Alfred M. Rankin, Jr. Named Chairman of University Hospitals Board of Directors

CLEVELAND, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- University Hospitals (UH) announces the election of Alfred M. Rankin, Jr. as the new Chairman of the UH Board of Directors. Mr. Rankin, who has served on the UH Board of Directors for more than 25 years, is Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-based NACCO Industries Inc.

"Al is a lifelong Clevelander who is thoroughly committed to the cultural and economic growth of Northeast Ohio," says Thomas F. Zenty III, CEO of UH. "He is a committed leader in our community as an executive and philanthropist and is highly regarded for his numerous civic involvements, including serving as an integral member of our board for more than two decades."  

Mr. Rankin succeeds Monte Ahuja, immediate past Board Chairman, who will remain as an active member of the UH Board and continue to serve as Co-Chair of "Discover the Difference: the Campaign for University Hospitals," the health system's $1 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign.

"On behalf of the entire University Hospitals community, I am profoundly grateful for Monte's enthusiastic leadership, for the time and energy he devotes to our organization and for his generosity to UH and our entire community," says Mr. Zenty. "His insight and guidance have been critical as we planned and have now nearly completed our historic $1.2 billion Vision 2010 strategic plan, which has transformed the delivery of health care in Northeast Ohio, our state and the nation."

For nearly two decades, Mr. Rankin has been Chief Executive Officer of NACCO, headquartered in Cleveland, a company with three principal businesses: lift trucks, housewares and lignite coal mining. NACCO Materials Handling Group designs, engineers, manufactures, sells, services and leases a comprehensive line of lift trucks and aftermarket parts marketed globally under the Hyster® and Yale® brand names.  NACCO Housewares Group consists of Hamilton BeachProctor-Silex, Inc., a leading designer, manufacturer, importer and marketer of small electric kitchen and household appliances, as well as commercial products, and The Kitchen Collection, Inc., a national specialty retailer of brand-name kitchenware, small electrical appliances and related accessories. The North American Coal Corporation mines and markets lignite coal primarily as fuel for power generation and provides selected value-added mining services for other natural resources companies.

Prior to joining NACCO, he was Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer, and a Director of Eaton Corporation. Previous to his 15 years at Eaton, Mr. Rankin worked for McKinsey and Company, a management consulting firm.

Mr. Rankin joined the UH Case Medical Center Board in 1985 and the UH Board three years later. During his tenure, he served as Chair of the Audit Committee from 1985-2010; on the Investment Committee (1985-1992) and the Executive Committee (1997-2005). He currently serves on the Board's Strategic Committee (2004-current) and has been the Vice Chair for the past year.

Mr. Rankin, part of a Cleveland family committed to public service, is on the boards of the Cleveland Museum of Art and The Musical Arts Association, and is the director and chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. He is also a director of NACCO Industries, Goodrich Corporation and the Vanguard Group and the National Association of Manufacturers. Mr. Rankin is a trustee emeritus of Case Western Reserve University and a former member of the board of trustees of Oberlin College, the Holden Arboretum, and the World Resources Institute, former president of the board of Hathaway Brown School, and former chairperson of The Cleveland Foundation.

Additionally, the health system appointed seven new directors to the UH and UH Case Medical Center Boards and 13 new directors to UH Community Hospital Boards.

New members of the University Hospitals Board of Directors are:

Katherine A. Asbeck is a financial executive and corporate leader with expertise in finance, governance, audit and risk management.  She joined the Cleveland Foundation as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2009.  Prior to joining the Cleveland Foundation, Ms. Asbeck held several leadership roles with Corning Incorporated.  

Matthew P. Figgie is currently the Chairman of The Clark-Reliance Corporation where he previously served as vice president of mergers, acquisitions and corporate investments.  Mr. Figgie also is president and CEO of Figgie Capital, a diversified management company organized in 2006 and serves on the boards of a number of privately held companies affiliated with Clark-Reliance.

Catherine M. Kilbane is the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of American Greeting Corporation, and a board member of The Andersons, a NASDAQ diversified agribusiness, where she chairs the Compensation Committee and serves on the Audit Committee.  Prior to joining American Greetings,  Ms. Kilbane was a partner with the law firm Baker Hostetler.

Ramon Lugo is the Director at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's John H. Glenn Research Center, which is involved in research, technology and systems development for space propulsion, power and communications, among other things. Prior to his position at Glenn, Mr. Lugo served as the Deputy Program Manager of the Launch Service Program at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

In addition, in view of their transformational gift of $42 million in support of UH's Vision 2010, Jane and Lee Seidman are recognized as Honorary Directors.  

New members of the University Hospitals Case Medical Center Board of Directors:

Gena C. Lovett is the Director of Manufacturing, Forgings with Alcoa Inc., the world's leading producer of aluminum and aluminum products. Ms. Lovett leads the manufacturing functions for Alcoa's three Cleveland-based businesses: large and small aerospace, commercial vehicle wheels and forged specialty wheels. Among her many community activities, she serves on the Board of Directors of United Way of Greater Cleveland.  

