Retired Fifth Third Bank Officer is UF’s Fall 2016 Dana Chair

Richard Zunkiewicz

Richard P. Zunkiewicz, a retired Fifth Third Bank executive who is now a part-time business development officer with Hixon Zuercher Capital Management in Findlay, is serving as the University of Findlay College of Business Dana Chair as the program marks its 20^th anniversary.
The Dana Chair and Scholar Program provides an opportunity for business students to benefit from those who have worked in business. A total of 14 were selected this fall as Dana Scholars.
Zunkiewicz’s success as a bank trust officer is benefiting the UF Scholars he is mentoring. He started the Trust Department at First National Bank of Findlay in 1981 (now known as Fifth Third Bank). Under his leadership, the department grew to more than $175 million by the time he retired from there in 2002. His specialties have included estate planning, investments, estate taxation, income taxation, estate administration and trust administration.
After retiring from Fifth Third he was Blanchard Valley Health Foundation’s planned giving officer for 10 years, a position that allowed him to provide insight to Blanchard Valley Health Foundation’s potential donors about giving through gifts-in-kind, such as appreciated securities, real estate, life insurance and charitable gift annuities.
Zunkiewicz’s financial career also included a high level of community non-profit involvement.
For the last two years Zunkiewicz has worked with Hixon Zuercher Capital Management on developing new business for that firm.
Over the years, UF has had the pleasure of welcoming several distinguished business leaders as Dana Chairs. The last to serve in this capacity was University alumnus Paul Worstell, a client coach for Six Disciplines NOW, who mentored students in spring 2016.
On Tuesday, Oct. 18, the College of Business hosted a 20^th anniversary dinner, which welcomed back the majority of past Dana Chairs as well as some of the program’s former scholars.
This year’s Dana Scholars include: Delaney Haas, Lima, Ohio; Kelsey Koesters of Coldwater, Ohio; Aumama Bascal, Findlay, Ohio; Rayan Alghuraibi, Saudi Arabia; Molly Burkett, Gibsonburg, Ohio; Robert Book, Upper Sandusky, Ohio; Austin Gardner, Bowling Green, Ohio; Trang Thi Vu, Vietnam; Brooke Eicher, Fenton, Michigan; Joshua Pennington, Oregon, Ohio; Sarah Scott, Delaware, Ohio; Todd Smith, Findlay, Ohio; Jenna Irwin, Cygnet, Ohio; and Ann Frieders, Quincy, Ohio.