NEW DIRECTOR OF FINANCE PLEDGES CLARITY, STRONG FINANCIAL RESULTS ox Chapel Area
NEW DIRECTOR OF FINANCE PLEDGES CLARITY, STRONG FINANCIAL RESULTS ox Chapel Area
FOX X CHAPEL AREA SCHOOL NEWS
For Ryan Manzer, the decision to come to the Fox Chapel Area School District was clear: The district’ s reputation for excellence – and the people who uphold it – made it the ideal next step in his career.
“ Fox Chapel Area is known as one of the best school districts in the region,” the district’ s new director of finance says.“ During the interview process, both( Superintendent) Dr. Reljac and( Deputy Superintendent) Dr. McCommons made me feel very comfortable. I felt that my experience and background were a great fit for the position.”
Though still new to the district, Mr. Manzer says it was the people who made the biggest impression on him, and that from day one, he felt welcomed and supported, and quickly sensed the strong community spirit that defines Fox Chapel Area.
“ I believe the best part of any school district is always the people,” he says.“ Everyone I’ ve met has welcomed me, and you can feel the sense of community within the district.”
With a strong background in finance, Mr. Manzer’ s priorities for the district are rooted in stability, clarity, and support for student learning.
“ I plan to continue the strong financial performance of the district to best support teaching and learning,” he says.“ My goals are to provide clear, understandable financial information to the administration, school board, and community, while running an effective and efficient business office.”
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“ I plan to continue the strong financial performance of the district to best support teaching and learning. My goals are to provide clear, understandable financial information to the administration, school board, and community, while running an effective and efficient business office.”
Financial reporting has always been a passion for Mr. Manzer, shaped by his early career experiences. As a certified public accountant( CPA) with a background in public accounting, he brings a level of expertise needed to oversee the district’ s long-term financial health.
Before coming to Fox Chapel Area, Mr. Manzer began his career as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers, followed by a role as a financial analyst in corporate financial reporting at PPG. From there, he transitioned into school business leadership, serving in the Pine-Richland, Freeport Area, and Plum Borough school districts.
One accomplishment he’ s particularly proud of occurred during his time at Plum.“ We were able to upgrade our bond rating several times,” he says.“ These upgrades not only reflected improved financial performance, but also lowered the district’ s overall cost of borrowing.”
Mr. Manzer grew up in Mars and earned his bachelor of science degree in business administration, with a major in accounting, from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005. He lives in Penn Township, Butler County, with his wife, Lauren, and their five children.
As he settles into his new role, he’ s optimistic about the future and committed to helping the district continue to thrive.
“ I’ m excited for the challenges and opportunities ahead,” he says.“ I’ m grateful to be part of a community that truly cares about its schools.”