Mr. Douglas J. Wood, a Trustee of Seton Hill University since 2000, died on Sunday, March 30, 2008. He was considered by his colleagues and friends a talented businessman and visionary leader.

Mr. Wood began his career as a financial analyst and later senior financial analyst for Rockwell International as part of the defense electronic operations department, based in Anaheim, Ca. He continued his career at Kennametal, Inc., where he served as project manager for international operations, manager of defense products operations, and marketing manager for metallurgical products. Determination and a solid work ethic inspired Mr. Wood to begin a successful career as an entrepreneur. He became co-owner and president of CTP Carrera, Inc., a provider of custom injection molding manufacturing services. Mr. Wood owned and operated Carrera for 13 years. Under his leadership, the company was a multi-year winner of the General Motors QSP Supplier of the Year Award, one of only a handful of companies worldwide to be so honored. Following the sale of Carrera, Mr. Wood contributed to the formation and establishment of Astro Instrumentation LLC, a leading provider of cost-effective and complete manufacturing solutions for technology and corporate clients located in Strongville, Oh., a suburb of Cleveland. Most recently, Mr. Wood served as an adviser with GPS Industries, based in Vancouver, Canada. GPS Industries uses global positioning systems (GPS) combined with high-speed wireless communications technology to deliver information systems for the golf industry. Doug Wood earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Brown University and the Master of Business Administration degree in corporate finance and accounting from Cornell University.

Mr. Wood’s service to Seton Hill University was both generous and gracious. He was a member of several committees including, the Executive Committee, the Committee on Trustees, the Finance and Business Affairs Committee, the Ad Hoc Committee for Athletics, the University Center for the Performing Arts Committee and the Seton Hill Athletic Board.

According to Seton Hill President JoAnne Boyle, “Doug Wood played an important advisory role in Seton Hill’s move forward. He was instrumental in helping us enhance our programs in management and technology at the graduate level. His guidance in helping us to make Seton Hill’s strengths in math and science more visible and widely known in our region was equally noteworthy. The entire Seton Hill community is saddened by this tremendous loss. We extend our deepest sympathy to Doug’s wife, Valerie, and their family.” Michele Ridge, Former First Lady of Pennsylvania and Chair of the Seton Hill University Board of Trustees, added, “When you worked with Doug, you sensed immediately his energy and his acuity. Doug’s business acumen helped Seton Hill on many levels, but particularly as we worked together on endowment and building projects that enhanced the University overall. He will be missed by all of us.”

A dedicated member of the community, Mr. Wood also served on the board of the Latrobe Foundation and the Westmoreland Cultural Trust.