Baldwin Wallace CIO and alumnus Greg Flanik named VP of Operations

In his new role, Flanik will continue to manage IT while expanding his oversight to a range of other campus operations.

Baldwin Wallace University has named Chief Information Officer (CIO) Greg Flanik '97, MBA '10, as vice president of operations and a member of the President's executive leadership team. His new position was official on March 6.

In addition to IT oversight, Flanik will now also lead BW dining services, bookstores, building and grounds, safety and security, campus access services and conference services.

"With technology and innovation playing key roles in BW's capacity to provide extraordinary experiences for our students, there is not a better campus leader to fill this role," said BW President Bob Helmer. "Greg has accomplished much, and I'm confident in his ability to help lead us into the future."

Technology transformation

An industry thought leader focused on innovative strategies that drive technology and operations, Flanik has been recognized as a 2021 Fierce Education Leader, a Crain's Cleveland 2015 Nonprofit CIO of the Year and with a 2015 InfoTech Research Group CIO Leadership Award.

As BW's CIO, Flanik led a redesign of the IT department to align with the University's strategic vision and drove a successful digital transformation on campus, with classroom technology changes accelerated by the pandemic.

"I have a real passion for creating adaptable business models that leverage smart technology, and I enjoy leading teams through change and innovation," Flanik said. "We have wonderful people at BW, and I'm eager to identify and deploy technology that works for all of us and makes us even better at providing a world-class college experience."

Embracing innovation

Flanik joined BW in 1998 as an academic support specialist and worked his way up to CIO in 2010 after adding his BW MBA in systems management.

Major BW initiatives and achievements under Flanik's leadership include the installation and rapid adoption of remote learning technology and upgrades to cyber security systems, processes and training. He also worked to add a data science practice and established a data warehouse for operational reporting and analytics for various BW departments.

In addition, Flanik spearheaded the virtualization and consolidation of BW's network storage infrastructure, the implementation of a cost-saving print management system and the adoption of a new voice over IP telephone system.

When he's not focused on BW or spending time with family, Flanik competes in Ironman Triathlons to stay fit.