72: The Administrative and Academic Review at Loyola Maryland Part 1 — CFO Randy Gentzler

Randall D. Gentzler, Vice President of Finance — Loyola University Maryland

This week on Navigating Change we begin a three-part series to share the administrative and academic review from the inside out. Our first guest is Vice President of Finance of Loyola University Maryland Randy Gentzler, and it was under his guidance that the project ensured its focus not only on ideas for change consistent with mission but also ones that would have a positive financial impact.  

As the chief business officer, Randy describes the project from its inception to deal with the short-term operating budget as well as defining a new model of financial success. Randy and Howard share their experience working as true partners in this project and offer key learnings for getting the most out of this unique relationship.

About Randall D. Gentzler

Randall Gentzler joined Loyola University Maryland in May 2011 and serves as the University’s chief financial and investment officer. He provides senior leadership and direction to the major operating divisions of financial services, technology services, and facilities and campus services. He joined Loyola from Philadelphia University where he held the position of vice president for finance and administration/treasurer since 1995. He received his MBA from Philadelphia University; his B.S. in Accounting from Elizabethtown College; and attended Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management (IEM). 

65: Amir Rahnamay-Azar on Collaborative Leadership at Carnegie Mellon

Dr. Amir Rahnamay-Azar, Vice President & CFO, Carnegie Mellon University

Seasoned business officer Amir Rahnamay-Azar joins us on the show this week to share his leadership practices as a new member of the Carnegie Mellon University leadership team. Just celebrating his 1-year anniversary, Amir has developed a strategic plan for his division, illuminating the objectives shared by the institution and how his operation contributes to achieving them. His process for encouraging buy-in and developing a collaborative leadership relationship with the provost is a true highlight of his work, and we encourage you to listen in as Howard Teibel and Pete Wright learn how Amir is shepherding the entrepreneurial into his administrative office. 

About Dr. Amir Rahnamay-Azar
Amir Rahnamay-Azar is the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to serving as CFO, Dr. Rahnamay-Azar was Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  In his role at Georgia Tech, Dr. Rahnamay-Azar managed a wide range of functions, such as the institute’s overall budget, capital planning and space management, institutional research and planning, organizational development, sustainability, real estate development, and financial services. From 1999 to 2010, Amir was at USC and rose through the ranks from Staff Associate and Associate Director of Operations in the Office of Budget and Planning, to Associate Senior Vice President for Operations in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Administration. Amir earned his Ed.D. in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania, and his MBA and bachelor’s degree in business administration from the California State University, Sacramento. 

39: Integrating Teams that Don't Speak Finance

In our efforts to help institutions lead change, we’re often placed in a position of helping chief business officers to sell change initiatives based on — sometimes harsh — financial realities. But arguing strategic direction based exclusively on financial modeling risks alienating your most critical strategic partners in administration. This week on the show, Howard Teibel and Pete Wright discuss the role of finance in strategy, and how finance leaders can move their initiatives forward with an eye on building support from administrative and academic partners that don’t live in the financial centers.