UWF Business Enterprises Inc. announces interim leadership
On Thursday, Dec. 6, the University of West Florida (UWF) Business Enterprises, Inc. (BEI) Board of Directors, in consultation with UWF President Judy Bense, named Dr. James (Jim) Barnett, interim CEO for UWF BEI, effective immediately. The board also voted to begin a search after the first of the year for a permanent executive officer.
Barnett currently serves as Facilities, Development and Operations Associate Vice President for the university and is responsible for facilitating campus master plan updates, administering capital project funding and managing the fiscal operating and capital budgets. Barnett will continue managing these responsibilities and work closely with the university leadership team in forwarding the strategic priorities of the university in tandem with BEI projects.
As interim CEO, Barnett brings with him first-hand knowledge of the current UWF BEI and UWF activities, as well as significant experience with UWF facilities management and development.
“In the last decade Dr. Barnett has overseen the construction of more than $170 million of new UWF facilities – $90 million in just the last four years,” said President Judy Bense. “He knows our processes and has been directly involved in UWF BEI projects since the beginning. His leadership will insure process but not slow us down.”
In this interim position, Barnett will facilitate projects previously administered by UWF BEI CEO, Matt Altier. Altier served in two roles at the university, including Vice President of Administrative Services and UWF BEI CEO. President Bense made the recommendation to the board for these roles to be separated.
Over the course of the next month, UWF leadership will continue to assess administrative functions within the Division of Administrative Services for synergistic alignments, efficiencies and potential reorganization to aid in the achievement of the UWF Strategic Plan 2012-2017.
