Drury hires Evangel controller as CFO

Photo provided by Drury University

Jeff Huinda

Drury University hired Evangel University’s controller as its next chief financial officer and executive vice president of administration.

Effective Aug. 20 at Drury, Jeff Huinda is scheduled to succeed Rob Fridge, who left in January to become chief financial officer of Alpaca Audiology, said Drury spokesman Mike Brothers. Alpaca Audiology is a medical equipment buying company founded by Sound Advice Hearing Doctors LLC co-owner Dr. Brian Vesely, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

At Drury, Huinda will report directly to President Tim Cloyd and will be responsible for strategic financial leadership, according to a news release.

“Given my passion for excellence in higher education, I look forward to the tremendous opportunity to serve the Drury community in this capacity,” Huinda said in the release. “This key role requires strategic inflection as accelerated advancements in technology, societal changes and economic pressures demand agile responses and lean business processes that remain fluid to ensure we meet the needs of today’s students and prepare them for the future.”

At Evangel since 2013, Huinda oversaw the school’s financial and internal control systems, among other duties. He previously built the accounting department of Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and has experience in public utilities for the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, according to the Drury release.

“His background provides him a keen understanding of the current higher education landscape. I’m excited about his track record of process improvement, implementing useful new technology and mentoring his team members,” Cloyd said in the release.