Gregory J. Skoda is the Chairman and one of the founders of Skoda Minotti, where he specializes in helping clients grow their businesses.  Mr. Skoda is a CPA and serves on several non-profit and advisory boards.      

In addition, Warren R. Selman, MD, will hold the ex-officio position previously held by Kevin Cooper, MD, as representative of the physician faculty.  Dr. Selman is Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at UH Case Medical Center and Director of the UH Neurological Institute. He is the Harvey Huntington Brown, Jr. Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.  

New University Hospitals Community Hospital Board Members:

University Hospitals Bedford and Richmond Medical Centers

Kathleen Malec, formerly a UH Extended Care Campus board member, will join the UH Bedford/Richmond Board.

MaryAnn R. Correnti is the Chief Financial Officer of Heinen's where she is responsible for finance, loss prevention, information technology, marketing and human resources.  Prior to joining Heinen's, she served as an advisor for Sarbanes Oxley and information technology compliance.  

University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center

Sheldon G. Adelman will hold the Vice Chair position on the UH Ahuja Board of Directors, with Thomas G. Murdough remaining in the Chair position.

University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center

Thomas W. Benda and Jack Male, former UH Extended Care Campus board members, will join the UH Geauga Board.

B. Paige Hosier is the Marketing and Administrative Services Director of the Geauga Park District, where she is responsible for front-line and support communications and administrative services.  

Denise (Dee Dee) Miller started her career at UH Case Medical Center, where she was a registered nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.  She currently is a volunteer with the Russell Fire and Rescue Department and the Advanced Partnership Coordinator at the Lawrence School.  

Pete C. Miller established and is President of Sheoga Hardwood Flooring and Paneling, Inc., a hardwood flooring manufacturing business. Mr. Miller also serves on the company's Board of Directors.  

Davina J. Gosnell, PhD, is the Founding Nursing Program Director at Hiram College and the Emeriti Dean and Professor of the College of Nursing at Kent State University.  Dr. Gosnell's professional writings have focused on models of care and quality.  She is the ex-officio nursing representative for the UH Geauga Board.

University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center

Richard L. Dana owns his own law firm in Ashtabula County.  A graduate of Case Western Reserve University law school, Mr. Dana also is an adjunct professor of Justice Studies at Kent State University.  

Morgan R. Griffiths Jr. is the President of Griffiths Home and Auto; Griffiths Furniture, TV and Appliance; and, G.H. & H. Investment Company.  Among other areas of expertise, Mr. Griffiths focuses on customer service, operational efficiencies, strategic planning and team development.

University Hospitals appointed positions to the Southwest General Health Center Board:

Michael K. Baach is the President and CEO of Philpott Rubber Company in Brunswick; his company provides polymeric systems to extend life of certain assets.  Mr. Baach also has served as the Economic Development Director for the City of Medina.  

Mary Alice Frank is the Chief Executive Officer of the Red Cross of Greater Cleveland.  Ms. Frank's  responsibilities include oversight of all operations in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga Counties, such as service delivery, emergency response administration and public support.    

Richard A. Hanson is the President of University Hospitals Community Hospitals and Ambulatory Networks.  Mr. Hanson came to UH in January of 2010 from Bon Secours Health System headquartered in Marriottsville, Maryland where he was the Senior Vice President of Performance Management and CEO of its Hampton Roads Health System.

Deborah Lewis Hiller is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Eliza Jennings Senior Care Network, which has grown to become one of Greater Cleveland's largest non-profit aging services organizations.  Ms. Lewis Hiller also is a Director of Recovery Resources and LeadingAge Ohio.

Richard W. Pogue was a Managing Partner at Jones Day specializing in corporate and litigation law.  Following his retirement in 1994, Mr. Pogue became a senior advisor in the corporate public relations firm Dix & Eaton for more than nine years.  He has served as chairman of many organizations focusing on health, economic growth and education including past chairman of University Hospitals Board of Directors and a trustee of Case Western Reserve University.

Joy Roller is the Executive Director of the Gordon Square Arts District where she has led the collaboration of three separate non-profit organizations in a single $30 million capital campaign. Ms. Roller has over 20 years of experience in television production, public relations and political campaign management and has a law degree.  

"We are privileged that these dynamic individuals will serve as community leaders for University Hospitals," Mr. Zenty said. "Their leadership and guidance will be crucial during this exciting time at University Hospitals as we look forward to the completion of our Vision 2010 strategic plan and next steps beyond that."

Mr. Zenty also applauded the effort of outgoing directors.

Lawrence C. Sherman will now serve on the UH Emeritus Leadership Council and the UH Development Committee and continue his involvement as the Chair of the UH National Arts Leadership Council.

William L. Annable, MD, who has taken the position as UH's Chief Quality Officer and Director of the Quality Institute.  

Kevin Duncan Cooper, MD, UHCMC's Chairman of Dermatology and Professor at Case Western Reserve University ends his term as representative of the physician faculty on May 3.

About University Hospitals

University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians.  At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center.  The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopaedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information, go to www.uhhospitals.org

SOURCE University Hospitals