Laura Lanese
President
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Laura Lanese is the President and CEO of the Inter-University Council. Laura leads an organization designed to provide each of its member institutions with opportunities to collaborate for the benefit of Higher Education in Ohio.  Laura is responsible for strategy development and implementation for all aspects of the Inter-University Council.

Prior to joining the IUC, Laura was a three-term state legislator representing southwest Franklin County. As a state representative, she served as Chair of the Higher Education committee, Vice Chair of the Veteran’s and Armed Services Committee, as well as Vice Chair of the Civil Justice and Criminal Justice committees. She also served in House leadership as Assistant Majority Whip for one term. She was a member of a variety of ad hoc committees, including the Mental Health caucus, the Aviation and Aerospace Technology committee, and the Joint Legislative Ethics committee. She worked with a wide variety of interest groups, including consumer and animal advocates, environmentalists, and historic preservationists. She successfully passed numerous bipartisan bills to help a wide variety of groups, including taxpayers, small business owners, victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, and veterans and military service members.

During her time of service, she received numerous awards, including the Ohio Domestic Violence Network’s Legislator of the Year Award, the Humane Society’s Legislator of the Year Award, the Ohio Animal Advocate’s Legislator of the Year, the Bridge Builder’s Autism Award, Mission Readiness’ National Security Leadership Award, the American Legion’s Legislator Award, and the Amvets’ Legislator Award.

Laura was also elected to two terms on the Grove City Council, where she championed transparency and fiscal responsibility. She also served in both the Ohio Air National Guard and the US Army Reserve, where she performed administrative, legal, and intelligence duties. She worked as an habeas corpus attorney with the US District Court in Columbus, and as an Assistant Attorney General working on political asylum cases with the US Department of Justice in Washington DC. Additionally, she is a published author of four books, three local histories and one on Ohio State football.

Laura received her Master of Laws (with Distinction) from Georgetown University Law Center, her Juris Doctor (with Honors) from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Miami University. She is an alumnus of the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs Public Leadership Academy at The Ohio State University.

She is married with a son serving as a US Navy Surface Warfare Officer, a daughter serving as a US Marine Corps Intelligence Officer, and another daughter, who is a premed major in college. They have taken in several rescue dogs over the years.  She is an avid reader, itinerant traveler, amateur historian, and wannabe novelist.

Kate Mowry
Executive Assistant
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Kate Mowry is the Executive Assistant at Inter-University Council of Ohio. She provides high-level administrative support for the President, Vice Presidents, and Directors of the IUC. Kate manages and coordinates IUC’s meetings, events and calendar; and maintains IUC’s website, budget and general office operations. She responds to information requests from members, policymakers and the general public.

Kate has been with the IUC since March 2018. Most recently, she worked for The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) in the Office of Government Relations as an Executive Assistant. Prior, to working at OSUWMC Kate served as a Legislative Liaison with the Ohio Department of Health and as a Legislative Aide in the Ohio Senate.

Kate received her BS in Human Ecology and minor in Education from The Ohio State University.

Outside of work, Kate enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter and Golden Retriever Bogart. Kate is an active member & volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Emerging Leaders Board.

 

Jennifer March-Wackers, CPPO
Executive Director, IUC Purchasing Group
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Jennifer March-Wackers serves as the Executive Director of the Inter-University Council Purchasing Group. She has held this position since July 2016. Ms. March-Wackers is responsible for leading the execution of the IUC-PG’s vision and strategy with a focus on increasing cooperative and collaborative services to higher education members. She also provides leadership and support for IUC-PG operations and maximizes the use of IUC-PG contracts by participating institutions by leveraging the expertise of professionals trained in strategic sourcing.

Prior to her work at the IUC-PG, she served as Director of Municipal Services at the Capitol Region Council of Governments in Hartford, CT. There, she worked with stakeholders from state and local government to implement a significant expansion of shared services programs and services for local governments throughout the state of Connecticut over her 10-year tenure.

Before serving at the Capitol Region Council of Governments, Ms. March-Wackers held several positions in Connecticut and Washington, DC related to communications and public policy.

Ms. March-Wackers earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Mount Union and her masters degree (with honors) in Public Policy from Trinity College. Ms. March-Wackers is also a Certified Public Purchasing Officer.

Katie Overholser
Manager of Strategic Procurement
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Katie Overholser serves as the Manager of Strategic Procurement for the Inter-University Council Purchasing Group.  She manages various cooperative procurement processes by conducting re-bid or new RFP specifications and negotiations that result in IUC-PG contracts for member use. Katie manages data collection, analysis and reporting related to individual university and collaborative Purchasing Group spend, conducts market analysis, and develops market intelligence summaries tracking metrics of usage and cost savings/avoidance for contracts.

Prior to her position with the IUC-PG, Katie served as Procurement Director for University of Dayton and focused on financial departments including Retail Operations, Dining Services and Facilities Management.  During Katie’s fifteen year tenure at the University of Dayton she held several positions within Retail Operations and Procurement and Payable Services.  In 2022, Katie was awarded “UD Woman of the Year” based on her sourcing work and leadership during the COVID pandemic.

Katie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Miami University. In 2022, Katie completed a Master’s Certificate for Emerging Leaders.

Katie resides in Dayton, Ohio and holds the role of secretary with her local Chamber of Commerce.

Megan Leone
Operations Manager
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Megan Leone is the Operations Manager for the Inter-University Council Purchasing Group. She provides support to the IUC-PG staff, including supplier management, financial tracking, website management, and member relations.

Megan joined the IUC-PG in January 2018. She graduated in 2017 from Fordham University with a BS in Business Administration with Concentrations in Marketing and Management.  Megan received her Masters of Public Administration in August 2022 from The Ohio State University.

Tom Angelucci
Executive Director, IUC  Risk Management & Insurance Consortium
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Ashlee Waderker
Business Operations Analyst, IUC Risk Management & Insurance Consortium
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