About Our Area Experts

Char Jessie is the Program Manager for the Division of Financial Training and Documentation. In addition to developing workshop text and materials, she presents many of the division's workshops. Her bio is listed below:

Char Jessie

Char Jessie is a Program Manager in Financial Training and Documentation, Office of the Controller. Char's responsibilities include training new presenters, developing and updating workshop materials, and carrying out various special projects. Char came to the University from Huntington Banks in 1985 and was a supervisor in Accounts Payable from 1985 to 1995. Char has professional certification as an Instructional Designer/Developer and is certified as a Master Trainer from the professional "train-the-trainer" corporation, Langevin Learning Services. Char can be reached via e-mail at jessie.1 @ osu.edu or at (614) 292-3357.

Presenters and facilitators of Financial Training and Documentation workshops are area experts who volunteer their time to teach and provide information at our workshops. We are grateful to them for their contributions of expertise to our workshops!

Tyrome (Ty) Alexander

Tyrome Alexander is the Assistant Director of Payroll for Ohio State. Ty is responsible for coordinating payroll projects both within the Payroll office and University-wide. His most recent project was serving as project coordinator for the University's Paperless Pay Initiative. Ty has worked in various areas of the University since 1996, including the James Cancer Hospital, the Solove Research Institute, and the Newark Regional Campus. Prior to working at Ohio State, Ty served as a Human Resources Recruiter for Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth. He has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Ohio State and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources. Ty can be reached via e-mail at alexander.17 @ osu.edu or at (614) 688-5605.

Karen Barnes

Karen Barnes is Associate Director of Stewardship in University Development. Until 2002, Karen was Associate Director for Gift Processing with responsibility for all aspects of gift accounting including providing gift receipts for donors and transferring funds to department gift accounts. Karen has been employed by Ohio State since 1976. Before joining University Development in 1984, she worked for Residence and Dining Halls, the Office of the Controller and the Treasurer's Office. Karen can be reached via e-mail at barnes.9 @ osu.edu or at (614) 292-2441.

Tamar Chute

Tamar Chute is the Associate University Archivist at Ohio State. Tamar is responsible for records management, accessioning collections, outreach activities, and online reference. She also supervises the staff, students, and volunteers and is active in national and regional archival organizations. Tamar received a BA in History from the University of Michigan in 1996 and an MLS degree from the University of Maryland in 1998. Tamar can be reached via e-mail at chute.6 @ osu.edu or at (614) 292-3271.

Deborah Durant

Deborah Durant is the Invoice Processing Lead in the Division of Accounts Payable, Office of the Controller. Deborah's responsibilities include invoice processing, invoice inquiry and all inquiries regarding payment request processing. She is also the primary person to train new Accounts Payable employees in invoice processing procedures. Deborah is a liaison for departments, colleges and other units and responds to customer service calls from the University's external vendors. She has been at the Ohio State University in the Division of Accounts Payable since 2002. Deborah can be reached via e-mail at Durant.28 @ osu.edu or 614-247-7166.

Kathy Edwards

Kathy Edwards is the Assistant Director/Business Manager of the University Press. Kathy has six years of experience as a Senior Accountant in the Office of the Controller and the Office of the Treasurer. Prior to coming to Ohio State in 1990, Kathy spent two years as an accounting supervisor in the private sector and four years as an auditor in public accounting. She earned a BA in Accounting from Grove City College and an MA in Public Policy and Management here at the University. Kathy can be reached via e-mail at edwards.206 @ osu.edu or at (614) 292-3692.

Tom Ewing

Tom Ewing is Associate Controller in the Office of the Controller. Tom heads up the Division of Accounting and oversees the operation of the General Ledger; maintenance of the ChartField; generation of monthly GL reports to colleges and departments; the year-end external reporting process; the Indirect Cost operation; and the University's tax compliance. Prior to joining the University, Tom worked for Deloitte & Touche (formerly Touche Ross & Co.) for three and a half years. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has been with the University since July 1990. Tom can be reached via e-mail at ewing.6 @ osu.edu or at (614) 688-3113.

Robin Gassen

Robin Gassen is a Financial Coordinator for the College of Engineering, Office of Administration and Planning. Prior to joining the College of Engineering Robin worked as a business manager for Reading Recovery, in the College of Education and Human Ecology, as a senior internal auditor in the Department of Internal Audit, and as an accountant at the University Medical Center. She has a BA from Ohio State and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2004. Robin can be reached via e-mail at gassen.1 @ osu.edu or at (614) 688-0243.

Rob Hupp

Rob Hupp is a Financial Systems Analyst in the Division of Accounting, Office of the Controller. Rob is a Primary Contact and GL Help Desk Expeditor for all General Ledger questions and issues. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Dayton and has been at Ohio State since January of 1986. Rob can be reached via e-mail at hupp.1 @ osu.edu or at (614) 688-4519.

Jodi Kessler

Jodi Kessler is the University Tax Manager in the Division of Accounting, Office of the Controller. Jodi is responsible for unrelated business income, sales, and employment tax filings, as well as nonresident alien tax issues. Prior to joining the University, Jodi operated her own legal practice focusing on tax, contracts and criminal law. She obtained her undergrad and law degree at Ohio State and her LLM in Taxation at Capital Law School. Jodi can be reached via email at kessler.91@osu.edu or at (614) 292-7540.

