John Satkowski, VP for Finance, retires after 12 years
HFC Vice President of Financial, Facilities, IT, and Auxiliary Services John Satkowski is retiring in June 2025.
“It’s just time. My grandchildren are at an age where I want to spend more time with them,” said Satkowski. “It’s been a great, great 12 years!”
“John and I have been teammates for seven great years,” said HFC President Russ Kavalhuna. “His support and tutelage was invaluable in helping me transition as a new president. He is responsible for many of HFC’s great accomplishments, including many consecutive years of balanced budgets, significant capital improvements, and numerous collective-bargaining negotiations that resulted in all parties feeling successful. But, most of all, I have enjoyed getting to know John. He is a supremely kind and decent person. I have learned from him and will miss him. John is leaving the College better than he found it—and that is the mark of excellent work.”
A higher ed veteran of nearly 35 years
The eldest of four, Satkowski was born in Toledo, OH. He lives in Temperance with Roxann, his wife of 49 years. The couple has two sons and four grandchildren.
Satkowski earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He later earned both his master’s degree in accounting and his juris doctor from the University of Toledo. He also earned professional education certification through CPA firms, Ernst & Young and Arthur Andersen, LLP.
Before joining HFC in 2013, Satkowski served as Interim President and Executive Vice President of Finance/Treasurer of Owens Community College in Perrysburg, OH. Previously, Satkowski was Associate Vice President for Academic Finance at the UToledo; Budget Director at the Medical College of Ohio; and at Ernst & Young and Arthur Andersen, LLP.
Satkowski has been an accountant since 1976 and has worked in higher education since 1991. He has been a practicing attorney since 2009.
“As a school board member for the Bedford Public Schools in Temperance and in my role in working with the faculty at UToledo, I made the decision, with the support of Phil Closius, the Dean of the UToledo College of Law, to pursue my JD degree. I felt I needed labor law in my background, so I got the law degree late in my career,” he recalled.
Proudest accomplishment at HFC required the whole team
In late 2012, Satkowski planned to retire from Owens. Then he received a call from then-HFC Vice President of Human Resources, Dr. Cynthia Glass. Satkowski knew Glass from her days at Owens and then-HFC President Dr. Stan Jensen from his work with Continuous Process Improvement at Owens. At the time, HFC was in a dire financial condition. Satkowski rose to the challenge.
“I ended up taking the position, even though it was a long commute. I thought I’d work just a few years at HFC. I didn’t get into the state retirement system because I figured there was no way I’d be here for 10 years. And yet here I am at year 12,” recalled Satkowski. “At the same time, I told the Board of Trustees when I was hired, I wasn’t going to be here on an interim basis. We needed to move forward as a College and solve our financial problems for the long run.”
Being able to help turn HFC’s financial situation around is Satkowski’s proudest accomplishment at the College. He directed the credit to his team—and to every College employee.
“It was really an all-College effort. Looking at our financial situation and some of the things being put into place to correct it, we managed to do that with plenty of help from the people at the College. It took a concerted effort on everyone’s part to make it happen—and we did!” said Satkowski. “I’m proud to be able to sit here today and have reserves in place, so that the College is financially stable into the future, even with this large construction project on our platter.”
“When the story of HFC is written, John will be remembered as one of the most consequential people to have worked at the College,” said Associate Director, Financial Research and Budgeting Bryan Bame. “He arrived after the HFC ship of state had run aground. After quickly making some very difficult decisions, he charted a course to restore HFC to a sustainable path. In the years since, he has led HFC financially to be in a strong position for the future. I will miss his caring leadership. Your team wishes you good health and fulfillment as you retire and get more time with Roxann, your grandchildren, and your travels, John. Thanks for everything!”
Excellent relationship with the president delayed his retirement for years
When Jensen left HFC in late 2017, Satkowski became HFC’s Interim President until Kavalhuna joined in mid-2018. Satkowski planned to retire after Kavalhuna was hired.
