Mark Polatajko named Vice President for Business and Fiscal Affairs

A certified public accountant, Polatajko obtained his bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Akron and his masters of business administration specializing in finance from Ashland University. He is working on his doctorate in urban education from Cleveland State.

Mark Polatajko, who has managed the financial operations of Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland since 2005, has been named Vice President for Business and Fiscal Affairs at Wright State University.

Polatajko will replace Matthew Filipic, who is retiring at the end of December.

“Mark Polatajko has a proven record of strong financial management, an expert grasp of higher education accounting and administration, and a commitment to our mission of transforming the lives of our students and the communities we serve,” said Provost Steven Angle.

As Vice President, Administration and Finance for Cuyahoga Community College, Polatajko has developed and managed a $330 million budget serving 55,000 students.

Polatajko, 44, of Parma, has provided leadership over the accounting and financial operations as well as campus services and retail operations at Cuyahoga Community College, and has successfully identified opportunities to utilize resources and technology to achieve efficiency, effectiveness and cost savings. He helped achieve AA bond ratings from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, led several debt-financing initiatives and helped convert the college’s high-rate variable debt into lower fixed-rate debt, yielding significant annual savings of $412,000 in interest.

Polatajko led the issuance of $122.5 million in General Receipts Bonds to fund a major academic facilities capital expansion and improvement program; helped in the outsourcing of the college’s bookstore, yielding increased profits of more than $900,000 a year with improved service delivery and reduced risk; and led the development and execution of a group-buying approach for electricity, resulting in a savings of $800,000 over a 22-month period.

In addition, Polatajko was involved in the recent rollout of the college’s enrollment centers, which combined admissions and records, student financial assistance, the business office and other services to make the admissions process as easy and seamless as possible for students.

“I recognize the importance of forging strong relationships with the academic arm of the university as well as its external community support base and constituency,” Polatajko said. “While many people may think of Administration and Finance being removed from the day-to-day academic experience, I have consistently stressed that everything our team does directly affects the success of the faculty and students at our institution.”

Prior to his current position, Polatajko was interim Treasurer and Executive Director, Accounting and Financial Operations at Cuyahoga Community College.

From 2001 to 2004, Polatajko was deputy director of finance/CFO for the Ohio Lottery Commission. He also served as a fiscal specialist and account clerk for the commission between from 1992 to 1997. In between, he worked as an audit manager and accountant specializing in government and not-for-profit accounting, auditing and consulting services for Ciuni & Panichi, Inc., a Cleveland accounting firm,.

Polatajko served as chair and vice chair of the Ohio Association of Community College Fiscal Officers from 2008 through 2010.

A certified public accountant, Polatajko obtained his bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Akron and his masters of business administration specializing in finance from Ashland University. He is working on his doctorate in urban education from Cleveland State.

Polatajko and his wife, Teresa, have three children.