Sue Ledin

Sue Ledin is a Senior Buyer and the Vending Coordinator for the University's Central Purchasing Department. She is responsible for purchasing, bidding, and contract management. Sue earned her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Minnesota State University. Prior to joining the University in October 2006, she worked as a Business Administrative Coordinator for Honda of America Manufacturing in the Purchasing Department. Sue can be reached via e-mail at ledin.2 @ osu.edu or at 614-292-7394.

Gary Leimbach

Gary Leimbach is Treasury Management Officer II. He manages the Endowment Administration area of the Office of Financial Services. Endowment Administration controls and maintains the University's long-term investment pool, which currently has a market value of $2.3 billion and includes almost 4,000 individual endowment funds. The Endowment Administration area also monitors and accounts for the trading activity of the external income investment managers and oversees the Endowment portion of the Treasurer's Office website. Gary has a Bachelor's degree from Ohio State and started working in the Office of the Treasurer in 1986. Gary can be reached via email at leimbach.4@osu.edu or at (614) 688-3652.

David Lewis

David Lewis is a Treasury Management Officer in the Endowment Administration area of the Office of Financial Services. David is responsible for maintaining the endowment income distribution system and administers the fund accounting functions of the endowment. Prior to joining Ohio State in 2007, David was a Financial Analyst at Citigroup (formerly BISYS) in the mutual fund administration division. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Ohio University. David can be reached via e-mail at lewis.817@osu.edu or at (614) 688-4201.

Kelley Maynard

Kelley Maynard is the Compliance Officer for the College of Humanities. Kelley monitors the fiscal activities of the departments and centers in the College of Humanities, conducts college-level audits/management reviews and monitors compliance to policies and procedures, including segregation of duties, mandatory approvals and reconciliations. She serves as an expert resource and advises department fiscal administrators on University and College financial policies and procedures. She provides fiscal support and guidance to all units in the College. Kelley graduated from Ohio State with a degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology and has been employed with the University since 1987. Kelley can be reached via e-mail at maynard.52 @ osu.edu or at (614) 247-7168.

Linda Moñtano

Linda Moñtano is the Director of Business Operations for the Office of International Affairs. Linda has also served Ohio State as a fiscal and human resources manager at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies and as a fiscal and personnel officer in the Department of Entomology. Before coming to Ohio, Linda worked for Children's Protective Services in Austin, Texas. Linda is a member of the Association for Public Policy and Management and the Society for Human Resources Management. Linda has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Hope College in Holland, Michigan and a master's degree in Public Policy and Management from the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University. Linda can be reached via e-mail at montano.3 @ osu.edu or at (614) 247-2778.

Dan W. Noonan

Dan W. Noonan is the Electronic Records Manager/Archivist at Ohio State. Reporting to the University Archivist, in collaboration with the Office of the CIO, he assists in the design, evaluation, and implementation of electronic recordkeeping systems of the University in order to produce trustworthy records; provides counsel to academic and administrative offices in electronic records management and preservation best practices; and advocates for necessary resources and develops strategies for long-term preservation and access to electronic records of enduring value. Dan serves as a member of the University's Enterprise Data Steering and Business Continuity Planning Committees, the University Library's Digital Initiative Steering Committee, and as OSU's representative to the Ohio Electronic Records Committee. He is active in national and regional archival and records management organizations. Dan received a BS in Construction Administration from the University of Wisconsin in 1985 and an MLS degree from Rutgers University in 2001. Dan can be reached via e-mail at noonan.37 @ osu.edu or at (614) 247-2425.

Brenda Payne

Brenda Payne is an Accountant in the Division of Accounting, Office of the Controller. Some of Brenda's duties include monitoring Procurement Card balances, fund exceptions, unposted journals and medical practice plan funds. She prepares invoices monthly and quarterly for reimbursements. Among other job duties, she sorts and distributes monthly GL reports and answers general ledger questions. Prior to employment at OSU, Brenda was employed by Lazarus and H & R Block. Brenda is a graduate of Franklin University with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. She has worked in Accounting since 1980 and assumed her current position in 1989. Brenda can be reached via e-mail at payne.11 @ osu.edu or at (614) 688-3595.

Debra Pelley

Debra Pelley is a Budget Planning Analyst in the Office of Resource Planning. She works primarily with the health sciences colleges and is also responsible for compiling the annual current funds budget book and the student fee schedules. From 1999 to 2004, she was the budget and operations analyst for Graduate, International, and Professional Admissions. Prior to working at Ohio State, she held several positions in state government, including seven years as the personnel and public employee retirement analyst for the Ohio Legislative Budget Office. Debbie has Master's degrees from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and The Ohio State University. Debbie can be reached via e-mail at pelley.4 @ osu.edu or at (614) 292-9447.

