Sources: Bruce Shubert, 785-532-6226, bshubert@k-state.edu;
Gary Leitnaker, 785-532-6277, geleit@k-state.edu;
Cindy Bontrager, 785-532-6767, cab@k-state.edu;
and Fran Willbrant, 785-532-6210, fmw@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-2535, bbohn@k-state.edu

Monday, July 26, 2010

K-STATE ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE PROMOTES THREE

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's Bruce Shubert, vice president for administration and finance, is promoting three staff members and eliminating one unfilled position.

The promotions include Gary Leitnaker, to associate vice president for human resources and parking services; Cindy Bontrager, to assistant vice president for budget planning; and Fran Willbrant, to assistant vice president for financial services.

The promotions follow Shubert's decision to eliminate the position of associate vice president for administration and finance and to assign many of its responsibilities to Leitnaker, Bontrager and Willbrant. Shubert served in the job from 2003-2008; it has been vacant since his promotion to vice president in January 2009.

"K-State is fortunate to have dedicated and capable people in these key roles. As a result, we're able to organize efficiently and continue to provide quality service," Shubert said.

Leitnaker previously served as assistant vice president of K-State's Division of Human Resources. Prior to joining K-State in 1994, he was director of labor relations for the Kansas Department of Administration. He has been in the human resources/personnel field since 1974. Leitnaker earned a bachelor's and a master's in business administration from Emporia State University.

Bontrager has been director of the university's budget office since 2003. The office prepares all of the university's external budget requests, as well as the operating budgets for all of K-State's budgetary units. Bontrager previously served as director of finance for the Kansas Board of Regents from 1998 to 2003 and as assistant director of the K-State budget office from 1989 to 1998. She earned bachelor's degrees in business management and political science from K-State, and a master of business administration from the University of Kansas.

Willbrant has served as university controller since 2007. She joined K-State in 1993 as assistant controller and was promoted to associate controller in 1996. Willbrant's office provides fiscal services to the university, and coordinates with external agencies to ensure all funds to K-State are properly received, spent and reported in accordance with university, Board of Regents, state and federal requirements. Willbrant earned a bachelor's in accounting from the University of South Florida.