Findlay, Ohio, Aug. 31, 2000 – The University of Findlay has selected J. Alec Reinhardt as the Dana Chair Executive-in-Residence for the 2000-01 academic year.

The chair was established through a gift from the Dana Corporation to strengthen ties between the academic and practicing sides of the business community.

In his capacity as Dana Chair, Reinhardt is teaching in the College of Business and serving as a guest lecturer in classes throughout the University. He is also serving as adviser for outstanding undergraduate business students who are designated as Dana Scholars by the College of Business faculty.

Reinhardt retired from Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in 1999 as executive vice president, chief financial officer and director. He joined the company in 1976, serving as general counsel through 1983 and chief financial officer and a director since 1983. In addition, he was elected executive vice president of the company in 1991.

In his executive vice president capacity, Reinhardt’s responsibilities included oversight of the Cooper engineered products operations and the treasury, accounting, personnel, purchasing and information systems functions. At the time of his retirement, Reinhardt was the longest serving current member of Cooper’s board of directors.

An electrical engineering graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Reinhardt earned master of business administration and juris doctorate degrees from The Ohio State University. He is a vice chairman of the Blanchard Valley Health Association Board of Trustees and a director of the Fifth Third Bank of Northwestern Ohio, N.A.

Reinhardt is also chairman of the University’s Mazza Collection’s National Board of Visitors and immediate past president of the United Way of Hancock County. He is a past president of the Findlay Rotary Club and a member of the board of trustees of several charitable foundations.

At fall commencement exercises in 1999, Reinhardt was awarded an honorary doctor of business and finance degree by The University of Findlay.

He and his wife, Sandy, have two sons, Jeff and Dave. They reside in Findlay.