A. He previously served as CPF’s President and CEO from 1996-2001 and as chief financial officer and senior vice president of operations from 1992-1996. Mr. Lee began his career in public accounting with Deloitte & Touche LLP where he led the mergers and acquisitions practice for the Northeast Ohio offices. He is currently a trustee of the Hudson Economic Development Corporation, secretary and board member of the Juice Products Association and a board member of Cleveland Independents. Mr. Lee is an Akron native and graduate of the University of Akron.
ROBERT G. RISMAN became President of Realtek Industries, Inc., Consolidated Management, Inc. and Consolidated Management Properties, Inc. in 1995 where he had held the position of executive vice president since 1988. Mr. Risman coordinates, directs and oversees all Realtek Industries, Inc. and Consolidated Management, Inc. legal matters. He currently oversees and assists the director of property management/chief operating officer of CMI’s Ohio, Florida and Michigan divisions. He also serves on the boards of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, Kent State University Foundation and Ohio Apartment Association. Mr. Risman graduated cum laude from Tulane University and earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law.
LORNA WISHAM is Regional Vice President of External Affairs for The Illuminating Company, the northern region operating company of FirstEnergy Corp. She manages a staff directly responsible for interfacing with local and state officials, business and civic leadership and intergovernmental agencies throughout 140 communities in Cuyahoga, Lake, Ashtabula and Geauga counties. Ms.Wisham also serves on the boards at Cuyahoga Community College Foundation, Center for Families and Children, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the United Way Government Relations Committee. Prior to being named vice president in 2005, she worked for the City of Cleveland as chief of public affairs for former Mayor Jane Campbell. Ms.Wisham is a Cleveland native and University of Akron graduate.
MAY L. WYKLE, PhD, is Dean of the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and Florence Cellar Professor of Gerontological Nursing. Dean Wykle has been a member of the CWRU faculty since 1969 and is a nationally recognized expert in the field of aging. She has pursued research and initiated education programs internationally in Europe, Africa and Asia. Additionally, she has been visiting professor at the University of Michigan, University of Texas at Houston as well as the University of Zimbabwe. Dean Wykle recently completed a nine-month appointment as the first Pope Eminent Scholar at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development at Georgia Southwestern State University. She is also a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, the profession’s highest honor, as well as a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. She has served as director of the University Center on Aging and Health since 1988. In 1993, she was named to the White House Conference on Aging. Her entire educational career, including her BSN in Nursing, MSN in Psych & Mental Health Nursing and her PhD in Education, was completed at Case Western Reserve University.