Patrick McLean

Patrick McLean is the Director of the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service and also a Senior MR Consultant. He has more than 20 years of experience in state and local government and the private sector, including extensive budgeting and operational efficiency experience in his former role as Finance Director for the City of Toledo and former role as Associate Vice Chancellor for Affordability and Efficiency with the Ohio Board of Regents. 

In his role with the Ohio Board of Regents and the University System of Ohio, Mr. McLean focused on ways Ohio colleges and universities could reduce costs and provide affordable options for students.    He focused on shared services, utilizing the economies of scale from the collaboration of Ohio’s colleges and universities to effect change in the areas of energy purchasing, insurance, purchasing cards and dependent eligibility audits.  As Finance Director for the City of Toledo, Mr. McLean has been a driving force behind the collaboration with Lucas County for solid waste collection services as well as the absorption by Toledo of the Village of Ottawa Hills’ Fire Department.  Under his tenure, the Toledo city budget has gone from a $48 million deficit to having money in a rainy day fund in just 15 months.

Mr. McLean earned his BA in Political Science from the University of Dayton and his MA in Political Science from Miami University.  He has a Certificate from New York University in Nonprofit Management and Fundraising, and he later served as adjunct faculty there after developing a course for the Heyman Center for Philanthropy titled Working Effectively with Elected Officials.  He has served as an adjunct faculty member at Monroe County (Michigan) Community College and Wilmington (Ohio) College, and has played the role of faculty advisor on college student trips to Central Europe.

Mr. McLean is a board member of the Toledo chapter of Financial Executives International, and a member of the Government Finance Officers Association, the Detroit Economic Club and serves on the team of Weidner, Inc, and Austin-based government efficiency consulting firm.  He is also president of the board of Community Refugee and Immigration Services, a nonprofit in the Columbus area that resettles more than 400 refugees in Central Ohio annually.

Mr. McLean resides in Ypsilanti with his wife and son.  He is a life member of the Green Mountain Club and enjoys hiking, kayaking, yoga and reading.