Meet the 2016 Augustinian Gala Layperson Honoree: Ernie Mrozek
/The Augustinians are proud to honor Ernie Mrozek, this year at our Diamond Jubilee Celebration's Augustinian Gala. Ernie has given of himself tirelessly to support the Augustinians through his volunteer service at Saint Rita of Cascia High School, one of the first foundations of the Augustinians in the Midwest.
Ernie first came to know the Augustinians when he enrolled at Saint Rita High School in Chicago, graduated with the Class of 1971. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois in 1976. He was later certified as a CPA in the State of Illinois.
Following his studies, Ernie spent 12 years working with Arthur Andersen and Co., the large international public accounting firm. He then began working with The ServiceMaster Company, a public Fortune 500 company providing a broad array of residential and commercial services, in 1987. He was provided with a number of exceptional opportunities with the Company, progressing from Chief Accounting Officer to Chief Financial Officer to President and Chief Operating Officer and ultimately to Vice Chairman. He retired in 2008 when the Company was sold to a large private equity firm. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of several successful public and private companies. Ernie is also a member of the Illinois CPA Society and the American Institute of CPAs. He gives back to numerous charitable organizations by serving on the Board of Directors of such nonprofits as the Delta One Leadership Institute, the DuPage Foundation, and the Kochton Foundation.
Ernie has been exceptionally generous to the Augustinians, through his alma mater of Saint Rita High School. In 2009, he began serving as the Vice President of the School and the Chairman of its Board of Directors. In 2012, he began serving as the first lay president in the school's 111 year history. In this role, he has overall responsibility for all school operations. He focuses primarily on the business aspects of the school, including fundraising, planning and recruiting, while his partner, Principal Brendan Conroy, oversees academics and student life. Moreover, Ernie has served in all of these positions on a pro bono basis; i.e., he volunteers his valuable time at no cost. "I wasn't looking for a job; I wasn't bored," he says. "I was looking for a way to give back. I believe in what St. Rita is doing to help them succeed, not only in college but also in life, building men of faith and character who are prepared to achieve their life goals and become the values-based leaders society so desperately needs."
The Saint Rita of Cascia High School Leadership Team, from left: the Very Rev. Bernard C. Scianna, O.S.A., Ph.D. (Chairman of the Board); Ernie Mrozek (President); the Rev. Stephen Curry, O.S.A., Ed.D. (Director of Augustinian Mission); and Brendan Conroy (Principal)
We thank Ernie for his service and congratulate him on this honor, as well as his wife Diane and two children. We are grateful for all your contributions and generosity to support the Augustinians!
Please join us in congratulating Ernie Mrozek at this year's Augustinian Gala!
This year's fourth annual Augustinian Gala will be held at the historic Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago. The gala is on April 22, 2016. At the gala, we will also honor:
All proceeds of the gala will support Augustinian vocations, retired and infirm friars, and the Augustinian missions in Peru. Learn more about supporting this year's gala by clicking the button below.
