Eric Fingerhut believes the Northeast Ohio region is stronger operating together than it is fractionalized.
In addition to serving on the B-W business administration faculty as director of economic development education and entrepreneurship, Fingerhut is an Ohio State Senator. He and many of his legislative brethren from both sides of the aisle believe that Ohio communities must learn to work together to deliver public services in a more cost effective manner. Since fire and emergency services are one of the most costly and capital intensive areas for all communities, it is easy to understand why attention always focuses there first.
“My mother, sister and I all live within a mile from one another,” said Fingerhut in March to WKYC-TV3. “But we're served by three different fire departments, different police departments, three different school districts and garbage services. Surely there is a more efficient way to do these.”
Eric Fingerhut
Fortunately, a number of local mayors are also asking the same question. To test the validity of the theory that a shared approach to the delivery of emergency services can be more cost effective, Fingerhut is working with the mayors of Berea, Brook Park, Middleburg Heights, Parma and Parma Heights to explore if emergency services can be improved while lowering costs. He has recruited a group of Baldwin-Wallace students and faculty to help identify areas for savings and improved return on investments through a shared services approach. The collaboration was born when Fingerhut contacted Parma Heights Mayor Martin Zanotti for suggestions for a B-W summer research project.
“These students are getting an unmatched opportunity to innovate,” Fingerhut said. “They're participating in research and analysis that have real life implications for thousands of people. Most business students only dream about these kind of opportunities.”
The project will conclude in the late fall with a presentation of findings, analysis and recommendations to an advisory committee of city officials, emergency services personnel, hospital administrators and civic leaders within the neighboring communities participating in the study.
“Baldwin-Wallace is committed to being an active partner in the communities in which we live,” Peter Rea, chair of the B-W Division of Business Administration, said. “This project gives us an opportunity to combine faculty expertise and student enthusiasm to the benefit of the community, while offering students practical insights and experience in addressing regional issues.”
Mary Pisnar-Sweeney and Pierre David are contributing guidance and direction to the student group. David is a nationally recognized expert on logistics and facilities management, and Pisnar- Sweeney specializes in management and labor management.
“We.re excited to be contributing to breakthrough thinking,” voted B-W student Mary Griglak, pilot study project manager and finance major/economics minor. “This study is allowing us to be innovative while gaining a better understanding and appreciation for the importance of servant leadership, which is a hallmark of a B-W education.”
The pilot study is being supported through grants from Forest City Enterprises, Parma Community Hospital, Southwest General Hospital and the Westfield Group.
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