Marie Peterson

Marie Peterson is the Manager of the Purchasing Card and Travel Programs. She is responsible for the review and approval of all Purchasing and Travel Card applications and works with university departments on special travel requests. Marie has worked for the Purchasing Department since 1998, and has experience working as a Buyer, a Contract Administrator and as a Minority Business Reporting Coordinator. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from OSU and is working on the completion of her Masters Degree in City & Regional Planning. Marie can be reached via e-mail at peterson.265 @ osu.edu or at (614) 292-9425.

Tricia Privette

Tricia Privette is a Financial Reporting Analyst in the Division of Accounting, Office of the Controller. Prior to joining the University, Tricia was employed in tax-related positions in both private industry and state government. She has a MBA from Ohio State and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1991. Tricia began working for the University as a Senior Accountant in 1997. Tricia can be reached via e-mail at privette.3 @ osu.edu or at (614) 688-3728.

Al Rodack

Al Rodack is the Associate Treasurer in the Office of Financial Services. Al is responsible for overseeing operations which include cash management, debt management, endowment fund management, risk management, student fee collections and student loan repayments. He also serves as Chairman of the Political Action Committee for the Association of Financial Professionals (AFP) and was formerly on the AFP Board of Directors. Al has twenty five years experience with Ohio State and previously worked as an Investment Officer for National City Bank. He received a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and a Master's degree in Finance from Ohio State. Al can be reached via email at rodack.1@osu.edu or at (614) 688-3658.

Holly Ross

Holly Ross is the Director of the Business and Finance Administrative Services Center and also serves as a systems analyst with Resource Management Systems in the Office of Business and Finance. As the Director of the Services Center, Holly oversees the review and approval process of procurement transactions within the Office of Business and Finance. As a systems analyst, Holly's responsibilities include production support of the PeopleSoft Financial modules. She works with other subject matter experts from the business units and OIT to support the ongoing operation and special projects related to the PeopleSoft systems. Prior to 2002, Holly worked at Ohio State as a consultant on the Administrative Resource Management System (ARMS) Project and served as the GL Project Manager on the Financials 8.4 Upgrade. She has an undergraduate degree in finance from Miami University and recently completed her masters in Public Policy and Management from Ohio State. Holly can be reached via e-mail at ross.507 @ osu.edu or at (614) 688-3667.

Peggy Schmidt

Peggy Schmidt is the Procurement Systems Training Coordinator for the University Purchasing Department. Peg is the lead trainer and responsible for analyzing purchasing data from the Financials System in order to provide an effective training program. She has worked mostly in Central Purchasing (Minority Business Development Program and Pcard/Travel Program) but has three years experience working in an academic college office (College of Dentistry). She earned her Bachelor's degree in Public Relations from Ohio State and began working for the University in 1992. Peg has a professional certification as an Instructional Designer/Developer from the professional "train-the-trainer" corporation, Langevin Learning Services. Peg can be reached via e-mail at schmidt.243 @ osu.edu or at (614) 688-8615.

Heather Sefner

Heather Sefner is the Senior Fiscal Officer of Enrollment Services and Undergraduate Education. Prior to joining OSU, Heather held various accounting and auditing positions including Manager of Accounting at the Ohio Historical Society, Internal Auditor and Senior Business Manager of Intercollegiate Athletics while at Kent State University, and Auditor at the State Auditor's Office. She received her BS degree in accounting from the University of Akron in 1997, and her MBA from Kent State University in 2003. She's been a Certified Public Account since 2000. Heather can be reached via e-mail at sefner.1 @ osu.edu or at (614) 247-4726.

Don Seidelmann

Don Seidelmann is an analyst with Resource Management Systems in the Office of Business and Finance. He has served at Ohio State since September of 1985, having positions as the General Ledger Project Manager of the Administrative Resource Management System (ARMS) Project, Associate Controller, and before that as Chief Accountant. Don's responsibilities during those assignments included aiding in the creation of the current accounting system, maintaining the Financial Accounting System (FAS) and producing the annual financial reports for the University. Before coming to Ohio State, Don spent five years in private industry as an Assistant Controller and eight years in public accounting on the audit staff of a major certified public accounting firm. He is a graduate of the College of Administrative Sciences at Ohio State. Don can be reached via e-mail at seidelmann.1 @ osu.edu or at (614) 688-4533.

Rick Shaffer

Rick Shaffer is the Business Manager for the Center for Lake Erie Area Research within the Office of Research and has been with OSU for over 17 years. Prior to his current position, he served as the Business Operations Manager for the College of Optometry. Before joining Optometry, he held various positions in the College of Nursing. Rick earned his bachelor's degree from Ohio State and is currently working on a master's degree. Rick can be reached via e-mail at shaffer.25 @ osu.edu or at (614) 292-8949.

DeeAnn Willis-Berry

DeeAnn Willis-Berry is Manager of Asset Management, Office of the Controller. DeeAnn's responsibilities include writing policies and procedures, supporting the Asset Management help desk, and volunteering as a PeopleSoft trainer. DeeAnn came to the University from Bank One in 1997. DeeAnn has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from The Ohio State University. She can be reached via e-mail at willis-berry.1 @ osu.edu or at (614) 688-4788.