President Machtley named Business Leader of the Year by Providence Business News

October 22nd, 2008

SMITHFIELD, R.I.  - The Providence Business News has named Bryant University President Ronald K. Machtley the winner of the publication's Business Excellence Awards in the category of Business Leadership.

President Machtley, who became Bryant's seventh president in June 1996, was singled out for his leadership in transforming the school from a business college to a university comprising both a College of Business and a College of Arts and Sciences, with about 3,750 undergraduate and graduate students. Among President Machtley's accomplishments cited by the Providence Business News:

• The institution's revenue more than doubled from $49.1 million to $110.1 million;
• Annual surpluses, which are reinvested in educational programs, facilities, and scholarships, have exceeded $2 million a year since 1999;
• The University's endowment has grown from $96.4 million in 1998 to more than $170 million in 2008.

In addition, under President Machtley's tenure:

• Bryant is consistently ranked among the nation's leading universities: U.S. News & World Report ranks Bryant No. 16 in the master's north category; for the past eight years, the University has been included in The Princeton Review's "Best 368 Colleges and Universities"; and, for the second year in a row, the Graduate School's MBA program has been included in "Best 296 Business Schools," also published by The Princeton Review.
• The number of students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences has quadrupled from 133 in 1996 to 538. - The University has added 144,000 square feet of new facilities.

"The vision for Bryant is not mine alone," President Machtley said. "I am fortunate to be working with an excellent team of faculty, staff, and administrators. The award really is a reflection of the hard work of so many dedicated and distinguished people at Bryant who collectively are preparing our next generation of leaders through a superb education."

In 2006, Bryant University won the publication's award for excellence in business for companies with more than 100 employees.

The Business Excellence Awards will be presented at a ceremony Nov. 13.

Ronald K. Machtley

Before becoming president of Bryant University, President Machtley was a United States Congressman for the State of Rhode Island from 1989 to 1995. He was a member of the House Armed Services Committee; was the ranking Republican on the Small Business Committee's Minority Enterprise, Finance, and Urban Development Subcommittee; co-founded the first U.S. House Working Group on Mental Health; and served as cochairman of the New England Energy Caucus. Indicative of the esteem of his congressional colleagues, he was elected president of his Congressional Class during each term that he served.

Before serving in Congress, President Machtley was a practicing attorney.

A 1970 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, President Machtley earned a juris doctorate in 1978 from Suffolk University Law School. He served on active duty in the U.S. Navy and retired as a captain from the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1995 after 25 years of service. From 1992 to 1995 he was a member of the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Naval Academy.

President Machtley currently serves on the boards of several corporations, and many civic and charitable organizations including The Rhode Island Foundation and as the president of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. In 2002, he was inducted into the Institute for International Sport Rhode Island Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame and has been recognized by numerous organizations for his leadership.

He has been married to Kati Machtley for the past 37 years. Their children, Erin and Todd, have graduated from college and are now enjoying successful careers.

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For 145 years, Bryant University has developed the knowledge and character of students in order to help them succeed. A unique integration of business, liberal arts, and technology defines the Bryant educational experience. Located in Smithfield, R.I., the university has more than 3,600 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students. The university is accredited by NEASC - New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the College of Business is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Bryant's academic reputation is complemented by its business outreach centers that offer services to businesses in this region.

Keywords: awards, President Machtley