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NACAS Inaugurates Matthew Portner, CASP as President and Installs 2022 Board of Directors

NACAS Inaugurates Matthew Portner, CASP as President and Installs 2022 Board of Directors

Charlottesville, VA — NACAS, the largest auxiliary and ancillary services support organization serving higher education, installed Matthew Portner, Executive Director of Auxiliary Services at Ashland University, as President of the NACAS Board of Directors. Three new members were also added to the board at the C3X 2021 Annual Conference & Expo.

“This year presents exciting possibilities for members of NACAS, says Portner. “I look forward to integrating in-person events back into our schedules and seeing my colleagues face to face safely. NACAS is a support structure for every member institution and continuing to share ideas and strategy with colleagues is a top priority as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Portner received his undergraduate degree in biology from the College of Wooster, and his Master of Arts in Education from Ashland University. He began his career in auxiliary services at Ashland as a graduate assistant by coordinating a recycling program. He did everything from emptying the bins to educating staff and students, along with driving trucks and managing a team of student workers. He began working his way up through business services quickly at the Campus Store and transitioned it from a leased operation to independently run by the University.

In his 30-year career at his alma mater, Portner obtained his Executive Juris Doctorate degree from Concord Law School in 2012, while already holding the title of Director of Auxiliary Services. He became an adjunct professor in 2017 and ultimately achieved his current title of Executive Director of Auxiliary Services in 2019. Portner’s commitment to NACAS began in 2003 when he became the Director of Auxiliary Services. He has taken advantage of countless opportunities through NACAS, including volunteering on many committees and boards, eventually being nominated for the NACAS Board of Directors president’s track.

“My varied roles in Auxiliary Services have enabled me to pull a great deal of value from NACAS membership,” states Portner. “Especially during the past two years, my connections to folks at other institutions through NACAS have proven invaluable.”

For 2022, Portner is looking forward to helping CEO Matt Marcial define the direction of NACAS, and make sure that the organization has the tools to be successful.

“Matt Portner is an accomplished auxiliary services leader,” says Marcial, “and I am excited to work with him and the rest of the board as we develop NACAS’ new strategic plan and move the organization forward.”

NACAS 2020-21 Board Members

PRESIDENT
Matthew Portner, CASP
Executive Director of Auxiliary Services
Ashland University

PRESIDENT-ELECT
Neil Markley
Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance
Sonoma State University

VICE PRESIDENT
Brett Jackson, CASP
Assistant Vice President and CFO of the UGA Foundation
University of Georgia

PAST PRESIDENT
Mark Ironside
Assistant Vice President of Business Services
Lehigh University

TREASURER
Jared Ceja, CASP
Executive Director of the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation
California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

CENTRAL REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Gheretta Harris, CASP
Associate Vice President, Auxiliary Enterprises
Ferris State University

EAST REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Monica Rattigan
Executive Director of University Stores and Strategic Initiatives
University of Pittsburgh

SOUTH REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Jackson (Andy) Meeks, CASP
Director of Business Operations and Auxiliary Services
Northern Kentucky University

WEST REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Lisa Goberis, CASP
Director of Student Life Business Administration
Colorado School of Mines

AT-LARGE MEMBER
Emily Messa, CASP
Associate VC/VP, Administration
University of Houston

AT-LARGE MEMBER
Martha Davidson, CASP
Director of Finance
Duke University

FOUNDATION PRESIDENT
Eddie Mills
Associate Vice President, Auxiliary Services
Georgia Southern University

About NACAS

Founded in 1969 as the National Association of College Auxiliary Services, NACAS is a professional trade association that supports the non-academic segment of higher education responsible for generating business through a diverse array of campus services that students need and value – such as food services, bookstores, housing, and transportation. As the leading organization supporting all campus services, NACAS is the community-of-choice for strategic leaders who advance campus environments to improve the quality of life for students.