The University announced today that an advisory group composed of some of Akron’s leading business executives has been formed to provide assistance and counsel to UA President Scott L. Scarborough and the University’s Board of Trustees.
Charles E. Jones, president and chief executive officer of FirstEnergy Corp, will head The University of Akron Business Executive Advisory Council.
Other members include:
- Virginia Albanese, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Custom Critical;
- William Considine, president and chief executive officer of Akron Children’s Hospital;
- Paul Greig, chairman, president and chief executive officer of FirstMerit Corporation;
- Joseph S. Kanfer, chairman and chief executive officer of GOJO Industries, Inc.;
- Richard J. Kramer, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company;
- Thomas A. Malone, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Summa Health System;
- Thomas L. “Tim” Stover, M.D., MBA, president and chief executive officer of the Akron General Health System; and
- Donzell S. Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Welty Building Company.
“The Akron area has a wealth of business expertise and we are pleased that such an outstanding group of community leaders, many of them proud graduates of The University of Akron, has offered to provide assistance and counsel going forward,” President Scarborough said. “Their experiences and perspectives can help ensure that additional points of view are considered and that the community is more engaged in the important issues we are confronting. Ultimately, our goal is to work together to ensure we continue to meet the needs of students, faculty, staff and alumni, while also developing and implementing our plans to enhance academic quality, grow the university and increase its national profile.”
According to FirstEnergy’s Jones, a University of Akron alumnus, the Business Executive Advisory Council will meet as needed with President Scarborough, university trustees, and other university officials.
“Our goal is to serve as a sounding board to The University of Akron’s existing leadership team,” said Jones. “By drawing from our collective, often hard-learned leadership experiences, we can provide counsel and offer suggestions that we hope will help the university adapt and succeed in the rapidly changing world of higher education and remain the important community asset that it has been for so many years.”
“It speaks to the quality of these individuals and their commitment to the university and to Akron that they are willing to contribute their considerable talents to help us through the challenges we face,” said UA Board of Trustees President Jonathan T. Pavloff.
“At the end of the day," Pavloff added, "we all share the same goal, which is to make The University of Akron one of this country’s leading educational and research institutions and a continued source of pride for the local community.”
