Frank L. Messa of Saratoga Springs, a 1973 graduate of Union College, was elected chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees at their meeting on Saturday, June 2, 2007.
Messa retired in 2005 as senior vice president for International Strategies of Ayco Co., a Saratoga Springs-based financial services and planning firm that was acquired by Goldman Sachs in 2003.
He succeeds Stephen J. Ciesinski ’70, who has served as chairman since 2002 and a board member since 1993. Ciesinski, a Schenectady native who now lives in California, is founder and executive of a number of technology firms. He will remain on the board.
Also at the June 2 meeting, Mark Walsh ’76 was elected vice chairman; Estelle Cooke Sampson MD ’74, secretary; and Lawrence Pedowitz ’69, general counsel.
"It is certainly a great honor to have been elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Union College,” Messa said. “I look forward to working with President Stephen Ainlay to continue to implement the many strategic planning initiatives adopted by the Board of Trustees under the leadership of Steve Ciesinski.”
“Frank Messa has long been a valuable member of the Board of Trustees, playing key roles in everything from fundraising to selecting our president” said Ciesinski. “He is uniquely qualified to lead this board as we embark on our next chapter. I look forward to working with him for years to come.”
“It is truly fitting that Frank Messa assumes the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees,” said Stephen C. Ainlay, president of Union College. “His love of Union runs deep, as evidenced by his long and distinguished tenure as a trustee and tireless supporter of the College. Personally, I am delighted to be working closely with Frank. As the chair of the presidential search committee, Frank was one of the first people I met from Union. He represents the very best of Union College.
“I must also thank Steve Ciesinski for his wonderful service to this College and his support of me during my first year as president,” Ainlay continued. “Steve has led this College at a critical juncture, and thanks to him we are poised to attain new levels of excellence.”
As a student at Union, Messa earned a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in political science. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was a finalist for the Albert C. Ingham Prize, given to the student in social sciences judged to have done the most outstanding scholarly work.
As an alumnus, he has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 1994, and served as general counsel to the board. He serves as co-chair of the “You are Union” fund-raising campaign, and was national chair of the Annual Fund. He served as chair of the Trustee Board of Advisors, Terrace Council and 2003 ReUnion. He also chaired the Presidential Selection Committee for Union’s 18th president, Stephen C. Ainlay, and was a member of the Inauguration Planning Committee. In 2003, the College’s Alumni Council recognized his outstanding service by presenting him with the Alumni Gold Medal.
A generous benefactor to Union, Messa and his family have provided funds for the renovation of Frank L. Messa Rink at Achilles Center, the renovation of Schaffer Library, the establishment of the Frank Messa ’73 Endowed Scholarship, and the Steinway Piano Fund for the new Taylor Music Center.
Besides his activities at Union, he has served on the board of directors for United Way of Northeastern New York; trustee of the Albany Academy for Girls, trustee for St. Gregory’s School for Boys; and a member of the parents committees of the Hotchkiss School and Duke University. He is also on the boards of the Lake George Opera and the Union Graduate College.
He earned a J.D. degree in 1976 from Albany Law School, and became a tax attorney and chief operating officer for Ayco’s Wealth Counseling in Dallas, Texas. In 1989, he was named senior vice president, responsible for Encompass and Wealth Counseling. He was named senior vice president and chief executive officer for Ayco’s Estate Counseling Services in 1996.
He and his wife, the former Colleen Ann Koetzner, have three children, Christopher, Peter and Keri (a junior at Union).
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