Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer of St. Thomas Mark Vangsgard has been honored as one of 24 Chief Financial Officers of the Year in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

The award categories are separated into seven different groups based on company size, whether the organization is public or private and whether it is for profit. Vangsgard is one of four honored in the “nonprofits, civic/education” group, and he said winning the award was unexpected.

“It was a surprise. I’m flattered and honored that the president and other key executives of St. Thomas would nominate me for something like this,” Vangsgard said. “Being able to win it is obviously exciting.”

The St. Thomas graduate has worked at his alma mater since 2006 but has held several positions at General Mills between 1980 and 1989 before becoming the St. Thomas CFO. Following his employment with General Mills, he joined Ecolab from 1989 to 2002.

As St. Thomas’ CFO, Vangsgard is responsible for over 400 employees. While at St. Thomas, he has been able to increase the university’s revenue by 40 percent and the net assets by 45 percent.

Although Vangsgard was excited to win the award, he expressed that, more than anything, this award is a positive reflection on the university.

“I’m not sure it means as much to me personally as it provides a platform that we can talk about St. Thomas and the community with another positive aspect,” Vangsgard said. “This is not about me at all. This is about the university and the great institution that we have.”