2023 Spring Awards Luncheon Recap

“The shortest distance to leadership is service.” Myles Munroe

The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) recognized two individuals who embody the ‘leadership is service’ principle on a daily basis. George Fenton, 2023 Earl F. Morris Trustee Award recipient and Eddie Harrell, 2023 Hall of Excellence inductee were honored on April 19 at the 2023 Awards Luncheon hosted at The Grand Event Center in Columbus, Ohio.

OFIC held its Board of Trustees spring meeting. Highlights include:

• Credo, a leading higher education consulting firm, presentation on the results of a recent OFIC board survey aimed at board engagement

• Acceptance of three new board members:

• Pam Lebold, CPA, Shareholder, Maloney + Novotny

• Troy Singer, Digital Marketing Specialist, Ring Digital

• Lisa Stavsky, President & CEO, WesBanco Securities 

• Passing of the Board Chair Gavel

• From existing OFIC Board Chair, Randy Marker, to Board Chair Elect, Barbara Britenriker, effective July 1, 2023

Awards Luncheon

Earl F. Morris Trustee Award

The Earl F. Morris Trustee Award was presented by Marietta College President, Bill Ruud, to George Fenton, a Marietta College Trustee. The award’s namesake, Mr. Earl F. Morris, was a faithful and dedicated OFIC Trustee, volunteer, supporter, and an early inductee himself in the OFIC Hall of Excellence. Established in 2010, the award recognizes long and extraordinary trustee service to an OFIC member campus.

Bill Ruud, George Fenton, Randy Marker, Bill Spiker

As president of Fenton Art Glass and grandson of company founder Frank L. Fenton, George worked closely with other Fenton family members involved in all aspects of the company. With the organization since 1972, George served as foreman of the Decorating Department and manager of manufacturing before becoming president in 1986. He states, "I am most satisfied when I can contribute to solving a difficult production problem."

George graduated with honors from Wesleyan College in 1971 with a B.A. degree in physics and astronomy, and completed the Owner/President Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1989. Born and raised in Williamstown, West Virginia, to Frank and Elizabeth Fenton, both Marietta College graduates, George graduated from Williamstown High School as valedictorian of the class.

Fenton has graciously served on the Marietta College Board of Trustees from 1993 to present, including as its Chair of the Board from 2015-2020. He has been active on many Marietta Advisory Boards and Board Committees including:

• McDonough Center for Leadership and Business Entrepreneurship Advisory Board 2018-2020

• Chair of the Presidential Search Committee 2000

• Member of the Presidential Search Committee 2011

In recognition of his continuous generosity and engagement, he has been honored with the Marietta College Alumni Council Honorary Alumnus Award in 2020. He is often found at campus events such as basketball games and the monthly Physics Colloquium, as well as taking science courses at Marietta College for fun. George continues the family legacy of being passionately involved with Marietta College.

Hall of Excellence Inductee

Eddie Harrell, an outstanding Otterbein University alumnus was inducted into the OFIC Hall of Excellence by Otterbein University President, John Comerford. Harrell joins 138 previously inducted awardees who comprise the membership of the OFIC Hall of Excellence. All of these distinguished OFIC alumni have attained positions of leadership in their professional careers, demonstrated exemplary civic engagement, taken paths of lifelong learning, and been champions of independent higher education in Ohio. In 1987, OFIC initiated the Hall of Excellence to honor outstanding alumni of its member campuses. Each year, OFIC member colleges and universities are invited to nominate an alumna or alumnus to be considered for induction into The Hall of Excellence. Inductees are chosen by a committee of OFIC Trustees based on the criteria of professional achievement; impact on society through service, leadership, scholarship, diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts; sciences, research, arts or elected office; and, service to alma mater. Each of these achievements underscores the value, success, and impact of an independent college education.

Randy Marker, Eddie Harrell, John Comerford, Bill Spiker

William E. (Eddie) Harrell Jr. has been preparing for a life of service to his community since he graduated near the top of his class at Marion-Franklin High School in Columbus as an I KNOW I CAN student. He went on to contribute not only to the program that helped him through school, but also a variety of other civic programs for under-served people. He is currently a champion of diversity and inclusion as the regional vice president overseeing all of Urban One's Ohio markets, including Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

Mr. Harrell earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Otterbein University in 1994, and his master's degree in business administration from Ashland University. He began his career with The Kroger Company, holding various management positions while serving on the I KNOW I CAN Board of Directors, first as a student member, then as a full member, and finally on the executive committee.

He eventually took the helm at I KNOW I CAN, becoming executive director and Project GRAD Columbus. I KNOW I CAN is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 on the belief that every child who wishes to pursue higher education should have the opportunity to do so and should not be denied that right because of his or her economic status. Project GRAD's mission is to ensure a quality public school education for at-risk children in economically disadvantaged communities to increase high school graduation rates and prepare graduates for college.

Under Mr. Harrell's leadership, I KNOW I CAN grew from awarding $1 million in Last Dollar Grants to awarding $1.7 million and growth in Last Dollar Grant funding was spurred by an endowment in excess of $22 million. During his tenure, Project GRAD expanded and doubled the number of students served. In 2006, Mr. Harrell became president and CEO of the Columbus Urban League. Founded in 1918, the Columbus Urban League is an affiliate of the National Urban League. During Mr. Harrell's tenure, the organization grew from a budget of $2.7 million to $11.5 million, and the staff increased from 40 to over 100.

In 2011, Harrell joined Radio One, now called Urban One, as vice president and general manager of its three Columbus radio stations. Urban One is a diversified media company that primarily targets African-American and urban consumers. It is the largest African-American owned broadcasting media company and the largest radio broadcaster targeting African-American and urban listeners. Currently, it owns and operates 57 broadcast stations located in 15 urban markets in the U.S. In 2014, he was promoted to vice president and general manager of its Cleveland market, before being named regional vice president of all of Urban One's Ohio markets in 2015.

Mr. Harrell was appointed to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission by Governor Ted Strickland in 2008 and named chairperson of the Commission in 2009. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Otterbein University Alumni Association in 2002 and was inducted into the Otterbein University African American Alumni Hall of Fame in 2008. He serves on the Otterbein Board of Trustees, The Ohio State University Nonprofit Advisory Committee, and has served on the Board of Trustees for COSI, Columbus City Schools Education Foundation, and KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program). Additionally, he has served as a member and in leadership positions for many Columbus area nonprofit boards. He is a member of the Capital Square Rotary Club and currently serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at Franklin University.

Thank You!

OFIC expresses our sincere gratitude to all who joined to celebrate our two honorees and to support private, independent higher education. To our honorees, thank you for your leadership and service to your communities. We look forward to working together to make a positive impact on the 65,000 students at our 33-member campuses and on the economy of the Great State of Ohio.