University Of Findlay Board Of Trustees Welcomes Two New Members
(From the University of Findlay)
The University of Findlay’s Board of Trustees welcomes two new members this spring: environmental management executive Vincent Passaro ’81 and engineering firm president Conlan Swope.
“These new board members are leaders in their industries who will offer valuable governance from their professional experiences,” UF President Katherine Fell, Ph.D., said. “We look forward to working alongside them to support our students and advance the University.”
Passaro, who earned a bachelor of science in biology at Findlay College in 1981, is the vice president of marketing/business development at Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc., a large environmental consulting and engineering company headquartered in New Jersey.
His career accomplishments include building a company of five employees into a company of 100, making it one of the fastest-growing privately-held companies on the Inc. 500 list.
He managed the City of Cincinnati’s environmental term contract for nine years to help the city progress with economic development projects along the riverfront. He also facilitated the winning proposals for three large water treatment plant design-build projects ranging from $20 to $160 million in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Since 1988, he has served as a technical expert at the National Institute of Standards & Technology.
At UF, Passaro and his wife Victoria Nager-Passaro have generously donated to the Findlay Fund and Findlay Forward Scholarship, and he has spoken on campus, encouraging current students in their studies and sharing his life experiences with them. In 2024, he received a Distinguished Alumnus Award.
“As a proud alumnus, I am enthusiastic to support UF in any capacity where my 40+ years of business/strategic planning experience can be used to continue the success it has experienced, and more importantly achieve its current and future mission,” Passaro said. “This is just one way for me to give back to the University that provided me with opportunities of a lifetime.”
Swope is the president of Warfel Construction, in East Petersburg, Pennsylvania, which is a fullservice construction management company serving industries across the Mid-Atlantic region. He has worked at Warfel since 2008, ascending through roles of increasing responsibility, and is dedicated to the firm’s mission of “Clients for Life.”
He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Penn State University and is a LEED (Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design) accredited professional.
A member of New Providence Church of God, he also serves on the Crossroads Mission Haiti board of directors and has frequently traveled to Haiti to assist in building a school, orphanage, and church.
“I am thrilled to join the UF community as a trustee and uphold our strong legacy as we continue to provide more engaging experiences for the student body, preparing them for the next stages of their lives,” Swope said. “It is a blessing to serve alongside so many fantastic trustees and faculty members. The future is bright!”
