Thomas V. Chema
Encyclopedia
Thomas V. Chema is an American
academic administrator and lawyer
. Chema was named the 21st President of Hiram College
in 2003 after having served as a voting member of the Hiram College Board of Trustees for 11 years and chairing the Institutional Advancement Committee. Prior to becoming president of Hiram, Chema spent more than 30 years in business, government, and law.
Chema also serves in a number of national higher education associations including the Council of Independent Colleges
, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
, the Annapolis Group
, and with Ohio-based organizations such as the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio, the North Coast Athletic Conference
, and the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges.
A native of East Liverpool, Ohio
, Chema was a 1968 graduate of the University of Notre Dame
and a 1971 Cum Laude graduate of Harvard Law School
. He began his career with the Cleveland-based law firm of Arter & Hadden
in 1971 and became a partner in 1979. He took a leave of absence in 1983 to serve as Executive Director of the Ohio Lottery
Commission. In 1985, he was asked to become Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
.
In 1990, he was appointed Executive Director of the Gateway Economic Development Corporation and was responsible for overseeing the public-private partnership
that led to the financing and construction of Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena
in Cleveland. He then resumed his law practice and in recent years has consulted across the country on sports and entertainment-related economic development projects as President of Gateway Consultants Group, Inc.
Chema is recognized as an expert on energy and telecommunications economics and regulation, infrastructure planning, and developing public-private partnerships. He has published numerous articles on these topics and frequently lectures throughout the country, including assignments at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.
He is, or has been a trustee of civic and charitable boards including Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine Health System, St. Ignatius High School, Ohio Hunger Task Force, Historic Gateway Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation, Northeast Ohio Council of Higher Education, Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, College 360⁰, Chair of the Board of UHHS/CSAHS-Cuyahoga, Kids Voting Program, Portage County Port Authority and the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame.
For profit Board of Director Memberships have included TransTechnology Corporation, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Edward Howard and Company, and Fairport Funds.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic administrator and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. Chema was named the 21st President of Hiram College
Hiram College
Hiram College is a private liberal arts college located in Hiram, Ohio. Founded by Amos Sutton Hayden of the Disciples of Christ Church in 1850, the institution has, since its first days, been nonsectarian and coeducational, and throughout its existence Hiram College has sustained this egalitarian...
in 2003 after having served as a voting member of the Hiram College Board of Trustees for 11 years and chairing the Institutional Advancement Committee. Prior to becoming president of Hiram, Chema spent more than 30 years in business, government, and law.
Chema also serves in a number of national higher education associations including the Council of Independent Colleges
Council of Independent Colleges
The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of nearly 600 independent, liberal arts colleges and universities and more than 70 higher education affiliates and organizations that work together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance...
, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Founded in 1976, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities is an organization of private US colleges and universities...
, the Annapolis Group
Annapolis Group
The Annapolis Group is an American organization that describes itself as "a nonprofit alliance of the nation’s leading independent liberal arts colleges." It represents approximately 130 liberal arts colleges in the United States...
, and with Ohio-based organizations such as the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio, the North Coast Athletic Conference
North Coast Athletic Conference
The North Coast Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division III athletic conference composed of schools located in the Midwestern United States. When founded in 1984, the NCAC was a pioneer in gender equality, offering competition in a then-unprecedented ten women's sports...
, and the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges.
A native of East Liverpool, Ohio
East Liverpool, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,089 people, 5,261 households, and 3,424 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,010.3 people per square mile . There were 5,743 housing units at an average density of 1,320.8 per square mile...
, Chema was a 1968 graduate of the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and a 1971 Cum Laude graduate of Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. He began his career with the Cleveland-based law firm of Arter & Hadden
Arter & Hadden
Arter & Hadden LLP was a Cleveland, Ohio-based law firm that traced its founding to 1843 and ceased operations on July 15, 2003. When the firm closed, it was one of the oldest continuing operating law firms in the country. The firm had engaged in an ambitious expansion throughout the 1990s, peaking...
in 1971 and became a partner in 1979. He took a leave of absence in 1983 to serve as Executive Director of the Ohio Lottery
Ohio Lottery
The Ohio Lottery is run by the Ohio Lottery Commission. Its games include Pick 3 and Pick 4 , Rolling Cash 5, Ten-OH!, Keno, Classic Lotto, Powerball, Mega Millions, and scratch tickets. The marketing slogan is "Take a chance on education. Odds are, you'll have fun!" In 1973, the creation of the...
Commission. In 1985, he was asked to become Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio is an agency of State of Ohio that is charged with the regulation of utility service providers such as those of electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications as well as railroad safety and intrastate hazardous materials transport.There are several ways by...
.
In 1990, he was appointed Executive Director of the Gateway Economic Development Corporation and was responsible for overseeing the public-private partnership
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
that led to the financing and construction of Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
in Cleveland. He then resumed his law practice and in recent years has consulted across the country on sports and entertainment-related economic development projects as President of Gateway Consultants Group, Inc.
Chema is recognized as an expert on energy and telecommunications economics and regulation, infrastructure planning, and developing public-private partnerships. He has published numerous articles on these topics and frequently lectures throughout the country, including assignments at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.
He is, or has been a trustee of civic and charitable boards including Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine Health System, St. Ignatius High School, Ohio Hunger Task Force, Historic Gateway Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation, Northeast Ohio Council of Higher Education, Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, College 360⁰, Chair of the Board of UHHS/CSAHS-Cuyahoga, Kids Voting Program, Portage County Port Authority and the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame.
For profit Board of Director Memberships have included TransTechnology Corporation, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Edward Howard and Company, and Fairport Funds.