NACAS Inaugurates Mark Ironside as President and Installs the New 2021 Board Members
(December 9, 2020 | Charlottesville, VA) — NACAS, the largest auxiliary and ancillary services support organization serving higher education, installed Mark Ironside, Assistant Vice President of Business Services and President of LU Properties, LCC, at Lehigh University, as President of the NACAS Board of Directors. Three new members were also added to the board at the C3X 2020 Virtual Annual Conference & Expo.
“This is going to be a challenging year as we emerge from this global pandemic, but I’m looking forward to working with my fellow board members and NACAS staff to put together a playbook, as well as exceptional educational programming and activities, that help our member institutions serve their campuses in new and innovative ways. I’m confident in our ability to perform at a high level as we advance the mission of NACAS,” Ironside said.
Ironside got his undergraduate degree in marketing from Messiah College and his Master’s in Business Administration from Penn State University. He began his career in sales at Duracell USA but shifted soon after to the auxiliary services industry, where he has worked in various roles for 25 years. He spent 10 years at Messiah College where he eventually became the Director of College Services. In 2005, he transitioned into a new role at Lehigh University, where he currently serves as the Association Vice President for Business Services.
Ironside joined NACAS soon after beginning his career in auxiliary services. He has served on several committees, volunteered for the NACAS East region, and eventually was nominated for the NACAS Board of Directors president’s track.
“As a business professional, I’m constantly looking for new ideas, solutions, and best practices,” Ironside said. “And there is no better association to turn to from a resource and collegiality perspective.”
In terms of vision and goals for the year ahead, Ironside is focused on “planting trees,” or investing time and energy into growth and recovery, during the pandemic. Other priorities include defining and developing strategies to ensure inclusive excellence across association volunteer leadership.
“I am thrilled to be working in partnership with Mark to serve NACAS for the next year,” said Kelsey Harmon Finn, NACAS CEO. “His ability to think strategically, move efficiently, and focus on a more diverse experience for NACAS is what we need today for the future success of NACAS.”
NACAS 2020-21 Board Members
PRESIDENT
Mark Ironside
Assistant Vice President of Business Services
Lehigh University
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Matthew Portner, CASP
Executive Director, Auxiliary Services
Ashland University
VICE PRESIDENT
Neil Markley
Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance
Sonoma State University
PAST PRESIDENT
Ryan Greene, CASP
Director of Auxiliary Services
Georgia Tech
TREASURER
Sherry Davidson
Senior Director, Parking and Transportation
Georgia Tech
CENTRAL REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Gheretta Harris, CASP
Associate Vice President, Auxiliary Enterprises
Ferris State University
EAST REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Maria Hoagland
Director Culinary Group
West Point
SOUTH REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Jackson (Andy) Meeks, CASP
Director of Business Operations and Auxiliary Services
Northern Kentucky University
WEST REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Jared Ceja, CASP
Executive Director of the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation
California State Polytechnic University – Pomona
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