Elected: 2017, 2020, 2023
Current Term Ends: 2026
Committees: Finance & Investment, Governance, Strategic Planning (chair), Executive
Before the dawn of the internet, prospective students selected colleges based on things like campus visits, or chats with students and alumni. Dave Fleisher chose none of the above.
"The first time I saw Ithaca College was Day One of my orientation," the self-proclaimed planner recalls with a chuckle. "It was the biggest risk I ever took in my life and probably the best one."
Dave, who majored in finance, loved it at IC. So much so that his involvement with the college has extended well beyond his student years. Dave is a two-time trustee, with his prior service occurring from 2004 to 2014. He served on the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Presidential Compensation Committee, and Institutional Advancement Committee. He also sat at the helm of the Buildings and Grounds Committee from 2006 to 2014 during a time of major change. Those years saw the planning and construction of the Dorothy D. and Roy H. Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise, the Peggy Ryan Williams Center, and the Athletics and Events Center.
Dave also served on the alumni association board of directors from 1993 to 2004, as president from 1999 to 2002. He is currently a director emeritus of that board. And he maintained his involvement with the School of Business, acting as co-chair of the school's campaign committee from 2003 to 2008.
In his second stint on the board of trustees, Dave says he plans to utilize his professional and practical expertise to further the institution's vision while maintaining the many things that make IC great. Currently, Dave is the CEO of Firstrust Financial Resources, a wealth management firm in Philadelphia, and vice chairman of Karr Barth Associates, Inc. Karr Barth is a diversified financial services firm, handling more than $11 billion of client assets. Dave is also the president of Cherry Hill Township Council, serving the community in which he resides.
"This is a critical and exciting time for IC and I'm excited to roll up my sleeves and be part of writing its next chapter," Dave says.
Dave lives in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, with his wife, Jennifer Cooley Fleisher '92, and their three children, one of whom attends Ithaca College.