Governor Bob Taft has appointed Pat McDonald
interim director of the Ohio Department of Commerce. He will assume his new duties on
January 1,
2003, when current Director
Gary Suhadolnik begins his new job as Executive Director of the Ohio Turnpike
Commission. Lt. Governor Elect
Jennette Bradley will serve as director following
her inauguration on January 13.
“Pat has been an essential part of Commerce’s
senior management for the past four years,” said Governor Taft. “I am
confident he will provide the necessary leadership during the transition to a
new director.”
A native of Dayton, McDonald, 41, has served as an Assistant Director
of the Department of Commerce since January 1999. In addition to assisting in the
oversight of the Department’s eight operating Divisions, he is responsible for
the Department’s human resources, quality, support services and fiscal
efforts. He currently resides in
Columbus (43201).
Prior to Commerce, McDonald served as finance
director for the Ohio Secretary of State, where he directed all activities
relating to the agency’s budget, accounting, fiscal, purchasing,
inventory/records management and office services. McDonald also spent four years at the
Ohio Department of Development, and was Executive Director of the Mercer
County Residential Services for Mentally Retarded/Developmentally Disabled. He
received his bachelor of arts and master of public
administration degrees from the University of Dayton, and received his Government Financial Manager
certification at Syracuse University’s Advanced Government Finance
Institute.
With more than 900 employees and an annual budget
of nearly a half billion dollars, Commerce is the state’s primary regulatory
agency. It enforces regulations
regarding building and fire codes, financial institutions, real estate,
liquor, labor and worker safety, securities and unclaimed funds, among
others. It also houses the State
Fire Marshal’s Office.
