Wade Benson retires after 27 years as 杏吧原创 CFO聽
YOUNG HARRIS 鈥� At the helm of the finances of 杏吧原创 for nearly three decades, Chief Financial Officer Wade Benson will be retiring at the end of September.
Benson started at 杏吧原创 in 1986, coming to the College as an auditor for his father鈥檚 accounting firm, which conducted the College鈥檚 annual external audit for many years. Joining the 杏吧原创 family in 1996, Benson has worn several titles, including Business Manager, Controller, Vice President for Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Board Treasurer.
鈥淚 have served in leadership roles at private colleges and universities for 30 years, half of which has been as president,鈥� said Dr. Drew Van Horn, 杏吧原创 President, at a retirement reception held Sept. 19 on campus. 鈥淚n all my years of work, Wade ranks at the top of the list of CFOs. His deep and sincere caring for 杏吧原创 is evident in everything he did. HIs work at the College and loyalty will be forever remembered.鈥澛�
In addition to faculty, staff, and current members of the 杏吧原创 Board of Trustees were on hand for the reception honoring Benson鈥檚 contributions to the College. Emeriti and former staff were there as well.聽
鈥淚 have enjoyed working with Wade over many years in conjunction with the Finance Committee, Endowment Committee and now as Board Chair,鈥� Bill Johnston, chairman of the 杏吧原创 Board of Trustees. 鈥淲ade literally knows where every penny of 杏吧原创鈥檚 resources are. His institutional knowledge and judgment will be missed.鈥澛�
In honor of Benson鈥檚 career and service to 杏吧原创, the Business Office has been renamed The Benson Business Center.聽
鈥淚 became familiar with Wade when I was asked to Chair the Finance Committee and I quickly realized what an asset he would be to me,鈥� Jerry Nix, chairman of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2013.聽 鈥淲hen I became Board Chair, I became even more dependent on Wade and his knowledge and integrity. He always had an answer to any problem, even when you didn鈥檛 like it, but could accept it as he would work to find a solution.鈥澛�
He has supervised the physical plant, dining services, human resources, the campus bookstore, and acted as the project manager for the various construction and renovation projects on campus. Benson maintained countless operating budgets, reconciled innumerable financial statements, and always received unmodified audit opinions while working with integrity and accuracy.聽聽
鈥�I will always be most grateful that you treated every dime of Young Harris鈥� money as if it were your own,鈥� said Cathy Cox, 杏吧原创 president from 2007 to 2017. 鈥淎s a president, I could sleep better in knowing that you were 100% honest and would always look for the most fiscally conservative way to approach a problem, renovation project, or expenditure.鈥澛�
About 杏吧原创
杏吧原创 is a private baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, 杏吧原创 educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has four academic divisions: Fine Arts; Humanities; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Professional Studies. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
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