“But Russ and I hit it off so well; I learned from him, he learned from me. It’s been a great seven years working with him. I would’ve retired sooner if we hadn’t built such a good working relationship. We had a lot of fun planning things here at the College,” he said.
Satkowski spearheaded HFC’s Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP), a 20-year partnership between HFC and Johnson Controls Inc. to achieve Global Best Practices in Energy Management and Education. These changes promote a sustainable energy culture and an energy-related curriculum allowing students to learn global best practices in real-time from HFC's own systems, resulting in major gains in energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reductions, and water efficiency by 2040.
“The IEMP will reduce our electricity use and our water consumption,” said Satkowski. “The project will pay for itself. That was the key. JCI is obligated to make sure the savings pay off the $26 million investment.”
Crain’s Detroit Business named Satkowski one of Detroit’s Notable Leaders in Energy in 2023. This is one of the high points of his time at HFC.
According to Crain’s, “These standout Notable Leaders are developing new strategies to improve environmental sustainability, educate future leaders and develop innovative products and services for utility, automotive, construction and other industries in Michigan and around the globe. The honorees featured in this report were nominated by their peers, companies, friends and family and selected by Crain’s editors based on their career accomplishments, track record of success and contributions to their fields and communities.”
“You’re only as good as your word”
Satkowski has active retirement plans. He and Roxann have six trips planned over the next two years. He will also spend more time with his grandchildren, working in his garden, and golfing.
“Tuesdays and Fridays are already spoken for,” he said, laughing. “That’s when I’ll be on the green.”
Satkowski thought about how he wants to be remembered. He sat back a moment and pondered that before answering.
“You’re only as good as your word,” he said. “In all my years, no matter how difficult it may be, you have to be truthful in everything, identify and communicate your disagreements, and always be the person who can be trusted.”
Satkowski cited his relationship with the late Local 1650 President John McDonald.
“I considered John a very good friend, both professionally and personally. John always had questions related to College operations,” recalled Satkowski. “I never had an issue with him questioning the College’s financial status, and he never had an issue with me because we were always straight shooters. He told me what he thought, I told him what I thought. I told him what I knew. I didn’t hold back. It was a great, trusting relationship. That’s what you have to do with everybody you work with and with whom you communicate daily.”
Satkowski offered some friendly thoughts to Kevin Howley, his successor. “All I can say to him is evaluate, give your opinion, and don’t hold back,” he said. “You’ve got a great team working with you.”
Satkowski also praised his assistant, Jayne Sakelaris.
“I really would be remiss if I didn’t mention the dedication and work of Jayne Sakelaris, who was my assistant prior to HFC and at HFC for more than 18 years. She is the one who ‘runs’ and organizes the financial area. She has all the answers related to operations,” said Satkowski.
HFC Vice President of Strategy and Human Resources Dr. Lori Gonko, who will become HFC’s Interim President July 1, first met Satkowski in 2013. They’ve worked closely together since 2018.
“I watched in amazement as John revitalized the College’s finances and became a local legend in the process,” said Gonko. “Later, I was fortunate to work alongside him and absorb some of that legendary wisdom. I quickly learned that positivity, solid data, and a serving of pretty much any dessert will take you far as a leader.”
Everyone is invited to John’s retirement party on Wednesday, June 4, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Welcome Center Community Rooms. Refreshments will be served. Feel free to bring a card or memento from your time working with John.
A note about retiree stories
We value the contributions of all our retirees. When we become aware of a colleague's official intent to retire, we reach out to them to ask if we can write a story about them, to share their contributions and allow others to recognize and appreciate them. Some of our retirees decline to participate in the retiree story series. We respect their wishes and their privacy. If there is a retiree whom you want to see recognized in this series, you can talk to that person, or reach out to HFC Communications. We will let you know if the person has declined to have a story published. In some cases, we might not be aware of their plans to retire.
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