Perrysburg man elected vice chairman at Owens

6/20/2001

FINDLAY - The Owens Community College board of trustees has elected a Perrysburg man as its vice chairman.

Jack Sculfort, 44, was elected during the board's meeting yesterday at its Findlay campus. He fills a position vacated by Patricia Wise, who became chairwoman this month when then-chairman Wendell Fryer resigned. Mr. Fryer has moved out of the college's legal district.

Mr. Sculfort, president of Transaction Opportunities, Inc., a corporate finance consulting firm, will head an ad hoc finance committee for the board to examine such issues as state funding and new accounting requirements.

“It's a huge issue,” said Ms. Wise, who requested the committee yesterday. “I'd just like a little more focus on that area.”

Owens is to receive $35.3 million from the state next year, down more than $300,000 from what it got this year, said Chuck Mann, vice president of business affairs. In the recently approved state budget, funding for higher education was basically constant, and next year's Access Challenge program, which earmarks funds to help two-year institutions hold the line or reduce tuition, was decreased by $3 million.

In other business, the trustees made Connie Burden, secretary to the president, the board's secretary as well. She replaces Pam Pullella, who will focus full time on her duties as director of student life, Owens officials said.