Board of Trustees

Arthur E. Snyder, Ed.D.,  was inaugurated as the eighth president of Indiana Tech, Fort Wayne, Ind., on October 3, 2003. 

Dr. Snyder’s previous academic assignment was at Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois, where he was Dean of the Tabor School of Business and the Dwayne O. Andreas Chair of Executive Management from July 2001 to June 2003.  From 1992 to 2001 he was Chairman of the Department of Marketing and Dean of Professional/Graduate studies at Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida.  He also taught for the New York Institute of Technology in the MBA program.

Prior to academia, Dr. Snyder served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Ensec, Inc., Miami, Florida and Sao Paul, Brazil and served as Vice President for the Data Systems Division of AT&T.  His career with the Bell system spanned more than 20 years. 

Dr. Snyder’s educational credentials include a Doctor of Education in Innovation and Leadership, Wilmington College, New Castle, Delaware; a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management, Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida.  His undergraduate work was also at Barry University.

Dr. Snyder is published in a number of academic and industry publications.  He is a decorated Vietnam veteran.  In addition to his position at Indiana Tech, Dr. Snyder serves as chairman of the Sisters of Providence Mission Advisory Board and chairman of the Downtown Educational Partnership.  He is also a member of the NAIA Council of Presidents, Fort Wayne Business Forum and Quest Club.

Dr. Snyder and his wife, Camille, have a married daughter, Melanie, who lives in Florida, and a son, Christopher, who also lives in Florida.  They have two grandsons.  His interests include tennis, jogging, cycling, and playing the guitar.

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Robert Wagner is an attorney with Shambaugh, Kast, Beck & Williams, LLP. He previously was a partner with Helmke, Beams, Boyer & Wagner and worked as chief trial deputy prosecutor attorney for the Allen County Prosecutor's Office.

Wagner holds a bachelor's degree in government from Valparaiso University and a law degree from Indiana University.

He is a board member for Concordia Educational Association and Concordia Educational Foundation. He is a member of the Allen County, Indiana State and American Bar Associations He previously served on the boards of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, the Allen County Bar Association and Park Center.

Wagner and his wife, Elsa, have three children, Steven, Brian, and Valerie. His interests include family, homes, and current events.

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Donald Willis is chairman of Fourth Wave and president of FourD Development, LLC. He is past president of Command Systems Inc. and worked for Magnavox Electric Systems for 22 years.

Willis holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from University of Evansville and did advanced studies at the University of Michigan.

He is president of FourD Education Foundation, which operates Keystone School. He has 43 years of entrepreneurial and business development. Willis served the U.S. Navy as a computer systems research scientist.

Willis is a lecturer in logic design and display technology at Purdue University and George Washington University.

Willis and his wife, Doris, have two children.

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Jeanne E. Longsworth recently opened her own firm, Longsworth Law LLC. Prior to opening her firm, Longsworth was a partner and practiced for more than 20 years at one of Indiana's largest law firms.

Longsworth earned her bachelor's degree in accounting from Indiana University and her law degree from Valparaiso. Longsworth is a Certified Public Accountant and an Indiana Estate Planning and Estate Administration Specialist.

In addition to serving on Indiana Tech's Board of Trustees, Longsworth currently serves on the Board of Directors and is an officer of each of the following organizations: The Helen P. Van Arnam Foundation, Inc.; and the Mary E. Van Drew Charitable Foundation, Inc. Longsworth is also a member of the Allen County, Indiana State and American Bar Associations and the Indiana CPA Society.

Longsworth and her husband, Keith, reside in Fort Wayne.

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Cheri Becker is executive director of Leadership Fort Wayne. Becker previously served as regional vice president of JobWorks, Inc., and executive director of Invent Tomorrow, Inc. She is the past president of the Northeast Indiana Business Assistance Corp., and past executive director of the Small Business Development Center of Northeast Indiana.

Becker is an Indiana Tech alumna, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management in 1994 along with certificates from Ball State University's Economic Development Academy and Center for Entrepreneurial Resources. Becker is a 1988 graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne and served as Leadership Fort Wayne's Alumni Association president in 1994 and '95.

Becker’s current volunteer service includes serving on the boards of The History Center, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, and Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners. She is past chair of the YWCA Circle of Women Steering Committee. She has served on the organizing and founding committees to establish the University of Saint Francis Family Business Center and the Northeast Indiana Entrepreneurial Alliance. Becker served as the Chief Executive for Imagine Nation, a Children's Museum in South Carolina, and as the director for internal communication and community involvement at Sterling Diagnostic Imaging, Inc.

