Alumnae S p o t light : Leaders in Mary Finnegan ‘80
Mary Finnegan regards her job in finance as challenging and rewarding. She would love to encourage fellow SJA women to pursue a similar career path. “There are not enough women in finance today,” she says, “It can be a great job for those who enjoy math and analytical challenges. As a bonus, careers in finance often include international travel since so many companies today have global operations.” Mary graduated from Cleveland State
University in 1984 with a B.S.B.A. in accounting. She went on to earn an MBA in finance from New York University in 1989 and spent more than 10 years in banking in New York City. Since 1998, she has handled treasury duties and investor relations for MettlerToledo International Inc. A Fortune 1000 entity, the company has revenues of $2 billion and does business in 35 countries. In her role with Mettler-Toledo, Mary oversees and provides strategic direction for debt financing, cash flow forecasting, treasury operations and communication with analysts and investors. “Among other responsibilities, my duties require strong analytical skills,” she shares. “I am naturally curious and want to understand how things fit together or how one item influences something else.” Her investor relations responsibilities require clear, concise communication with Wall Street and shareholders. “I tend to be straightforward and direct in my communication style, which has served me well in this position,” she says. Mary credits SJA for setting high academic
expectations and teaching students how to study and learn. “If you wanted to do well, you had to figure out what was important and make sure you spent your energy on the important items,” she recalls. “There was also a premise that anything could be learned or figured out if you spent the time and energy on it. To have the ability and confidence to figure out a solution can be powerful, and I give SJA high marks for instilling this discipline in me at an early stage.” Mary also affectionately recalls her time on her alma mater’s inaugural tennis team. “It was great to be part of establishing this sport at SJA,” she says. Mary has been married almost 23 years to husband Carl Faller. The couple lives in Columbus, Ohio, with their three children, Carolyn, 15, and twins, John and Bob, 12. Her late mother was Ann Cusick Finnegan ’53, who taught at SJA from 1978-1985, and her sisters are Nora Finnegan ’78 and Patricia Finnegan ’79. Since graduating from SJA, Mary has lived in New York City, Europe and Columbus. “All great places to live, but Cleveland is still where my heart is,” she admits.
Patricia Gaul ‘76 You might say that Patty Gaul pursued a finance career due to the influence of her parents. Her father, by example, taught her to work hard. Her mother constantly encouraged her to pursue her dreams. “My father had a business background and encouraged us to pursue accounting,” explains Patty. “There are eight kids in my family, and four of us ended up in accounting!” Patty is the Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration and General Counsel for Playhouse Square Foundation. She’s been with the nonprofit for 28 years, having joined in 1984 as its controller. 16
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“It was my first job in Cleveland after I returned from Washington D.C., where I spent four years after graduating from Georgetown University working for former Senators Ted Kennedy and Bill Bradley,” she says. Patty graduated from Georgetown in 1980 with a B.S.B.A., majoring in accounting, and became a CPA. She earned a law degree from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1993. In her current role, she oversees finance, human resources and administration for Playhouse Square Foundation. Patty is involved in the foundation’s real estate