Vice President Bennett wins top award

Fredonia, N.Y. — June 20, 2008 — Tracy S. Bennett, vice president of Administration at SUNY Fredonia, has received the Robert J. Wagner Business Officers Award, the highest citation given by the State University of New York Business Officers Association (SUBOA).

The award, which includes a $500 contribution to the recipient’s campus foundation and a plaque, annually recognizes a SUNY business officer for outstanding performance, highest professional standards and significant contributions to SUNY and SUBOA. It was presented to Mr. Bennett at the association’s annual conference held in early June in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

SUNY Fredonia President Dennis L. Hefner remarked that Mr. Bennett’s leadership, commitment, knowledge, common sense and overall performance make him an exceptional candidate for the award.

“Tracy is the consummate professional in everything that he does. During difficult budget times, he is creative, practical and levelheaded in his approaches, while never losing sight of the ultimate goal: ensuring that our students receive a quality education,” Dr. Hefner said. “Thanks to his leadership and knowledge, SUNY Fredonia maintains a reputation as a campus that is well managed in financial and administrative matters, regardless of the budget climate.”

A resident of Westfield, Mr. Bennett has led the Administration division since 1997. The division includes over 300 employees in Business Services and Grounds, University Services, Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities Management, Facilities Planning, the Faculty Student Association, Financial Services and Human Resources. He has also served as president of the Faculty Student Association since 1977.

Mr. Bennett was president of SUBOA from 2004 to 2006. He has also served as chair of the SUNY Residence Hall Transition Committee and chaired the Governance Board of the Student Information and Campus Administrative Systems committee from 2000 to 2006.

Other positions that Mr. Bennett has held at SUNY Fredonia include associate vice president for finance and business, as well as director of finance. He joined SUNY Fredonia as its college accountant in 1980 after spending seven years as an accounts auditor in the New York state comptroller’s office. He completed the requirements for CPA designation in 1985.

A native of Mayville, Mr. Bennett graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from SUNY Albany. He also earned an associate’s degree from Jamestown Community College.

Mr. Bennett formerly served as first vice president and second vice president of SUBOA, whose membership includes senior business officers from each SUNY campus, the SUNY administration and the Research Foundation of the State University of New York.

The mission of SUBOA is to improve the principles and practices of business administration in higher education to enable its members to serve more efficiently the educational objectives of their institutions and the State University of New York.