Becker worked as an independent contractor providing strategic planning, grant writing, fund development, marketing and planning services to a variety of clients including the City of Fort Wayne, the Downtown Improvement District, the 431 Foundation, and the Non-profit Association of Northeast Indiana. Becker is a co-founder of the Fort Wayne Area Public Safety Foundation, Inc., is on the board of the Indiana High-speed Rail Initiative and is a director on the Board of the Northeast Indiana Non-profit Association.

Becker's past community involvement has included Home for New Beginnings, Opportunity Greenville, United Neighborhood Economic Development Corp., Speech Hearing and Learning Center, South Carolina Chapter Nature Conservancy, Three Rivers Festival, Community Development Corporation of Fort Wayne, Citizen's Advisory Committee of the City of Fort Wayne, Urban Land Institute Task Force of the Fort Wayne Enterprise Zone Association, Three Rivers Literacy Alliance, Northeast Indiana Entrepreneurial Business Alliance, Fort Wayne Ballet.

Becker has received recognition as Who's Who In Finance & Industry, Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in America, and Fort Wayne Urban League's Outstanding Community Leadership Award.

Becker and her husband, Mark, reside in Fort Wayne.

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Janet C. Chrzan is a principal of Vision Management Consulting and an independent contractor for Accenture Consulting. She retired from Lincoln National Corp. in 2006 with 22 years of service in a variety of roles including senior vice president and chief financial officer of Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. She earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Nebraska and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1981.

Chrzan also serves on the Parkview Health System Board of Directors, the Wilson Foundation Board of Directors, the Nature Conservancy of Indiana Board of Trustees, the Foellinger Foundation Investment/Finance Committee, the St. Elizabeth Church Finance Committee, the Leadership Fort Wayne Alumni Board of Directors, and the United Way of Allen County Audit Committee.

Chrzan was selected as Lincoln's Leadership Fort Wayne representative for the Class of 1993, was selected as Lincoln's representative for Tribute to Women of Achievement in 1994, earned the 21 Women in Leadership Award in 2004, and won the Athena Award from the Chamber of Commerce in 2004.

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Bob Gill, BSELE 1960, is serial CEO who has managed several emerging growth companies as well led multiple corporate turn-around situations with a record of achieving strong shareholder value. Gill is a principal with the Topaz Group, a consulting services firm for corporations and private equity investors which he formed in 1996. 

He is chairman of AdPay, Inc., a member of the board of directors of Varolii Corporation and Tendril, Inc, and venture partner of Appian Ventures. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering from Indiana Tech, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Gill also serves as chairman of the board for the Boulder Innovation Center and as chairman emeritus of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado and continues as chairman of the development committee. He was the recipient of the Boulder, Colo., Esprit Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.

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Diane Humphrey is a retired elementary school teacher. She taught kindergarten and elementary school in Fort Wayne at Harrison Hill and Southern Heights schools and while teaching in Bluffton, she taught at Poplar Grove, Columbian, and Park schools. Humphrey earned a Master's of Science in Education from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and a Master's of Arts in Education from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.

Humphrey currently serves as a board member for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic; Wells Community Boys & Girls Club, Inc.; and Civic Theatre. Her past civic and professional activities include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana, Inc.; Creative Arts Council of Wells Co., Inc; North Side High School Alumni Association; and Caylor Nickel Foundation, Inc.

Humphrey was recently was honored by being named Wells County's 2008 Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

Diane Humphrey is a resident of Bluffton, Indiana. She has three children and nine grandchildren. Her interests include traveling, cooking, gardening, history, reading, and playing bridge.

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Eric J. Jenkinson is a non-operative musculoskeletal physician with Orthopedics Northeast specializing in sports medicine. He earned his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine after earning his bachelor's degree in chemistry at Taylor University-Upland. During his medical training, he was a volunteer with Special Olympics, the Community Outreach Program, and for the Olympic swimming trials.

He is the head team physician for Indiana Tech as well as Taylor University, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, and Elmhurst High School.

Dr. Jenkinson is a member of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, American Association of Pediatrics, is Board Certified in Pediatrics and a CAQ in Sports Medicine.

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Edwin Metcalfe is a retired vice president and general manager with WPTA-TV. Prior to his career in the broadcast business, he was a professional musician. Metcalf attended the University of Pittsburgh and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Indiana Tech.

