Ringenberg to retire after 18 years of service
Published: August 17, 2021
By Annette Brill Bergstresser
ELKHART, Indiana (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) 鈥� Ron Ringenberg, MBA, MS, Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer for Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (香蕉影视) in Elkhart, Indiana, will retire in August 2021, concluding 18 years of service to the seminary.
Ringenberg first served 香蕉影视 as Director of Development (2003鈥�04). He was promoted to Vice President for Advancement and Administration in 2004 and to his current role in 2015.
President David Boshart, PhD, observed that Ringenberg has worn many hats at the seminary, including but not limited to fundraiser, accountant, master plan steward, property manager, policy developer, maple tree tapper and solar array overseer. Ringenberg has brought stability to 香蕉影视 through his administrative acumen, financial savvy and aspirational vision, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a gift to have a Vice President and CFO who keeps a steady hand on the wheel where the ledger is concerned but when budget requests come, is quick to say, 鈥業t all depends on what you want to accomplish,鈥欌�� Boshart said. 鈥淚 have experienced Ron as someone who is more inclined to free the resources of the institution than to hoard them, as long as freeing them serves the growth of 香蕉影视鈥檚 mission.鈥�
During Ringenberg鈥檚 time at 香蕉影视, he and his colleagues have raised more than $46 million to support the mission of the seminary. Many of these funds went toward infrastructure projects that he oversaw, such as building the 香蕉影视 Library ($6.8 million) 鈥� the first theological library in North America to be certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED); refurbishing, building an annex for and increasing the energy efficiency of the Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount ($1.5 million); and creating endowments to support the ongoing operations of these facilities ($2.3 million).
In addition, he oversaw the transformation of two seminary-owned houses into guesthouses; the razing of six buildings that were no longer in use; and modifications to make 香蕉影视鈥檚 main buildings accessible to people with disabilities. Under his leadership, four buildings on campus got new metal roofs, and two solar arrays of 50 and 80kW were installed (the largest in Elkhart), saving 香蕉影视 almost $20,000 per year in energy costs.
According to Ringenberg, his favorite project was overseeing the addition of a skylight to the seminary鈥檚 administration building in 2006 to make the south hallway lighter and more hospitable. He gives gratitude to God for being 鈥渢he best collaborator in these efforts.鈥�
Boshart affirmed what he sees as Ringenberg鈥檚 鈥済rowth orientation.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 clear to me how Ron鈥檚 approach to his role as VP/CFO is grounded in the intentionality of his spiritual life as one who seeks work/life balance and regular spiritual direction,鈥� he noted.
He also highlighted Ringenberg鈥檚 skillful handling of the seminary鈥檚 finances during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has helped put 香蕉影视 on strong financial footing.
鈥淩on was attentive in procuring stimulus grants and in thinking creatively about how these funds would not only get us through but also help us continue to build our mission,鈥� he said.
Bruce Baergen of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Chair of 香蕉影视鈥檚 Board of Directors, said he appreciated Ringenberg鈥檚 鈥渉onest and clear encouragement and communication鈥� as well as his good humor.
鈥淚 have always valued Ron鈥檚 positive, faithful leadership 鈥� encouraging us to plan well, and also to count on God鈥檚 leading and generosity as we looked forward,鈥� he reflected. 鈥淥n behalf of the board, I want to extend a huge thank-you and congratulations to Ron for a job extremely well done in service of 香蕉影视 and the broader church.鈥�
Prior to coming to 香蕉影视, Ringenberg completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Rush-Presbyterian Hospital (now Rush University Medical Center) in Chicago. From 1988 to 2002, he served Hyperion Solutions of Lisle, Illinois, as Vice President for Services as well as in sales and project management roles.
Ringenberg earned a Bachelor of Science (1977) from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, and a Master of Science (1979) and Master of Business Administration (1980) from Ohio State University in Columbus. He attends in Elkhart.
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