John Poretto

John Porretto - Builder

Drawing on nearly four decades of experience in senior positions in higher education and health care, John Porretto helps public and private entities achieve impressive financial goals, with enduring administrative and operational efficiencies. Most remarkable among his accomplishments has been the demonstration of long- term financial payoffs from investmets in sustainability. As a former COO with fiduciary accountability for a $600 M annual operating budget and a $750 M capital project budget, John:

Implemented a simplification/continuous improvement process among more than 630 administrative and financial personnel that permanently redistributed $2.5 M from the A&F budget to core university mission endeavors. These economies were achieved through attrition management and work re-deployments, NOT layoffs.

Led the planning for a 200,000 gross square foot academic, research, and student services facility, which will serve as a model for economic, environmental, and social responsibility.

Incorporated sustainability principles campus-wide, thereby improving decision-making for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of facilities.
Initiated an operational and maintenance program utilizing non-toxic chemicals, materials, and products in the cleaning, renovation, and furnishing of 2.5 M sq. ft. of university buildings.
Initiated a program of healthful food services working in concert with the School of Public Health Committee on Nutrition. This further resulted in the identification of organic farmers to serve as providers in this effort.
Initiated and led the financial arrangements for the first-ever technology transfer in the UT System that provided for a royalty fee on gross sales, as well as stock ownership in the company.

John began his career auditing the IRS, NASA and Public Health Service hospitals for the General Accounting Office. These experiences prepared John to:

As Chief Hospital Administrator, successfully open and market a 600-bed private hospital at UTMB, Galveston; and to

Initiate the planning effort for a 250-bed teaching prison hospital at UTMB Galveston.
As Hospital Director of Fiscal Services, to draft supporting financial statements for the issuance of a $32.5M Hospital Revenue Bond for a new 600-bed private hospital in 1974.
As Hospital Cost Accountant, to set up the first cost accounting system for a 900-bed hospital for management information and for Medicare and Medicaid program settlements.

Recently elected to the Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research and Medicine of the Board of Health Sciences Policy, National Institute of Medicine (NIM) of the National Academies, John also has been active in the Association of Academic Health Centers (AHC), the American Hospital Association, Council of Teaching Hospitals, and Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). John also has participated in community organizations, volunteering his time and business acumen to the service of others, and has earned his South Carolina residential contractor's license.