Metcalfe's professional and civic experiences include:

• Boy Scouts of American- Anthony Wayne Council, President of the Board
• Fort Wayne Public Television, Board Member
• Junior Achievement of Northeast Indiana, Chairman of the Board
• Three Rivers Ambulance Authority, Board Member
• ABC Television Affiliates (Board Member, Government Relations Committee, Board of Governors, Treasurer, Viewer Information and Education Committee Board Advisor)
• Allen County Judicial Court Appointment Commission
• American Legion Musicians Post, commander and Head of Los Angeles Area Hospital Commission
• Better Business Bureau, Board of Directors
• Convention and Visitors Bureau, Board of Directors
• Downtown Fort Wayne Association, Board Member
• Embassy Theatre Foundation, Advisory Council
• Fort Wayne Mental Health Association, Board Member
• Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Board Member
• Fort Wayne Press Club's 1975 Gridiron, General Chairman
• Fort Wayne Urban League, Board Member
• Girl Scouts of America (Limberlost Council, Board member)
• Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce (Chairman, Area Development Committee Member, Board of Directors, President)
• Headwaters Park Alliance, Board Member
• Indiana Broadcasters Association, President
• Indiana Supreme Court Appointment Commission
• Harold W. McMillen Healthy Education Center, Board Member
• Mason, Liberal Arts Lodge of Los Angeles
• National Association of Broadcasters
• St. Joseph Health Foundation, Board Member
• "Save the Embassy" Foundation, Board Member
• United Way Cabinet

Metcalfe and his late wife, Margaret, had two children, Judith Hampton and R. Duane Metcalfe. His interests include golf, travel, and languages.

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Manuel Peña-Morros is chairman of the Board of Directors of Banco Leon, S.A., in the Dominican Republic. His prior position was president and board member of Banco Leon.

Peña-Morros has more than 40 years of diversified experience in corporate, investment and international banking. In addition to Banco Leon, his career has included executive positions at Banco Professional, S.A.; Credicorp Financial Group, Inc.; and Chase Manhattan Bank.

Peña-Morros studied civil engineering at Indiana Tech from 1963 to 1966 before earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration from the Inter American University in 1968. He also holds an MBA from Inter American University.

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Gregg C. Sengstack is the president and chief operating officer of Franklin Electric Co., Inc., in Bluffton, Ind. He has held various positions in the finance organization of Franklin Electric since 1988.

He has been a member of the board of the Indiana CPA Society and currently serves on the board of Canterbury School.

Sengstack holds a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

He and his wife, Dianne, have three children, Victoria, Christopher, Alexa. His hobbies include family, flying, and sailing.

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Nicole Turner-Ridley is Director of Projects for LCMS National Housing Support Corp./Independent Contractor.

Turner-Ridley holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from University of Saint Francis and completed the Institute of Organizational Effectiveness program at Taylor University.

Her civic involvement includes the METRO YMCA Board, Downtown Rotary Service Club, The Fort Wayne Urban League Board, Knight Foundation Community Advisory Committee, and the Court House Preservation Trust Board. In the past she has served on The Gingerbread House Board, AISEDA Board, SOAR, CDC Board and the Fort Wayne Urban League Gala Committee.

Turner-Ridley has been featured by The Journal Gazette as a future Leader in Fort Wayne, by Fort Wayne Magazine as a Future 40 under 40, and by INK Newspaper as one of the 50 most influential African Americans in Northeast Indiana. Turner-Ridley recently moved to Alexandria, VA.

Turner-Ridley is married to Irvin Ridley and has one son. Her interests include watching her son participate in his high school extra curricular activities, shopping and relaxing at home.

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Jeffrey L. Walls is the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees and has been a professor of business administration at Indiana Tech since 1989.

 He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing at Indiana University, an MBA in finance at University of Saint Francis, and a doctorate in education at Ball State University. Walls was certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources through the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) in 1994, recertified in 1997, and earned the Certified Professional for Life designation in 2000.

He is faculty advisor for the Indiana Tech student chapter of SHRM and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He has won numerous awards from the university, including the 2009-10 Faculty Member of the Year and SHRM National Advisor of the Year.

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Audra Wilcoxson, ASACC 1989, was selected by the Alumni Association Board of Directors to serve as the alumni board representative to the Board of Trustees. Wilcoxson is an independent image consultant for BeautiControl and is the Business Manager for National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States. She also works part-time for Independent Networking Group, Inc. and Stein Mart. She earned an associate degree in secretarial science from International Business College and an associate degree in accounting from Indiana Tech. She currently serves as secretary for the Indiana Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors and treasurer for the Auburn Business and Professional Women/USA, and she is a member of the Psi Iota Xi Sorority of Auburn.

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