COLECCHI

Credit: DKS Editors

Stephen Colecchi graduated from Kent State in 1976, and now he is serving on its Board of Trustees.

Gov. Ted Strickland appointed Colecchi, Robinson Memorial Hospital CEO, to the Board of Trustees for a nine-year term July 25.

A Ravenna native, Colecchi will be the second trustee from Portage County, next to Emilio Ferrara of Kent.

“It’s something I’ve always been interested in,” Colecchi said, and Kent State being his alma mater “had a lot to do with it.”

Colecci replaces Douglas Cowan, who ended his nine-year term May 28, and his membership to the Board became effective immediately.

“He’s already begun getting information,” said Charlene Reed, secretary to the Board of Trustees. “He was in last week and met with the president and the provost and interim vice president for administration Yank Heisler.”

As CEO of Ravenna’s Robinson Memorial Hospital, Colecchi is in charge of Portage County’s second-leading employer behind Kent State.

And with initial developments in the works for a school of public health, Colecchi said his knowledge of the field will be valuable for the Board.

“There’s a significant overlap between the issues that face health care and higher education,” he said. “Certainly my experience will help.”

Colecchi graduated from Kent State with a business administration degree and has been Robinson Memorial’s CEO since 1994.

“Certainly there are challenges (to the new position), and I have a lot to learn,” Colecchi said. “But we share common interests and common values.”

Contact principal reporter Ben Wolford at [email protected].