Tom Carto ’80 Named President-CEO of the State Theatre in New Brunswick
Also in OWU in the News: Brian Rellinger, Tammy Perakis Wallace ’02, Jeff Long ’82, Glenn Cummings ’83, Ken Young ’87, Kevin Blair ’03, Trent Collier ’96, Bruce Tall ’82, and Michael Tornifolio ’08.
Tom Carto ’80
Tom Carto ’80
Tom Carto is named president-CEO of the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
A 25-year arts administration veteran, Carto will set the theatre’s artistic vision; create and direct strategic plans; oversee daily operations, including management of a 35-member staff; continue to strengthen the organization’s financial position; and handle board development.
“The State Theatre is fortunate to have found such an experienced, enthusiastic, and strategic-thinking individual with an undeniable passion for the performing arts,” board chairman Douglas M. Garback Sr. said in announcing Carto’s hire.
Carto majored in music at Ohio Wesleyan and earned his doctorate in music from Indiana University. Previously, he served as division director and associate professor of arts administration at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Prior to that, Carto was president-CEO of the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin, and president-CEO of the Renaissance Performing Arts Association in Mansfield, Ohio.
Read the complete myCentralJersey.com announcement, “New Brunswick’s State Theatre names new CEO.”
Brian Rellinger
Brian Rellinger
Brian Rellinger, Ed.D., OWU’s chief information officer, is named one of the “100 Most Social CIOs on Twitter 2015.”
Rellinger – @rellinb – comes in at No. 100.
The annual list is created by Vala Afshar, Huffington Post and InformationWeek blogger, author of “The Pursuit of Social Business Excellence,” and chief marketing officer for Extreme Networks.
Since the list was announced Jan. 16, it has received nearly 23,000 views.
See the complete 100 Most Social CIOs list.
Tammy Perakis Wallace ’02
Tammy Perakis Wallace ’02
Tammy Wallace, assistant director of OWU’s Richard M. Ross Art Museum, writes about the museum’s exploration into accreditation in her first post on the Ohio Museum Association’s blog.
“In 2014, the Ross Art Museum at Ohio Wesleyan University received a grant from the American Alliance of Museums to allow us to participate in an Organizational Assessment, with activities focusing on our mission and our Board of Advisors,” Wallace shares.
“Simply completing the lengthy information packet that is forwarded to our onsite peer reviewer was an excellent experience,” she writes, “allowing us to gather lots of individual pieces of information and combine them into a snapshot of our organization at this moment in time.”
Read Wallace’s complete Ohio Museum Association blog post, “MAP a Course for your Museum’s Future.”
Jeff Long ’82
Jeff Long ’82
Jeff Long, athletics director at the University of Arkansas, is re-elected unanimously as chairman of the College Football Playoff’s 12-member selection committee.
The College Football Playoff’s management committee tapped Long as the chairman of the selection committee in October 2013. He was re-elected chairman by the other members of the committee, which helps to decide which teams play for the national championship.
“Jeff has been a terrific chair and I am delighted that the committee elected him to serve again,” executive director Bob Hancock said in a statement reported by ESPN.com. “Jeff is a thoughtful and dedicated leader who conducted the meetings skillfully. He also did a very good job answering questions about the rankings so fans could gain insight into the committee’s decisions. It’s clear that he has the full respect and confidence of the other committee members.”
At Ohio Wesleyan, Long majored in economics. He also holds a master’s degree in education from Miami (Ohio) University.
Read the complete ESPN.com announcement, “Arkansas AD Jeff Long re-elected.”
Glenn Cummings ’83
Glenn Cummings ’83
Glenn Cummings is a finalist for the presidency at the University of Southern Maine.
Cummings, a former speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, currently is serving as interim president at the University of Maine at Augusta.
As House speaker, Cummings chaired the Joint Committee of Education and Cultural Affairs. He also previously served the Obama Administration as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
Cummings studied history at Ohio Wesleyan and holds a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.
Read the complete Bangor Daily News article, “Three finalists announced for USM presidency, including Augusta campus president.”
Ken Young ’87
Ken Young ’87
Ken Young is promoted to executive vice president of planning and development and general counsel at United Church Homes.
The non-profit organization seeks to provide quality affordable housing, healthcare, and other services to seniors in more than 60 communities in 13 states throughout the United States.
Young will be the lead executive to seek out, evaluate and present opportunities for new acquisitions, partnerships and affiliations for United Church Homes. He will work from the central office in Marion, Ohio.
“Ken is a driven leader in our organization. He is committed to our success on many levels and continues to look for ways United Church Homes can be effective in our mission and our growth,” the Rev. Kenneth Daniel, president and CEO, said in announcing Young’s new role.
Young majored in economics at Ohio Wesleyan and earned his law degree from The Ohio State University.
Read the complete Marion Star article, “United Church Homes promotes Young.”
Kevin Blair ’03
Kevin Blair ’03
Kevin Blair is named one of 12 new partners at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP.
As a partner at the Michigan-based business law firm, he will focus on complex commercial litigation.
Blair majored in politics and government and pre-law at Ohio Wesleyan and earned his law degree from American University Washington College of Law, where he was Note and Comment Editor at the Administrative Law Review.
After graduating, he worked at Squire Saunders LLP and was a clerk for Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
Read the complete Honigman announcement, “Honigman’s board elects twelve new partners.”
Trent Collier ’96
Trent Collier ’96
Trent Collier is named partner at the Collins Einhorn Farrell PC law firm.
Already a partner in the firm’s appellate group, Collier now also is a partner in defense litigation for the Southfield, Michigan-based firm. He specializes in civil appeals, professional-liability defense, and commercial litigation.
Collier also is co-chair of the Federal Bar Association for the Eastern District of Michigan’s Appellate Practice Section.
He graduated with honors from Ohio Wesleyan and earned a master’s degree in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, followed by a law degree from the University of Michigan.
Read the complete announcement, “Collins Einhorn Farrell PC Announces New Partners.”
Bruce Tall ’82
Bruce Tall ’82
Bruce Tall is named the new defensive line coach at West Virginia University.
Previously, he spent five seasons as a WVU safeties coach from 2003 to 2007.
Tall also previously worked as defensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and defensive line coach at the University of Michigan. In addition, he has completed NFL internships with the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“We are excited to welcome Bruce back to West Virginia University,” coach Dana Holgorsen said. “Having spent several years at WVU already, he understands what it takes to be successful here, on and off the field.”
Tall majored in health and physical education at Ohio Wesleyan and earned three letters in football and one in wrestling.
Read the complete West Virginia Illustrated article, “WVU Football Announces Hiring of Bruce Tall as D-Line Coach.”
Michael Tornifolio ’08
Michael Tornifolio ’08
Michael Tornifolio is named the new assistant track and field coach at the College of Charleston.
He will focus on the sprint and jump groups at the South Carolina-based college.
“I am extremely excited to welcome Mike Tornifolio to my staff,” said head coach Amy Seago. “He has several years of experience coaching at the Division-1 level and brings with him great energy.”
Tornifolio is entering his seventh year coaching in Division I Athletics and previously worked at colleges including West Virginia and Illinois State Universities.
At Ohio Wesleyan, he majored in sport science, lettered in track and field all four years, and was a conference champion in the pole vault. He later earned a master’s degree in exercise science, fitness, and wellness from Fairmont State University.
Read the complete College of Charleston announcement, “Tornifolio Hired as New Assistant Track and Field Coach.”